Need help in Virginia

[LynnV70]

Hi everyone:

I just found this forum. I bought a 2001 V70 2.4T less than 6 months ago from a used car dealer. I was interested in the Volvo because it was in very good shape and seemed very clean. The dealer sent me to a shop to get an inspection sticker and they charged up my a/c. I thought that things would be fine from there. I started bringing the car into a shop down the street that seemed very helpful, but I have suspicions. I bought some parts at Autozone for a complete tune up and brought it into the shop to do the tune up. I got a call from them that they needed to put in all new coils as well. I had bought everything else and Autozone never mentioned coils. I go into the shop to pick up the car and the car was in the lot ready for pickup. I noticed they hadn't put in the new air filter I bought and the girl at the counter sent out a tech to put in the new air filter. When he opened it up and pulled out the old filter there was a round mesh of leaves and fine copper looking hair like wire underneath the old filter. I took it out and tried to clean out any of the small debri and he placed the new filter in. Then he told me that the girl at the counter (owner's wife) was going to tell me I need a new catalytic converter and not to mention that he told me that to her. I had no idea how expensive that was going to become.
I am wondering if they may have botched the tune up and caused a misfire and this is why there was strange stuff in the air filter chamber, which also could have caused some problems with the converter. The converter went out a few days later and I could drive the car to the shop but very carefully. It had the rotten egg smell and all the works. I was concerned about them putting a suitable converter in that would be a volvo part, but she told me she would take care of it and they changed the converter with an aftermarket part and put in two new 02 sensors also to the tune of close to 1900 dollars. I am shocked.

Now they told me I needed new engine mounts ..all of them.

I took the car to a Volvo dealer (out of town) and they did a 27 point inspection and said that they found "It appears that the turbo flange doesn't appear to be flush after cat install." The Volvo service person said he did not see that there was an urgent need to change the engine mounts as they had a little play but not much. He shrugged his shoulders and said I seem to be their cash cow. He was professional and careful in how he said things. He told me in order to get rid of the rough idle/sound I'd have to have to replace the new cat and have it properly installed where it was flush.

The car used to purr like a kitten before the cat install. One would think with a tune up and a new cat and sensors it wouldn't be sounding like a rough idle and the smooth ride I had before is no more. It runs rather rough and loud now. It sounds as if a muffled sound underneath. Although the cat install is acceptable it wasn't obviously installed very well. For what I paid I should have had the volvo shop put it in, but I wouldn't have been able to drive 40 minutes with the way the car was acting after the people did that tune up and the cat went out a few days later.

I keep asking some other shops about it, but can't afford to get a thorough check up now, while I am paying this large bill in increments for the next three months.

One shop was at least honest with me (which I appreciate) and told me that he is not familiar with volvos and encouraged me to find someone else to check it out.

I want to finish paying this bill and then get some help with the car. It drives OK but since they worked on it and replaced the catalytic converter the "MPG instantaneous" reading went up to 99 mpg while on the highway. This never happened before taking it that shop.

I love the Volvo but it runs like an old car now and I am very disappointed because I can't get a straight answer from the shop that put it in. They just keep pinging on getting me to change my engine mounts for more money. I won't give them any more and wish to find another shop to go to.

I was reading there are two things that can make a catalytic converter go bad..a misfire and clogged filter. This could have happened while in the shop for all I know, but I hope not. I will never know. It was strange that they called and asked if they could put all new coils in during the process of the tune up.

Anyhow..sorry this is so long.

I am near Richmond and wondered if anyone can refer a good mechanic or may have some advice to getting it to run smoother again. From what I'm told this will never happen. What a shame.

LynnV70

[mtd240]

Lynn,

Post this in the regular forum https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... um.php?f=9. I don't know much about V70s, but I did read your post. They will help you out if you repost it on the linked forum.

Michael

[my97volvo]

Hello Lynn,

I am in MD, but i am sure i could assist you locating a reasonable mechanic. Let me know if you still need help.

George

[sonny2]

You can call Tony's Import Repair in Winchester. They seem to be reasonable and good. I went all the way 70 miles one way to get my car fixed.