Should oil trap and battery cost $1000?

Post by **matthew1** » 06 Jan 2009, 14:29

The following is an email I received from an MVS guest. I've asked the guest to register and take over this thread.

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My S40 showed check engine, followed by 'Anti-skid service', 'emergency service' required. It also started warning light - no oil leak, no noice, nothing.

I took it to Volvo and they charged me $1000 saying it required changing the battery and oil trap (why oil trap, i dont know), and now very much next day the car is showing same codes.

Volvo is asking for $500 more just to check what's wrong again.

Questions:
1. Did my car need an oil trap change? What are the symptoms that lead to to change it?

2. Should oil trap and battery cost $1000? Just trying to understand if I got cheated here.

3. How do I get rid of the codes, which Volvo would have fixed in first place. Don't know what to do?

I would appreciate your advice.
Thanks in advance.

Post by **matthew1** » 06 Jan 2009, 14:32

Mitesh, your instincts are correct. $1000 was too much for oil trap and battery. And it's outrageous that they want $500 more.

1. Get the codes from the dealer that they got from your S40 and post them here

2. Which dealer/city is this please?

shahmitesh2000 · Post by **shahmitesh2000** » 06 Jan 2009, 14:43

It's Rockville/MD.

I will get the codes and post it here. They said its pages and pages of codes.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Jan 2009, 15:14

What year, S40?
Have you heard of skunk fish?
Very fishy smelling indeed.

shahmitesh2000 · Post by **shahmitesh2000** » 07 Jan 2009, 08:51

It's 2005.

Volvo says they don't have a code. When they changed the battery, everything was lost.

They checked my car and now they are saying BCM (break control module) needs to be replaced. They haven't given me the estimate yet.

I have requested them to save the code atleast this time.

How much BCM change should cost?

Post by **billofdurham** » 07 Jan 2009, 11:39

Volvo says they don't have a code. When they changed the battery, everything was lost.

My local Volvo dealer prints out any codes and attaches the print out to the car file with a copy for the owner. They are also put onto the main computer so other dealers can access them if the car goes in somewhere else. I don't know if this is SOP but my local dealer tells me it is done by other dealers over here.

How much BCM change should cost?

At the rate they charged for the battery and the oil trap it will probably be six figures.

This seems like a major rip-off.

Bill.

StarmanDXE · Post by **StarmanDXE** » 07 Jan 2009, 14:35

It sounds to me like that $1000 wasn't for taking your car in for a battery and an oil trap. It seems that the $1000 mentioned above included some "diagnostic work" and other whatnot. (But, don't get me wrong: $1000 still sounds way too high for doing diagnostics and then doing the job.)

shahmitesh2000 · Post by **shahmitesh2000** » 23 Jan 2009, 08:54

The original quote for BCM was $586 (test) + $1100 (part) + $220 (installation) = $1906 (total). This was after I paid $1000 to them for battery and oil trap.

I had to little tough with the dealer, but he did agree to change BCM for free.

All is well that ends well - unless he took out/changed something from my car to make up with this cost (not sure if this happens in this country)

Thanks everyone for responding to this matter and guiding me.

Mitesh

kojack1072 · Post by **kojack1072** » 17 Feb 2009, 04:58

I dont want to sound ignorant, but what is an oil trap?

Post by **billofdurham** » 17 Feb 2009, 12:31

It is a part of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system which does, literally, trap oil that circulates through the PCV. It requires periodic cleaning or replacement to keep the PCV working properly.

Bill.