Turning into a nightmare...

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 08 May 2011, 05:33

So we bought a 2005 S60 2.5T AWD with 80k on it a week ago. It was a one owner car always serviced at the dealer, no accidents, very clean car. I wrote already about a loud whining noise coming from the engine in a previous thread. It sounds like the PS pump to me but the dealers mechanic thinks its the belt or alternator. He's is supposed to fix that tomorrow.

So in addition to that, 3 days after purchase the radio screen goes out. It keeps playing but you can't see what station you are on, etc. It has come back on and off again several times since, its an HU-650. Is this a common problem?

A week after purchase, my wife pulls in the garage and you could smell a strong burning smell coming from under it. I thought stuck brake but the wheels and brakes were cool to the touch. Something else for the mechanic to look at...

Not the greatest feeling when you go out and buy a "new to us" car.

Post by **priapism** » 08 May 2011, 11:49

Probably just the bulb on the radio. These things insist on having their headlights on all the time, which means the bulbs go out unusually fast.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 08 May 2011, 11:55

priapism wrote:Probably just the bulb on the radio. These things insist on having their headlights on all the time, which means the bulbs go out unusually fast.

Do you know how or if you can change the bulb in the radio?

Post by **priapism** » 08 May 2011, 17:33

Yeah the whole center stack comes out easily. The cluster is more of a hassle. There's a post on it in the archives...

And yeah, I feel the same way. This car is never ending. I have a history of bulletproof Volvos in the family and somewhere the cars just turned 100% backwards. From ugly and bulletproof to pretty and fragile.

Post by **JRL** » 09 May 2011, 05:22

Not with these radios
You need to find a new/used radio

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 11 May 2011, 05:41

Well the loud whining noise turned out to be the alternator. The mechanic put in a new one and then realized it was the wrong one, apparently 05 was a split year and he guessed wrong. So today he is supposed to get the new one installed.

It looks like the radio is not a back light but the LCD display itself. Although I have heard of very strange issues popping up when an alternator goes bad so maybe their related. I am not going to bet on it though.

Priapism - you are lucky, I've never had a bulletproof Volvo, didn't know there was such a thing!!

jda2000 · Post by **jda2000** » 11 May 2011, 06:59

turbotim,

these swede babes are very sensitive to low voltage and the electronics go haywire if voltage is not up to par.

Now that you have a new alternator, you might consider a new battery to start fresh.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 11 May 2011, 09:50

Not a bad idea, thanks!

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 12 May 2011, 05:20

Well the second new alternator was also the wrong one. The mechanic ordered one direct from Bosch. How did I know it would be a Bosch, they have to be the worst parts maker out there.

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 13 May 2011, 08:02

Third times a charm. Got the car back, all is good for now. Waiting to see if the radio acts up again but it worked fine last night.