Moment of silence for my V70, and the importance of OEM

Post by **benpineapple** » 23 Apr 2018, 06:02

Well, my V70 died in a small blaze last week. Took one last pic with it before it got towed away.

Bought the car three and a half years ago, it replaced my 1990 240 (which I sold for about the same as I paid for my V70). I logged over 80,000 miles in that bad boy. Did SO much work on it over the years. Everything from pulling the engine to replace all seals, to PCV (twice), to timing belt, to adding fog lights, roof racks, and other mildly useful features. Will sorely miss camping out of the back of that car every summer.

Moment of silence.

Mechanic determined the fire (which was located under the RH passenger door) to be cause by wiring outside the fuel send unit. The car began leaking fuel from the unit, and caught fire. I had been driving the car home from work at freeway speed, when it died. After pulling over it took me a few minutes (was checking OBD codes) before I smelled smoke. Grabbed my bag and ran from the car. Thankfully the fire station was close, and they had the blaze out within ten minutes of me calling.

Car was a total loss, garage estimated $3500 to repair everything. Fuel tank had melted, nearly ruptured they said. Ton of other miscellaneous damage. The good thing is I didn't get hurt. This easily could have gone a much different way. Also thankfully, I was carrying full coverage on the car, and my insurance is paying out decently for it. Had just done exhaust and tires, which I think they noticed haha.

So, on to the part in question. It was a Pro Parts Sweden fuel sending unit, PN 9470674. I will absolutely never buy from this company ever again, I know that no company is perfect and maybe this was somehow my fault. Either way I never plan to buy aftermarket ever again. I take for-granted the integral role every single part on my car plays, to keep me safe every single day when I'm driving. The past 3 years have been pretty rough financially, so buying aftermarket is easy, I totally get it. And sometimes you have to reconcile letting a needed repair degrade further while saving up for OEM. If it ever gets to that, I plan on just catching rides with coworkers, or working remote when possible. Thankfully got an amazing job last fall, so I'm hoping OEM gets easier to handle.

Be safe out there! Wish me luck finding my next Swede! Looking at a V50 and a C30 later this week.

*edit: Just put a deposit on an 06 V50 that I'm picking up later this week. So long V70 forum! I'll check back often and try to chime in on repairs I remember doing on my V70.

Post by **benpineapple** » 23 Apr 2018, 06:09

**bonus double black diamond parallel parking job from a few weeks ago**

Post by **oragex** » 23 Apr 2018, 06:48

Professional Parts Sweden, aka Scantech. Just google out 'pro parts sweden problem'
Great name including the words Professional and Sweden.

rip your car, rip your efforts working on it

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Apr 2018, 06:52

oragex wrote: ↑23 Apr 2018, 06:48 Professional Parts Sweden, aka Scantech. Just google out 'pro parts sweden problem'
Great name including the words Professional and Sweden.

rip your car, rip your efforts working on it

Indeed. Not exactly upmarket stuff.

For electronics and fuel related stuff OE or the right OEM seems a given. For other stuff more negotiable..

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:13

Sorry benpineapple!

I hope you find a good car at a good price, and to continue reading your posts now and then.

Effin Scantech.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:19

My condolences on your loss - and Im glad you got out ok!! We will find you another Swede, soon

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:33

A good addition to any car below. Though it won't always help if the fire is well hidden.

There used to be a Volvo mounting bracket to put it beneath the drivers seat, always within reach. Something to look for perhaps.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:40

Yeah - that isn't going to help too much on a fuel or electrical fire. There is a lot of fuel value in plastic in cars now and once they start, they are pretty much totaled.

Off topic - you are required to carry on on boats, where they are even more useless. My 26 foot sailboat is about 1000 gallons of gasoline in the form of GRP or fiberglass. If it starts on fire, you start swimming, fast.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:47

Electrical fires should be OK with a powder extinguisher. Fuel I guess depends on a lot of factors since it'll just keep coming.. But if a fire can be reduced to just a leak it's a huge improvement. Increases the chances of saving the rest of the car for parts at least

(and any cargo inside).

Post by **oragex** » 23 Apr 2018, 08:51

Rattnalle wrote: ↑23 Apr 2018, 08:33 A good addition to any car below. Though it won't always help if the fire is well hidden.

There used to be a Volvo mounting bracket to put it beneath the drivers seat, always within reach. Something to look for perhaps.

I believe in having one of these, not a small 1lb, but a larger like in the picture. One day it may help another driver as well. These come in different types, if I remember the ABC type is the one to get for cars. But again, the fire started under the rear bench, not easy to access

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_dry_chemical