Volvo dealer - shambolic
Discussion
About to send a really quite strong letter to a certain Volvo dealer, in Surrey.
I have a 1999 V70R AWD as a hack. It broke down about a month ago, running like a pig on the A3. A hose had popped off, and due to location was not fixable by the side of the road. I could not get the bonnet open when I pulled over - AA repairman and I had to do that together. Found the nearest Volvo dealership, had it recovered to them.
I asked them to sort it out - AA diagnostic showed all the sensors were throwing up error codes. I asked them to replace the hose to cure the fault. Also asked them to change the cambelt while it was in, and do a check on the car. Told them to replace the faulty bonnet catch. Picked it up a week later, £300 bill.
They told me that they had replaced the hose that was popping off, replaced the bonnet catch, and done the cambelt. They told me that they had done a full check on the car as they were required to do, and had charged me £60 for the privilege.
They then told me that I had a major engine oil leak that needed new rear main seal. I needed a new exhaust at £600+. Also needed new lambda sensors, and a new air mass flow meter. Apparently it also needed a new ETS (electronic throttle module) - £400 fitted. They told me that car had suspension and brake issues that would mean it would fail an MOT, including dodgy wishbones.
I was a bit suspicious, as I had been told by the last owner that the suspension wishbones and bushes had been redone, and the discs and pads were 18 months and 10,000 miles old, all round. I told the dealer not to do anything, as I would check it out myself, At this point, service manager became insistent that the car was unsafe to drive, and that I should leave it for remedial work and MOT. I refused, and drove it away.
A week later, it broke down again outside the house - same problem, really rough running. I had other things to do, so left it outside my house - after finding I still could not open the bonnet. A couple of weeks later, I found out that there is a Volvo independent about a mile from my home. I limped it to them last Saturday. They just called.
- They welded the exhaust. £20.
- Volvo had changed the cambelt, but not the tensioners. Redone.
- Hose had not been replaced, had popped off again, as original had a split in it. Volvo had glued it back on. Now replaced.
- Oil leak was not from the engine, it was the sump plug.
- Faulty bonnet catch had not been replaced, merely greased.
- Engine mounts were fine.
- Sensors cleaned, refitted, and absolutely fine - fault codes were to do with the hose to the ETS falling off again.
- ETS was perfectly OK, and in fact was only 2 years old – again it was the leaking hose that was the problem.
- Car sailed through its MOT with no advisories
- suspension wishbones and bushes had indeed been replaced, as had the brakes.
To say I’m not pleased is an understatement. Although obviously relieved that there is nothing major wrong with the car.
I am about to write a very strong letter to the service manager. I hve kept all the parts that he ahllegedly replaced and charged me for, and independent has taken photos of the work allegedly done, but not.
It's time to administer a serious shoeing, I feel.
I have a 1999 V70R AWD as a hack. It broke down about a month ago, running like a pig on the A3. A hose had popped off, and due to location was not fixable by the side of the road. I could not get the bonnet open when I pulled over - AA repairman and I had to do that together. Found the nearest Volvo dealership, had it recovered to them.
I asked them to sort it out - AA diagnostic showed all the sensors were throwing up error codes. I asked them to replace the hose to cure the fault. Also asked them to change the cambelt while it was in, and do a check on the car. Told them to replace the faulty bonnet catch. Picked it up a week later, £300 bill.
They told me that they had replaced the hose that was popping off, replaced the bonnet catch, and done the cambelt. They told me that they had done a full check on the car as they were required to do, and had charged me £60 for the privilege.
They then told me that I had a major engine oil leak that needed new rear main seal. I needed a new exhaust at £600+. Also needed new lambda sensors, and a new air mass flow meter. Apparently it also needed a new ETS (electronic throttle module) - £400 fitted. They told me that car had suspension and brake issues that would mean it would fail an MOT, including dodgy wishbones.
I was a bit suspicious, as I had been told by the last owner that the suspension wishbones and bushes had been redone, and the discs and pads were 18 months and 10,000 miles old, all round. I told the dealer not to do anything, as I would check it out myself, At this point, service manager became insistent that the car was unsafe to drive, and that I should leave it for remedial work and MOT. I refused, and drove it away.
A week later, it broke down again outside the house - same problem, really rough running. I had other things to do, so left it outside my house - after finding I still could not open the bonnet. A couple of weeks later, I found out that there is a Volvo independent about a mile from my home. I limped it to them last Saturday. They just called.
- They welded the exhaust. £20.
- Volvo had changed the cambelt, but not the tensioners. Redone.
- Hose had not been replaced, had popped off again, as original had a split in it. Volvo had glued it back on. Now replaced.
- Oil leak was not from the engine, it was the sump plug.
- Faulty bonnet catch had not been replaced, merely greased.
- Engine mounts were fine.
- Sensors cleaned, refitted, and absolutely fine - fault codes were to do with the hose to the ETS falling off again.
- ETS was perfectly OK, and in fact was only 2 years old – again it was the leaking hose that was the problem.
- Car sailed through its MOT with no advisories
- suspension wishbones and bushes had indeed been replaced, as had the brakes.
To say I’m not pleased is an understatement. Although obviously relieved that there is nothing major wrong with the car.
I am about to write a very strong letter to the service manager. I hve kept all the parts that he ahllegedly replaced and charged me for, and independent has taken photos of the work allegedly done, but not.
It's time to administer a serious shoeing, I feel.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 20th May 10:49
I hate my local Volvo dealer too.
Mineis an S40 r design 58 plate and I took it in to say that I had a shimmy through the car at 80, but nothing through the wheel.
