Electrics: Garage near Margate (Kent)?

[lillia]

Evening all. Can anyone recommend a decent garage (ideally a Volvo specialist) in or around Margate (Kent) that won't break the bank?

I just tried to start the car after a 4-day absence and it is starting and powering off almost immediately (lovely start to the half term!). Battery is low but fine. The car normally starts at the first turn of the key, even after not having been driven for a week.

I'm waiting for a neighbour to come to give me a jump start, but the symptoms appear to be similar to last year's, which led to the alternator being replaced roughly a year ago. On that occasion, the battery was half charged, but the engine switched off seconds after starting up and in the end the car had to be towed to a garage after 6 failed attempts at jump-starting (the engine switched off even while connected to the other car). Plus a couple of weeks ago, the dashboard lights brightened and dimmed for no apparent reason on two separate longish (60-mile) trips - I found it puzzling, but thought no more about it, but it may have been a sign of things to come. I am hoping that the problem is just the low battery and that the jump start will do it, because it just does not seem feasible that the alternator needs replacing after just one year. However, I am spending more and more time down this side and think it is best to cover my bases - I can't always get to my usual garage in London!

Thanks in advance.

[lillia]

Update - the jump-start failed x 3. We re-tested the battery beforehand, it is not low, it is actually half-charged (must have misread earlier due to the glare). There are no warning lights or messages to indicate that anything is wrong (but then again, there were none the last time the alternator needed replacement).

Can anyone think of anything else that might be causing this shutdown problem, other than the alternator? The car starts, shudders (massive), stops. All of this takes place in less than a second. Car is no longer running for a second or two before shutting down.

Thanks.

[lillia]

Update 2: based on the shuddering symptoms, we put in around 5 litres of petrol at around 21:00 (bringing it to just under half tank full - it was nowhere near empty to begin with). The car started immediately, but now there is a "Reduced engine performance" message. We had never seen that message before, so we switched it off immediately. Given the lateness of the hour, did not want to drive it and be stranded somewhere.

I have done some research and there appear to be so many reasons why that message would come on that my head is spinning. However, I'm leaning towards a fuel filter replacement as the first option, before exploring costlier options.

I have still not identified a reputable garage that specialises in Volvos in this area though and I am not keen to drag the car back to London with that message on.

Will take a risk and try to move the car tomorrow to see whether it drives or limps. Early morning appointment though, and I have still not figured out how to get bus cards/passes in this area, so I'll have to wheel out the bicycle and take the scenic route and deal with that in the afternoon. Thank goodness it's the half term (less travelling), or I would be panicking!

[Chris_Rogers]

Was the car parked on a slope?

[lillia]

Yup. At the moment it is parked on a very slight incline with the front facing down. I parked it this way deliberately before going away because a month ago, I parked it with the front facing up, with just slightly less petrol than it has now and it would not start. When the breakdown guy came (after 2.5 hours!), he checked a valve thing under the bonnet and said no petrol was reaching the engine, pehaps a bit more would do it - and to my astonishment, it did. I don't normally let the car go below 1/4 tank, but this time it was just a shade under that because I was going to pass the petrol station on the way to work in the morning. Having parked both ways before with this amount of petrol and started without problems, it never occurred to me that petrol would be a problem. So on current form, I apparently cannot have less than 1/4 tank, preferably a half tank full, before I can start the car.

Contrast that with my late night drive through Germany and Denmark a couple of years ago. Driving around in a panic after midnight trying to find a petrol station in Denmark that was still open, I finally stumbled across an automated one when the car was well into the red zone and saying "25 miles to empty". Pretty much the same situation when I arrived home in Sweden; parked with the front facing upwards on my steep driveway. Started the car the following morning in temps of ~-6 degrees C, backed out and drove down the hill to the petrol station, no problems!

I have just returned from a 20-mile round trip by bicycle. My first time on my bike in roughly 3 years (possibly more!). I haven't started the car since I returned, will do that in a moment as I am currently recovering with a cup of tea.

[Chris_Rogers]

Assuming the car has a similar saddle fuel tank to the V70, then there tend to be issues with the fuel pump picking up fuel from the left hand side of the fuel tank (the side opposite to the fuel pump), when the pump/pipework inside the tank deteriorates.

A search of 'non start' or 'fuel pump' on here should provide details of the problem and fix.

[lillia]

Thanks, will do. But would this issue cause the "reduced engine performance" message to come on though?

[cookie]

Originally Posted by lillia

Thanks, will do. But would this issue cause the "reduced engine performance" message to come on though?

need to read/clear code as may be from lack of fuel

[lillia]

Spoke with a very pleasant gentleman from a company called "Dane Valley Volvos" around an hour ago. It is located in Broadstairs, which is only a few miles from here. They seem to operate very much like Braydon in London, which is where I've always had my car serviced.

If I bring the car in they will look at it and he has promised to check the codes for a minimal fee.

Compiling a final list of things to check (fuses, etc.) before I take a deep breath and go out to the car. Whether or not the car behaves this time, I'll still try to get it to them tomorrow. Relieved to find that there is a Volvo specialist so near, so no need to risk going all the way to Canterbury.

Has anyone used Dane Valley Volvos before?

[lillia]

Finally went outside and started the car around an hour ago. It started immediately, no shuddering or such. The "Reduced engine performance" message and warning light came on. However, this time, it disappeared within approximately 5 seconds. Last night, it stayed on for the whole time the engine was running after we had got it to start. On both occasions, the car was at a standstill. I drove it for approximately 4 miles on flat roads and on a couple of inclines. Accelerated hard from 20 to 40 mph. Performed as normal, I thought. But the car has been known to shudder as if threatening to stall while being driven at 80-100 mph with just under half a tank of petrol (that's what happened when the dashboard lights dimmed and brightened as previously mentioned).

I have put some more petrol in so it's just over half full now and should hopefully guarantee a trouble-free start in the morning. I didn't want to put in more in case the garage will need to drain it all out to look at the tank/pump. I'm printing the bus schedule just in case though. I am now inclined to believe that it must be the fuel pump, rather than just the filter.

Thank you for your suggestions. Will let you know what the garage says when I eventually get to them!