'05 V50 2.4i - replace engine or move on?

earthtokatie · Post by **earthtokatie** » 17 Oct 2010, 23:41

Hello out there, interweb volvo family,
we purchased our '05 V50 last april and have been very happy with it... until last weekend, when the engine suddenly sounded like someone tossed a hammer in the clothes dryer and turned it on. no warning lights, no sensors, no computer codes. i could be using the wrong term here, but we believe it was the drive shaft bearing that failed. There are metal pieces in the oil pan. Engine tuns over but it's not pretty.

My question for the forum moderators is what you advise. is installing a used engine too risky? we've heard from a few mechanics, but can't tell if they are selling their service or offering advice.

here are what we see as our options:
a) $5500.00 to install a used engine (90k miles, no warranty)
i) keep it
ii) sell it
b) $8900.00 to install a volvo-certified re-built engine (one-year warranty)
c) sell to private party for $2500.00 as-is
d) sell to dealer for $1000.00 as-is and they drop the diagnosis charge

Any other ideas or suggestions? thanks for your input!!

-earthtokatie

Post by **billofdurham** » 18 Oct 2010, 12:55

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Some new members ask easy questions but somebody always beats me to them!

I am amazed at the prices you have been quoted for used and rebuilt engines as a new engine from one of our sponsors, VolvoWholesaleParts.com, link at the top of the forum, is $5,487.51. Of course there is a fitting charge on top of that but it would be interesting to know what the Volvo dealer would charge.

Have you an independent Volvo shop in your location? Rates will be much cheaper there and they do know what they are doing.

How long were you intending keeping the car? You say you were very happy with it so I assume you weren't thinking of changing it until this happened.

In the UK we have several companies that specialize in rebuilding engines, fitting them and putting a good warranty on them. What is the situation in the US? I can't imagine that only Volvo would be selling rebuilt, warranted engines.

Now I have asked as many questions as you did so I shall stop, after telling you what I would do. I would be trying to find an independent Volvo shop, finding out their charge for installing an engine from VolvoWholesaleParts.com after asking them if they know of anyone who rebuilds engines, other than Volvo, and finding out a price for that. I would also be telling the Volvo dealer to stick his diagnosis charge as my 8 years old grandson could diagnose an engine that sounds like a bag of hammers doing a tap dance just by listening to it.

Bill.

westmontdan · Post by **westmontdan** » 12 Nov 2010, 17:22

Hi Bill,
Thanks for your reply. My wife posted the original question and I wanted to follow up. At the time of the failure, we were 350 miles from home. We decided to transport the vehicle home to give us more time to decide its fate. Our initial intention was to keep it as long as it was economically feasible to maintain.

After much deliberation, we decided to replace the engine and called numerous independents in our local area to see if they would install a used engine- One out of five shops agreed at $1500 labor plus parts $???. Our V50 is sitting in our driveway and I keep thinking "maybe I can do this on my own." I was poking around and found the driver side CV boot has failed. I ordered an engine with 29k miles for $3790 and it arrived at the shop this week. When I stopped by to take a look at it, I found it precariously attached to the pallet with a crack in the oil pan. Now I am trying to get a claim through the shipping company and the whole question returns: Abandon the vehicle or follow through with an increasingly complicated repair.

With the damage claim, my timeline is growing exponentially and I keep thinking, can I do this myself- the specialized tools would be the biggest issue. Any chance you have instructions for complete engine replacement like the Oil Pan replacement you posted previously on this site? Sorry for the long post, but I appreciate the advice I get from other Volvo owners.

Dan

earthtokatie · Post by **earthtokatie** » 29 Nov 2010, 21:03

Hi Bill, Thanks for responding.
we hope this car will run like a champ for at least 10 more years.

We elected to have a local independent mechanic install a used engine with 30k miles (from engineandtransmissionworld.com). However, the engine was damaged in transport and the install is not yet complete. In case the mechanic backs out, do you know where we can access specialized instructions for complete engine replacement (like the Oil Pan guide posted here)?

Post by **billofdurham** » 30 Nov 2010, 12:56

Occasionally my wife tells me that the light is on in the penthouse but nobody is there. That is how I feel now for having missed your husband's post. My apologies for the oversight.

Hopefully this will help you:

V50 engine replace.pdf: (971.51 KiB) Downloaded 973 times

V50 special tools engine replacement.pdf: (243.1 KiB) Downloaded 3648 times

Bill.