2005 v70 t5 - "cylinder losing compression" = new engine - ?

[graffito]

The Check Engine light was on when I picked it up from the body shop.
It was NOT on when I dropped it off.

I was heading to Volvo any way, so I asked them to check it out.

Diagnosis the first - based on OBD
1 bad spark, 1 bad ignition coil, 1 bad antenna ring.

Recommendation:
5 new spark plugs, 5 new ignition coils, 1 new antenna ring.

Outcome:
Car ran worse. Noticeable engine surge, rough idle.

Diagnosis #2: OBD again, I believe
Cylinder 2 losing compression

Recommendation:
Rebuild or replace engine

Outcome:
refunded most of the prior work bill, except for Antenna Ring.
Unhappy Volvo Customer.

This is the same dealership I bought it from, where I have had most but not all service done. It was also serviced at a Volvo specialist repair garage nearby.

10 years old, 82,500 miles, no mods, no racing, no major accidents.

To me this does NOT add up.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.

[cuhfs]

I would for now, set aside what the dealership (AKA Stealership) says.
Having done that, you need and look under the hood for disconnected, broken, and torn vacuum hoses and wires, make sure the spark plug wires and all connections are firmly seated. In other words, maybe the body shop or stealership disrupted something. And maybe the dealership is selling something.

[vtl]

Cylinder compression gauge is cheap, you can check yourself if any cylinder lost compression.

Does it consume oil?

[graffito]

Thanks.
I have looked, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't look bad.
When they refunded the cost of parts and labor, they removed the new ignition coils, but left the new spark plugs...

It sounds worse than when we brought it in, and after I got over the shock of the bad news, I realized that their explanation was insufficient:

"You noticed the rough idle b/c the car wasn't warmed up. It'll go away when it warms up."

NOT TRUE.

It WAS COLD, it was NOT idling roughly, it had the CHECK ENGINE light on, that's all.

Compression test is next.

UPDATE:
Volvo declares that they performed a compression test.

I asked for the readouts from the ODB and have received a chart of codes with the relevant ones checked off:

CEM-9C03 - Antenna/light ring Signal missing
ECM-3100 - Misfire, at least one cylinder - Start up
ECM-3120 - Misfire cylinder 2 - Start up


...

Yeah, there is one more (minor?) thing: we were looking at a nice used 2012 XC70 40k miles @$30k ...

You wouldn't be hinting at COLLUSION would you??? That would be ... unethical ...

[vtl]

Add a spoon of oil into cylinder #2 (numeration starts from t-belt side) and see if it starts easier. If it does, you have stuck rings, otherwise it's a burnt valve.

One more possibility is a head gasket. Does your car loose coolant, or do you see bubbles in expansion tank?

[cuhfs]

Interesting...
"Yeah, there is one more (minor?) thing: we were looking at a nice used 2012 XC70 40k miles @$30k ..."

No not hinting at COLLUSION. Car may need exactly what was quoted by dealership. Who knows... -
but its called being a "blind consumer". 1.) most service advisers and service managers are on salary plus commission. 2.) Some Techs also get bonuses based on billable hours (up-sells). 3.) A sale of of that $30K car probably makes them around $3K - $5K.

Many years ago... I junked a 96 850 because my indy mechanic (he also sold used cars too (which I bought from him)) told me the heater core was shot and was not worth fixing the car for. Quoted me big numbers...
SO... Now I turn the wrenches, scrape the knuckles, and enjoy it. Remember... most everyone is in business to make money.

So based on the dealers diagnosis... now you basically have nothing to lose with anything you do to the car so go try and figure it out and fix it!

More info compliments of the Robert DIY video series.:

and


Good luck.