Sorry, I do not normally respond to such threads bu I hate not fighting for
things like this. Let me recount a tale aganst Ford.
When in Essex near Ford's Basildon Works, an aquantance of mine had lots of
trouble with his small Ford (Escort??) He repeatadly went up against the
monolith. On advice form a friend he parked his car on the lawn right in
front of the main offices when it just happened that they had a visit from
some big wig. It was blessed with a huge sign listing all the ills and the
TV was in attendance - for the big wig!!. He got the car fixed absolutely
free to his complete satisfaction
At 09:51 PM 3/15/00 -0500, James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. wrote:
>Volvo's deal could have disappeared as soon as some non-authorized mechanic
>touched the engine. Ford has done this to me or my company twice. Once on an
>Escort with a cracked head, the other with an Econoline conversion van with
>brake / ABS problems that lasted 2+ years. An individual can't push an auto
>company any further than they want to be pushed.
>
>Jim
>
>"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
>
>> I don't think that the factory rep was personally involved in the
diagnosis,
>> just the adjustment of the bill. It is the diagnosis and remedy that I
>> question. Personally, getting only 50K out of a modern engine and
having to
>> pay $2000 is not my idea of a good deal; especially if an independent
>> mechanic discovers that all it needs is a new head gasket.
>>
>> If it were me, I would spend the $60 for an independant mechanic to look at
>> it. I don't see why Volvo's "deal" wouldn't still be there.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. <microdoc@apk.net>
>> To: T. Keith Vezina <tkvezina@bellsouth.net>
>> Cc: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>; Steve Shoyer
<Steve@shoyer.com>
>> Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 8:26 AM
>> Subject: Re: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new
>> engine?
>>
>> >>From my experience, the Volvo Rep is the FINAL opinion. Steve got 50000
>> miles of
>> >use out of it, and will now get a new engine, all for $2000. Not a bad
>> deal:
>> >certainly not worth jeopardizing the offer by getting the rep pissed off.
>> Ford
>> >and GM have no provisions for a consumer to bypass or circumvent the field
>> rep's
>> >authority; I doubt Volvo is any different.
>> >
>> >Jim
>> >
>> >"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
>> >
>> >> For this kind of major surgery, I would recommend a second opinion.
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: Steve Shoyer <Steve@shoyer.com>
>> >> To: 'mgs@autox.team.net' <mgs@autox.team.net>
>> >> Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 10:03 PM
>> >> Subject: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new
>> engine?
>> >>
>> >> >After spending a couple of years working on my 1980 MGB, I thought I
had
>> >> >picked up a little knowledge about engines. However, we have a 1997
>> Volvo
>> >> >850 GLT sedan. Every once in a while, the "low coolant" light would go
>> on,
>> >> >so I'd top it off (with the "special" Volvo coolant, of course). It
>> >> started
>> >> >happening more frequently, and when we took the car in with 49,500
miles
>> >> (it
>> >> >has a 50K warranty), we had them take a look at it. They said a hose
>> was
>> >> >loose, tightened a clamp, topped off the coolant, and told up it was
>> fixed.
>> >> >Soon after, the coolant light was back on, and the "Check Engine" light
>> was
>> >> >going on, too. The only other symptom was that the car would run
pretty
>> >> >rough after a cold start, but it would be OK after a minute or two.
>> >> Anyway,
>> >> >they said replaced the upper radiator hose and thermostat, and checked
>> the
>> >> >head gasket for leaks. For the "check engine" light and rough running,
>> >> they
>> >> >found gas washed cylinders which they cleaned, and they replaced the
>> spark
>> >> >plugs, oil, and filter.
>> >> >
>> >> >A few weeks later the "low coolant" light was back, as was the "check
>> >> >engine" light. The coolant leak was becoming more pronounced. We took
>> the
>> >> >car back, and it's been at the shop for almost two weeks while they ran
>> >> more
>> >> >compression tests and waited for the Volvo regional service person to
>> get
>> >> >back to them about something. Today we got a message that they
>> recommend
>> >> >that the engine should be replaced, which should cost about $6500.
It's
>> >> out
>> >> >of warranty, but Volvo is willing to pick up $4500 of the cost, leaving
>> us
>> >> >to pay $2000. From what I've picked up from my wife's translation of
>> what
>> >> >the service person told her, the bad thermostat caused a crack in the
>> head.
>> >> >They said that we could try to just replace the head gasket for about
>> >> $1000,
>> >> >but only if we were about to trade the car in.
>> >> >
>> >> >The car never overheated, and the temp gauge never showed that the
>> engine
>> >> >was getting hot. I still don't understand why there should be any
>> >> >interaction between the cooling system and the "check engine" light
>> (which,
>> >> >according to the owner's manual, relates to the emissions system). I
>> don't
>> >> >know how a bad thermostat could crack the head, especially without any
>> >> >external signs other than a low coolant level.
>> >> >
>> >> >We like the car, so we'll probably get it fixed, but can anyone tell me
>> why
>> >> >this might have happened? Is it something we should have to pay for,
>> and
>> >> if
>> >> >not, what would be our argument for getting the dealer to pick up the
>> whole
>> >> >cost? I'm not trying to weasel out of paying if it is my
>> responsibility,
>> >> >but the car was in a few times for the same problem, and each time the
>> >> >dealer said that they had fixed it. The $2000 would be better spent
>> fixing
>> >> >my rusted sills (although my wife might not agree).
>> >> >
>> >> >Sorry for the use of the bandwidth, but if anyone has any suggestions,
>> I'd
>> >> >like to know. Thanks.
>> >> >
>> >> >--Steve Shoyer (1980 MGB)
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>
>
Regards
Barrie Robinson
barrier@bconnex.net
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