Cracked Block.

[suke]

Thanks again for replies. We believe that a new block is not being offered as a part only a complete engine also very aware that Volvo have gone back on their good will gestures to other people causing them to have to report to the media on consumer pages. What really makes us angry is the fact that in ten days time it will be three months since we broke down in Spain. It has taken all this time for Volvo Assistance to repatriate the car and make an offer. Now we are waiting for an engine and no-one has any idea of a delivery date. In the meantime we are driving around in a 2009 Toyota Verso with 85,000 miles on the clock and only cost £7000 but has never let us down whereas the Volvo that cost £32,000 now with 63,000 miles on the clock is now causing us sleepless nights.

[suke]

Please can you give more details of when that repair was.

[suke]

Sorry that was to Thorium, thanks

[dingov70]

Hello there , your simplest solution to this situation is contact a specialist volvo breakers & buy a complete engine . Way , Way cheaper than the silly figures quoted by stealership . You could try https://www.huddersfieldvolvobreakers.co.uk/

Once you have sourced an engine there should be a willing local volvo indie happy to swap them for you .

Replacing just the block is a lengthy , costly & time consuming experience . Further expense builds when you need to replace bearing shells and any other parts found to have wear

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Moomoo

A sad tale indeed, I am sorry to hear it.

I guess any mechanical device can suffer a failure, like a hose or radiator. I feel the catastrophe would have been less serious if your warning had been earlier!
These days rebuilding engines seems beyond main dealers ken!

My 240 has a temp gauge that I'm used to and I would know all is not well but my V70 would have been simmering nicely ,no doubt , before it would let me know, no gauge!

I hope all is well in the future.

Andrew.

yes you would get plenty of warning via a message and orange light whether it running hot OR too cold , ie, thermostat stuck open ..

The question arises , did this block crack due to overheating , was the cause coolant loss ?

yes no doubt the best repair is a complete engine from a crashed car ...

New short motors are available from volvo but that still means a lot of labour needed ..

[Familyman 90]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

I would try to get clarity on why they are insisting a whole new engine is required, when "otherwise the engine is perfect". Is it beyond their capabilities ? Are they worried about warranty of the repair ? or something else. If you can get clarity on this, then you have a possible route around the issue, especially with Thorium now stating that this was possible with his.

Regarding being "cheated", Volvo give a 3 year warranty on their vehicles, they don't promise anything beyond this, (unless of course you take out further warranties) but I too would be upset at failing this early. It is of course fully expected to last beyond this, and their reputation would suffer if their vehicles failed regularly this early, hence why they are offering goodwill. I think you are also following the correct route in asking for more from them, as their opening offer can be a low one, and there are instances on here where goodwill has been raised with a bit of push, but I don't think they are under obligation.

My only caveat to the above, would be for you to investigate the sale of goods act, which requires goods being of satisfactory quality.
"The Sale of Goods Act offers protection against faulty goods even when the manufacturer's guarantee has run out. The act says goods must last a reasonable time...."

I don't know enough about it to say how this applies to cars, or your specific example, but certainly worth investigating further. Citizens advice might be an idea, or considering the sums you are talking about, a consultation with a suitable lawyer, with a reminder that aggressive legal posturing may reduce their goodwill if you are not actually entitled to the compensation.

Absolutely. People want comprehensive warranty and their backsides covered for all time, but don't want the expense of buying a new car or paying out for a continuing warranty on the old one. Running an older car is a gamble, and its unrealistic to expect a manufacturer or importer to underwrite someones gamble ad infinitum.

BTW, the SoGA has long since been repealed and "fit for purpose" and "merchantable quality" no longer feature un the legislation. Its now the Consumer Rights Act, which is much less advantageous to vehicle owners. The CRA in essense offers a sliding range of options and compensation, depending on the age of the item. Indeed, at 7 years old the vehicle falls outside of the 6 year threshold of the CRA entirely and Volvo aren't obligated to do a thing. When viewed in light of that Volvo's offer is actually more than reasonable, although I can quite see why a customer in the OPs position might not feel that way.

Id be inclined to take the offer if a contribution to a new motor while its on the table. They're in no way legally obliged to lift a finger, and making waves might give them cause to have a change of heart - I've known it happen to a Lexus owner, who tried to make waves and talked himself out of a 50% contribution to a new gearbox down to nothing at all...and he still had a knackered gearbox. Don't be that person.

Unless the OP can think of a option that will please them that is realistically going to appear in the very near future then they have no alternative. Complaining hither and thither will not improve matters, and the threats to talk to consumer websites/programmes is not going to make them quiver with fear and get their wallets out, and runs a higher risk of seeing the offer withdrawn as it does of seeing it improved.

[Thorium]

Originally Posted by suke

Please can you give more details of when that repair was.

It was in early 2019. Car was 3 /12 years old, 61k miles and FVSH. Mine started with sporadic coolant loss, but was otherwise fine to drive with no codes logged. Dealer had the car for 8 days and found a crack in the cylinder block (rare but not unheard of for a four-pot VEA D4).

Mine was repaired under extended warranty, but I was told the bill would have been around £2,500 had I had to pay. Only the block itself was replaced, as everything else was ok.

Hope this helps in some way.

[suke]

I would like to make it clear that we never had any water loss either before or when it happened just a warning of coolant hot. Also with a seven year old car I fully understand that repairs could be needed but never expected that to be a complete engine. Perhaps feeling cheated is a little dramatic but after reading the postings under "how many miles has your diesel engine done" our situation does not feel right.

[Simmy]

how often did you check your oil and water?or did you just rely on sevice intervals .

[grumpydad]

Hi
have a look at this
then find some one local in the uk ship it to them
then get some one to fit it back in the car
if you are lucky some one will go to the car and do it

hope that helps