1999 V70XC Cylinder Head, etc.

Marilyn99 · Post by **Marilyn99** » 22 Jan 2015, 13:30

The day after my last post regarding the humming noise I got tires on my car, hopped on the highway headed for work and it started to run raggedly with Check Engine light just as it does with a bad ignition coil (what a bad idea those things were). So I limped to the dealer and discovered it was nothing so simple. No compression in cylinder 4. I am picking the car up tonight after they re-machined the cylinder head, replaced all 5 pistons, valve gasket and all that, rebuilt the PCV system and threw in the lift gate supports (good of them - note sarcasm). $2400.00. I am told it's running like a brand new car. I guess I'll find out.

It just seemed like the best thing to do. I've done timing belt, water pump, replaced the ETM and ABS sensor, radiator, struts and a lot of other things and the body is near mint. I can't buy another car for the price of the repair that has been as well cared for as my beloved buggy. Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this that this repair was the best thing to do!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 22 Jan 2015, 17:27

If you like the car and plan to keep it then, as painful as it is, it is a good investment.

...Lee

Post by **cn90** » 22 Jan 2015, 17:32

1+,

Let's say the car is $2400.
The repair is $2400.
For $5000, you may not be able to buy a car with "new" engine like this.

The investment will easily last you another 100K.

PS...ignition coil is here to stay. Cap/rotor system is defunct.

draser · Post by **draser** » 22 Jan 2015, 18:25

Hopefully there's waranty coming with this repair. If compression was zero on a cylinder that's normally a valve job, which did not come up in the thread. Not quite sure why pistons were replaced in this case. Assuming a very good job was done on the top end of engine there's no mention about any work on bottom end. Spending all this money to rebuild the top is not justified w/out at least replacing the crank and con-rod bearings. But perhaps it's all there on the invoice.

Marilyn99 · Post by **Marilyn99** » 23 Jan 2015, 09:18

I picked it up and it's running like a champ. Apparently the rattling I was concerned about on 1/12/15 was the only sign of a completely clogged PCV. It's odd that I had no indication that anything was going wrong with the car at all (other than that rattle). I'm sensitive to the smallest changes in my car and it had been running beautifully. The garage agreed when I had it in last month for an ignition coil. When this happened they couldn't figure why I'd had no warning that the cylinder was going or that the PCV was so thoroughly clogged. None whatsoever. Bad things can happen with no warning at all! I had a 2008 S60 loaner for the 9 days and it doesn't handle half as well as my old V70. My old car hugs the road and handles so much better. It's a keeper.

Post by **stephansvolvo** » 23 Jan 2015, 20:51

I'm having the same 0 compression. What all did the dealer do for the engine for that 2400? It's going to take some convincing my wife to let me put out that kind of dough since that is what I paid for the car a year ago.
Thank in advance for the info.
Stephan

Marilyn99 · Post by **Marilyn99** » 24 Jan 2015, 19:04

Basically everything in my original post above: machined the cylinder head, replaced all 5 pistons, valve gasket, but included in that was also a belt tensioner, PCV/oil trap replacement and replacing the tailgate pistons as my tailgate threatened to murder me every time I opened it. All the gaskets added up. I really do believe it's worth it depending on how long you've had your car. I've had mine nine years so I know well it has been treated and all the work that's been done to it. If you buy another car for the same money you're still just buying someone else's problems and you'll be confronted with repair bills on another car. Mine runs like new now.

Post by **cn90** » 24 Jan 2015, 19:53

Interesting you mentioned "pistons", but pistons virtually never go wrong. The exhaust valves are usually the culprit.
Would be interesting to see the actual itemized repair receipt.

Post by **stephansvolvo** » 24 Jan 2015, 19:59

So this what I'm currently dealing with. Any thoughts?
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=67947

draser · Post by **draser** » 25 Jan 2015, 07:55

If you don't do all/some of the work yourself it comes down to economics. Depending on the condition of the car it's a risk to put a lot of money into an old car. However, if tranny, and rest of car systems are in good repair then you may want to do it. The other thing is to see what exactly we're talking about here. What is wrong and how much it is to fix. Perhaps you can get away with a head from breakers and a few hundreds in labor. Conventional wisdom for these cars again, is stuff keeps breaking after so may years and miles and owner does not do the work himself it's time to sell.