Alternator problem v70 2008

psidhu · Jun 26th, 2012, 16:36

Hi folks, I have a V70 (Aug 2008 D5 Sport) on which the alternator has just died. I had a tensioner recall last year and wonder if anyone has had problems with tensioners or alternators? The car has 41,000 miles on it. I would have thought a Volvo would be a bit more reliable! The repair cost is estimated at £750+ at a Volvo dealer. Any thoughts on whether another source of parts might be better?
Many thanks

copperknob · Jun 28th, 2012, 20:27

take it off and get it reconneda lot cheaper mate easy easy job

psidhu · Jun 28th, 2012, 22:29

Thanks for that. It is what I did in the end. It transpires there is no new one in the UK and has to come from Sweden. I only found that out from a dealer in Wawrick; my local dealer promised me they'd have a part the next day!

copperknob · Jun 29th, 2012, 20:36

just fitted a new alternator today £640

s1monc · Jul 2nd, 2012, 07:50

We have a September 2008 V70 D5 sport R-design, had the recall last year. Its just turned 40,000 miles this weekend !
That seems very expensive for an alternator. Who did you get to repair the alternator ?

Thanks
Simon.

psidhu · Jul 2nd, 2012, 10:24

A crowd called Unit Exchange. They were brilliant, picked up the unit from a garge in Belfast and would have had it back within 3-4 days (their time was only 1-2 hours!). I found them on the internet. They were knowledgable and polite, which is more than I can say for SMW Volvo in Belfast and Volvo Customer Relations (who seemed to me more interested in getting me to say that I knew I was driving the car away from the dealer at my own risk). I did phone a Volvo dealer in Warwick and they told me the part was unavailable in the UK, would take 4 days to arrive from Sweden and the cost was £650. The problem with the alternator was a burnt out rectifier diode which you can buy on ebay for a few pounds. I think that Volvo dealers and their mechanics ( or technicians!) lack the knowledge and expertise to do anything other than replace parts which are priced exorbitantly.
I emailed Volvo Global Customer Relations on Friday and am still awaiting a reply

Jun 26th, 2012, 16:36	#1
psidhu New Member Last Online: Feb 10th, 2013 21:01 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Belfast	Alternator problem v70 2008 Hi folks, I have a V70 (Aug 2008 D5 Sport) on which the alternator has just died. I had a tensioner recall last year and wonder if anyone has had problems with tensioners or alternators? The car has 41,000 miles on it. I would have thought a Volvo would be a bit more reliable! The repair cost is estimated at £750+ at a Volvo dealer. Any thoughts on whether another source of parts might be better? Many thanks

Jun 28th, 2012, 20:27	#2
copperknob Senior Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2012 07:57 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: scotland	take it off and get it reconneda lot cheaper mate easy easy job

Jun 28th, 2012, 22:29	#3
psidhu New Member Last Online: Feb 10th, 2013 21:01 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Belfast	Thanks for that. It is what I did in the end. It transpires there is no new one in the UK and has to come from Sweden. I only found that out from a dealer in Wawrick; my local dealer promised me they'd have a part the next day!

Jun 29th, 2012, 20:36	#4
copperknob Senior Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2012 07:57 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: scotland	just fitted a new alternator today £640

Jul 2nd, 2012, 07:50	#5
s1monc Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 22:45 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent	We have a September 2008 V70 D5 sport R-design, had the recall last year. Its just turned 40,000 miles this weekend ! That seems very expensive for an alternator. Who did you get to repair the alternator ? Thanks Simon.

Jul 2nd, 2012, 10:24	#6
psidhu New Member Last Online: Feb 10th, 2013 21:01 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Belfast	A crowd called Unit Exchange. They were brilliant, picked up the unit from a garge in Belfast and would have had it back within 3-4 days (their time was only 1-2 hours!). I found them on the internet. They were knowledgable and polite, which is more than I can say for SMW Volvo in Belfast and Volvo Customer Relations (who seemed to me more interested in getting me to say that I knew I was driving the car away from the dealer at my own risk). I did phone a Volvo dealer in Warwick and they told me the part was unavailable in the UK, would take 4 days to arrive from Sweden and the cost was £650. The problem with the alternator was a burnt out rectifier diode which you can buy on ebay for a few pounds. I think that Volvo dealers and their mechanics ( or technicians!) lack the knowledge and expertise to do anything other than replace parts which are priced exorbitantly. I emailed Volvo Global Customer Relations on Friday and am still awaiting a reply

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