New, Genuine Volvo distributor cap.

[Chris1Roll]

Starting to get parts together for the 740's next service in June, I was going to replace the distributor cap (etc) as when I took it off it is quite spark eroded inside.

So I bought a genuine volvo one from a trusted seller I have used before (not naming, its not their fault and I know they'll refund)

It comes with a casting fault/crack behind the terminal for number 4:

That'll work for a while before filling up with carbon and starting tracking I reckon.

Ok, so manufacturing faults happen sometimes, but on close inspection, its just generally rougher than the one currently on the car (aside from having nice shiny non-eroded terminals), e.g. the smooth inside surface is all rough in several places:


I've already seen on here what Volvo are providing for water pumps and exhausts, and recently saw someone in the states who bought a set of 244 rear lights from a volvo dealers and they recieved the aftermarket ones in a volvo box with a volvo price tag!

I do wonder if now we're just getting the aftermarket bosch repackaged for these too, in which case I'll just get a Bosch one for less than half the price. Hell I could get two and keep on in my get-me-home box and still be better off.

Anyone else bought one recently and found similar?

[Arthur1330]

Originally Posted by Chris1Roll

Starting to get parts together for the 740's next service in June, I was going to replace the distributor cap (etc) as when I took it off it is quite spark eroded inside.

So I bought a genuine volvo one from a trusted seller I have used before (not naming, its not their fault and I know they'll refund)

It comes with a casting fault/crack behind the terminal for number 4:

That'll work for a while before filling up with carbon and starting tracking I reckon.

Ok, so manufacturing faults happen sometimes, but on close inspection, its just generally rougher than the one currently on the car (aside from having nice shiny non-eroded terminals), e.g. the smooth inside surface is all rough in several places:


I've already seen on here what Volvo are providing for water pumps and exhausts, and recently saw someone in the states who bought a set of 244 rear lights from a volvo dealers and they recieved the aftermarket ones in a volvo box with a volvo price tag!

I do wonder if now we're just getting the aftermarket bosch repackaged for these too, in which case I'll just get a Bosch one for less than half the price. Hell I could get two and keep on in my get-me-home box and still be better off.

Anyone else bought one recently and found similar?

To my knowledge the Bosch part is the OE part? Also the original caps should be lacquered inside, as my Volvo / Bosch one are.

I've found the aftermarket caps can be okay, but I would only recommend getting a genuine / Bosch rotor arm as I have had a cheap eBay one crack and leave me stranded!

[4x4]

Possibly Clan will see this and give you his Volvo parts take on non Volvo parts.

[Chris1Roll]

Originally Posted by Arthur1330

To my knowledge the Bosch part is the OE part? Also the original caps should be lacquered inside, as my Volvo / Bosch one are.

I've found the aftermarket caps can be okay, but I would only recommend getting a genuine / Bosch rotor arm as I have had a cheap eBay one crack and leave me stranded!

Bosch do make the Volvo ones, yes.

But I do recall Clan was quite sure that the ones in a Volvo box were superior to simply buying a bosch one in a bosch box.

Point being now thinking that as with water pumps and other things as above, they might actually be identical at this point, if they weren't before.

The more I think about it I can't imagine Volvo are still comissioning them being made to a higher standard, to then be held in stock for a car that went out of production 32 years ago.

[bob12]

Genuine Volvo dissy caps and rotors (OEM Bosch) v others.

All I can say on this subject is that I haven't fitted a Volvo part on my 745 since it came off dealership service by my firm in 1996.

I have used Beru (rotors), Febi, Facet and, the 'new' SMP (Intermotor etc) to source replacements (very infrequently). All have provided many years reliable service. I will only choose from these specific badged sources.

At the end of 2023 I replaced a Facet dissy cap and Beru rotor that had been in the car for 20 years. They were in very good condition and didn't really need changing.

Currently, CarParts4Less are running a 24% discount on these items. I always look to see what Arnold Clarke in Glasgow have to offer.

Bob

[360beast]

Beru are German I believe and I have only heard good things about them. I think the only caps that give issues are the clearly cheap nasty Chinese crud, I have about four distributor caps from cars I've broken over the years and fitted a new Bosch cap and rotor when I bought the car so caps wise I'm sorted for the life of my car I reckon.

If you are charging it due to a faulty one then I'm sure I could spare a used one for you.

[Chris1Roll]

Thanks Luke.

I wouldn't say the existing one faulty as such, since it still works - more that since the terminals are spark eroded more than halfway through, that to replace it when I service it next would be good preventive maintenance, especially given my penchant for driving to remote areas just for the hell of it.

Bob - I'm certainly becoming less and less concerned with making sure everything comes in a blue box these days, as long as it is a reputable manufacturer; given from what I can make of it the quality of the volvo parts for our cars is declining as they change source. (the more recent cars I'm sure they still get their original high spec made)
I suspect we'll see more of the same as time goes on. Waiting for someone to open a box and find a part stamped PPS

[Baffler]

Shame on you Volvo! Rather than send it back have you considered applying a little clear acrylic to that one area?

It would appear everything has been declining "quality wise" for a number of years so, where possible, purchase the next best available item, for a fraction of the cost, and replace/service more frequently. A sad case of affairs, I know, but we have little or no choice in the matter now that most items are NLA. We have to do our homework when sourcing parts nowadays. You would expect Bosch and Beru to be top of that list but apply a pinch of salt.

BTW, Chris, your 740 is looking majestic in your other thread. Credit to you!

[baggy798]

The one I got from the dealers last year was machined crooked where it mounts to the car and had a chunk missing out of it. Got a refund, no biggie.

That one you've got will probably be ok, although it looks like a standard Bosch cap so you're getting ripped off either way. The Volvo ones should be shinier than that as they were/are extra lacquered.

There'a an original one on ebay US right now. RAREEEEEE

[Forrest]

I did a bit of an analysis of the Bosch ones a couple of years ago.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=324380

The same part is used on the Porsche 944 and some other models of the same vintage. This is a good thing because it helps to ensure a supply of reasonable quality parts.

The Porsche part has a very minor difference in the outer black plastic shield but the inner bakelite cap is the same Bosch part number. It is possible to transfer the original Volvo shield if you’re that OCD but I didn’t bother and my car has been running very happily with the Porsche part for the past couple of years.

As an aside, I happened to notice in my Euro Car Parts order history tonight that the Beru rotor arm I ordered for another 940 cost £16.24 in 2021 and is listed at £25.99 now. That’s some rate of inflation.