They said they couldnt drive it at 80 to see what it was like. I offered to drive the mechainic myself-no. Fair enough said I, but please check the usual bushes, wheel balance, suspension etc to see if you can fix it.
No!!!
They actually refused to do ANYTHING. Because it happens at illegal speeds they refused to even look at it.
Its still doing it.
Mineis an S40 r design 58 plate and I took it in to say that I had a shimmy through the car at 80, but nothing through the wheel.
They said they couldnt drive it at 80 to see what it was like. I offered to drive the mechainic myself-no. Fair enough said I, but please check the usual bushes, wheel balance, suspension etc to see if you can fix it.
No!!!
They actually refused to do ANYTHING. Because it happens at illegal speeds they refused to even look at it.
Its still doing it.
Had exactly the same with my 02 V70 at the local stealer in Basingstoke....
Went in for warranty work on stalling (not good for an auto) and whilst it was there I felt guilty and asked for a minor service - £174 not too bad. However when I collected it there was a 2 page list of faulty items including new pads and discs all round (£600 + fitting), oil leaks, suspension bushes, heated mirror not hot enough!! etc etc, even down to the button missing off the rear seat belt to stop it sliding down to the seat.
Now I'm not being funny, but I didn't ask for that check, and how much time (and cost) did it take to do that - felt like I was being used as an easy target. Brake pads lasted another 10,000 miles before needing changind, and only the front discs were changed as well.
Its not just Volvo though - local Chrysler dealer insisted my sister-in-law's Grand Voyager needed £2500 of work (strangely just after the warranty had expired) took it to a friend with a ramp and it cost her £300 in total....
Went in for warranty work on stalling (not good for an auto) and whilst it was there I felt guilty and asked for a minor service - £174 not too bad. However when I collected it there was a 2 page list of faulty items including new pads and discs all round (£600 + fitting), oil leaks, suspension bushes, heated mirror not hot enough!! etc etc, even down to the button missing off the rear seat belt to stop it sliding down to the seat.
Now I'm not being funny, but I didn't ask for that check, and how much time (and cost) did it take to do that - felt like I was being used as an easy target. Brake pads lasted another 10,000 miles before needing changind, and only the front discs were changed as well.
Its not just Volvo though - local Chrysler dealer insisted my sister-in-law's Grand Voyager needed £2500 of work (strangely just after the warranty had expired) took it to a friend with a ramp and it cost her £300 in total....
bull996 said:
I hate my local Volvo dealer too.
Mineis an S40 r design 58 plate and I took it in to say that I had a shimmy through the car at 80, but nothing through the wheel.
They said they couldnt drive it at 80 to see what it was like. I offered to drive the mechainic myself-no. Fair enough said I, but please check the usual bushes, wheel balance, suspension etc to see if you can fix it.
No!!!
They actually refused to do ANYTHING. Because it happens at illegal speeds they refused to even look at it.
Its still doing it.
may be a bit far, but can't it be tested on a rolling road for things like this above the legal speed limit?Mineis an S40 r design 58 plate and I took it in to say that I had a shimmy through the car at 80, but nothing through the wheel.
They said they couldnt drive it at 80 to see what it was like. I offered to drive the mechainic myself-no. Fair enough said I, but please check the usual bushes, wheel balance, suspension etc to see if you can fix it.
No!!!
They actually refused to do ANYTHING. Because it happens at illegal speeds they refused to even look at it.
Its still doing it.
will_ said:
What does the invoice say (rather than what they told you)?
That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
Nope - bill shows it all:That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
- cambelt (£150 - very cheap on a T5, even specialist said this)
- new hose
- new bonnet catch
2 hours labour
joe_90 said:
Bloody hell, trading standards, you got a written list from them what needed 'fixing', and keep us updated..
Oh yes - they've written down some, but not all, of the stuff that needed replacing on the check results list.Including the major oil leak from the rear main seal. Which was in fact a dodgy sump plug washer.
Stupid b
ds.I'm going to use my big boots for this one. Imagine the number people housewives who just pay these stupid bills? Disgusting.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 20th May 11:36
Harry Flashman said:
will_ said:
What does the invoice say (rather than what they told you)?
That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
Nope - bill shows it all:That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
- cambelt (£150 - very cheap on a T5, even specialist said this)
- new hose
- new bonnet catch
2 hours labour
Harry Flashman said:
will_ said:
What does the invoice say (rather than what they told you)?
That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
Nope - bill shows it all:That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
- cambelt (£150 - very cheap on a T5, even specialist said this)
- new hose
- new bonnet catch
2 hours labour
Large boot required Harry.
I still have my heavy duty Austrian para boots from my OTC/TA days. They'll do nicely.
Waiting for their response now - sent a detailed e-mail, attaching the photos the specialist e-mailed me of the work allegedly done, but note (eg original bonnet catch and mountings still there, with old dirt covering them, despite me having been charged for a new one.
Cheating scum.
Waiting for their response now - sent a detailed e-mail, attaching the photos the specialist e-mailed me of the work allegedly done, but note (eg original bonnet catch and mountings still there, with old dirt covering them, despite me having been charged for a new one.
Cheating scum.
S3_Graham said:
Harry Flashman said:
will_ said:
What does the invoice say (rather than what they told you)?
That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
Nope - bill shows it all:That bill sounds suspiciously small for what they supposedly did.
if they actually charged you for things they didn't do, find the biggest shoe you can. If they just told you things, it'll be much harder to prove.
- cambelt (£150 - very cheap on a T5, even specialist said this)
- new hose
- new bonnet catch
2 hours labour
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