Odd new turbo noise

[-bobda-]

Well, I had a good old poke around under there last week, took off a few turbo hoses, checked and re-tightened and it's still doing it.

Got it booked in at a dealer on Monday to see if they can pressure test it somehow and find a leak anywhere. It has definitely affected performance (especially at low revs) and it's definitely making a noise!

[-bobda-]

Well, it's not a turbo hose...

The diagnosis from the dealer is a knackered EGR valve, which is a common enough fault for Volvo to pay 50% towards the cost of the replacement.

The worse news is that they think the turbo isn't all good either.
Was quoted £700 + labour (3 hours) to replace it. "Not much change from a grand".

My next question...how much am I looking at for the EGR valve to be sorted? I'll be asking them myself tomorrow morning so I'd appreciate a few pointers for reference.

I'll start with the EGR valve, if it's not too costly, then I might just be able to get that done and the hiss will go and I'm sure I can live with the turbo as it was perfectly fine previous to the new noise.

Firstly, how on earth did you manage to get volvo to pay 50% of the cost of anything that isn't a safety issue??!! Have you got an extended warranty on your car, if not what is your secret?!

Second, are you saying the price for turbo is:
a) £700 and also 3 hours labour

or b) that the 3 hours labour costs £700+?!!

Even with volvo prices, I can't believe a turbo costs £700 and I certainly can't believe they charge £230+ per hour!!

Dunno about your EGR valve it depends how difficult it is to get to and how much the part costs... think of a price, then double it is what I'd say!!

Good luck,
Pete

[-bobda-]

It's a known fault on the Renault DCi engines, do a Google search...badly designed valve, as far as I can see.
They've obviously had a lot of them and know that it can lead to engine/turbo failure and so offer 50% of the replacement charge.

I was quoted £700 for parts and 3 hours labour to fit the new turbo.

[ivor940]

Looks like Renault is paying 50% , not Volvo. They supplied the engines. Maybe Renault pay all of cost and Volvo keep 50% ?

ivor940

[-bobda-]

Looking at a few Renault forums, they do pay 50% so you're most likely right.

I'm looking at getting a used car warranty for just over £300, waiting a while then claiming on that.
Damn sight cheaper than a new, or even 2nd hand, turbo plus fitting!
Also means I get the benefit of everything else being covered as well.

I'm waiting on the response from the conversation Volvo are hopefully having with the company I bought the car off...I found this last night;

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/Fact.../page9010.html

Namely, this bit...

Q1. I have just bought a new/second-hand car and am unhappy with it, what are my rights?

...

If a product that was not of satisfactory quality at the time of the sale is returned to the retailer, the buyer is entitled to a full refund (if it is within a reasonable time of the sale), or, if a “reasonable time “ has elapsed, to a reasonable amount of compensation. The consumer needs to demonstrate the goods were not of satisfactory quality at the time of sale. This is so if the consumer chooses to request an immediate refund or compensation. It is also the case for any product returned more than six months after the date of sale.

There is one exception – this is where the consumer returns the goods in the first six months from the date of sale and requests a repair or replacement or a partial refund. In that case, the consumer does not have to prove the goods were faulty at the time of sale. It is assumed that they were. If the retailer does not agree, it is for the retailer to prove that the goods were satisfactory at the time of sale.

Hmmm... maybe I should try and get a refund on my S40?....

It had "alledgedly" had an RAC inspection (even has a sticker 'welded' to the inside of the windscreen to say so) yet at the very least the clutch was blatantly worn when I got it and the exhaust was noisy.

But then again, it could easily be argued that on a car 5 yrs old with 80k miles on it you would expect this under 'wear-and-tear'.

I would imagine you would be unable to claim for the EGR valve under a warranty as it is already at fault. The warranty work would have to be done by an approved garage and they'd go out of their way to avoid paying. They'd probably contact various people like the place you bought it and the local dealer, who would have to tell the truth to remain legal so you could end up invalidating the warranty.

And the other general problem with warranties is proving all those intermittent faults are actually a fault. Example is my blower motor which usually when you set it to '2' picks a number at random between '1' and '6'. But if I wanted to claim, and have to go to a garage and prove it was at fault and no doubt it would work ok that day.

There was another thread on warranties recently and the my conclusion - although possibly tarred by my recent experiences - is they are not worth the money and better to save the money up to cover the cost of a potential 'nasty'.

But with all this said and done, we still have the issue of your whopping £700 turbocharger!

How about trying to get a used or recon one? This could save you a mint.
I assume you have tried euro car parts and german swedish? It is worth a look - and try looking under renault engines as well.

Also, do try a renault dealer and sources of used renault parts if your engine is renault sourced.

Nordic may be able to supply a new part cheaper than volvo if you are a VOC member.

I have found this place useful for supplying used volvo parts (with parts warranty still though): http://www.volvocarparts.co.uk

Of course if you got a recon / used part you are unlikely to be able to get the volvo dealer to do the work, but then you would just need to find a specialist or decent garage. Even if you had the car transported all the way down south where plenty of people including myself post about volvo specialists you'd probably still save money compared to the volvo dealer!

As we are talking about a serious amount of dosh here, as you said no change from a grand!, then IMO it is worth investigating all the options. All the options may ALSO include buying a turbo in e.g the states and getting it shipped here! Seriously, you are paying £700 x 17.5% = £120+ in VAT I bet that'd be less than the shipping costs from the states!

Good luck anyhow!

Pete

There's some here to start with:

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...th=105_248_256

What engine is yours? One of the 1.9D is £586 inc VAT but prob yours is the £736 inc VAT one

How about this bobda... £530 and I think it is the one which was £736 on PFVO! I bet this is the one you want.

Seems you share the same engine as a renault espace

http://www.global7b.co.uk/speedways/item.do?item=1657

Use partsforvolvosonline to work out your turbo's part number, then search the internet for garett turbos try buying direct from a garett supplier of recon turbos.

Pete

http://www.turboactive.com/sess/utn;...%3D281063%3D29

That's the same garett number on PFVO for £736!

For £382 (exc vat)! £448 including VAT! (Dunno if used, recon what, give 'em a call)