Safety recall for fire risk

[bobarctor]

Originally Posted by Zebster

Disappointingly I only got a 50% goodwill contribution from Volvo UK when my EGR valve needed replacement. It really should be free as it's part of the excess soot problem that affects the whole intake system on these VEA engines... I got a 100% contribution on the EGR cooler and intake manifold/swirl valve assembly, so why not the valve?

Thanks. So they've offered me the same 50%. Was that their first offer to you or did you try and get more? I'm not very impressed but don't want to waste time arguing (without a car) if I'm not going to improve on it....

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by bobarctor

Thanks. So they've offered me the same 50%. Was that their first offer to you or did you try and get more? I'm not very impressed but don't want to waste time arguing (without a car) if I'm not going to improve on it....

The only offer was 50%, it's an automated process between the dealership and Volvo UK that simply gives a 'no' or a percentage goodwill offer. I guess I could have gone away and debated the issue myself with Volvo UK but, like you, I wanted my car back without additional delay.

What the dealer did do for me was find that the cooler - despite having been previously replaced in the last two years - was again showing signs of becoming blocked whilst removing the combined cooler/valve assembly (they both have to come off together before being separated). Because the cooler gets 100% goodwill coverage the dealer was then able to put all labour, consumables (antifreeze, etc) and the diagnostic charge against the bill for the cooler thereby saving me a decent wedge. Maybe you could hint to your dealer that they should take a critical look at the cooler while it's off?

[bobarctor]

Originally Posted by Zebster

The only offer was 50%, it's an automated process between the dealership and Volvo UK that simply gives a 'no' or a percentage goodwill offer. I guess I could have gone away and debated the issue myself with Volvo UK but, like you, I wanted my car back without additional delay.

What the dealer did do for me was find that the cooler - despite having been previously replaced in the last two years - was again showing signs of becoming blocked whilst removing the combined cooler/valve assembly (they both have to come off together before being separated). Because the cooler gets 100% goodwill coverage the dealer was then able to put all labour, consumables (antifreeze, etc) and the diagnostic charge against the bill for the cooler thereby saving me a decent wedge. Maybe you could hint to your dealer that they should take a critical look at the cooler while it's off?

Slightly different for me - I had to call Volvo UK who intimated that some support might be possible. They spoke to the dealer who came back to me with the 50% offer.

I've authorised the work as I want the car back. But will complain in writing. Not hopeful I'll get anywhere as 100% cooler but only 50% valve seems to be the policy. In which case I'll seriously look at offloading the car and moving away from the brand. I'd planned to keep it for at least 10 years but the trust has gone.

I've also got a 2019 S90 (admittedly a lease) but these will be my last Volvos I've played the game on my side - paying for Volvo dealer servicing even on a 6 year old car - so I'm not paying for their fundamental design flaws.

[Buckshot61]

Originally Posted by Zebster

What horror stories exactly? Aren't you worried about the manifold catching fire or any of the lesser issues (they found my swirl flaps were becoming seized and so I got a complete new manifold)? How about the resale value of a car that's not had recall work done?

As a former Honda (Accord) owner myself I'd say you were lucky then... Honda diesels have trouble with clutches, EGR cooler pipe cracking and DPF issues. And then a timing chain broke and destroyed my engine.

It was on a Swedish forum. Some cars needed some serious repairs of the engine after the recall. About resale value; I will do the recall Before i sell it or if i get any other Engine problems. As now it runs perfect. No problems whatsoever with the 2012 Honda Civic 2,2 in 120 000km/74500 miles

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Zebster

Disappointingly I only got a 50% goodwill contribution from Volvo UK when my EGR valve needed replacement. It really should be free as it's part of the excess soot problem that affects the whole intake system on these VEA engines... I got a 100% contribution on the EGR cooler and intake manifold/swirl valve assembly, so why not the valve?

To be honest the EGR valve is nothing to do with the cooler problem at all , it's like any other car.. the EGR Valve can play up any time just like a starter motor for example , but I
wouldn't be too happy if my car was 4 years old and it happened .

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Clan

To be honest the EGR valve is nothing to do with the cooler problem at all , it's like any other car.. the EGR Valve can play up any time just like a starter motor for example , but I
wouldn't be too happy if my car was 4 years old and it happened .

Mine was only 3 years old and on just over 70k miles when the valve stuck open.

I can't help but consider that the same flow of soot-laden recycled exhaust gases that blocks the EGR cooler, seizes the swirl valves, clogs the manifold and prevents the intake valves from properly closing (all covered by 100% goodwill and/or a legal safety recall) also flows through the EGR valve. The original design relies far too heavily on EGR volume to meet the Euro 6 NOx limit... the fact that later versions of the VEA used AdBlue is, to me, an admission of this.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Zebster

Mine was only 3 years old and on just over 70k miles when the valve stuck open.

I can't help but consider that the same flow of soot-laden recycled exhaust gases that blocks the EGR cooler, seizes the swirl valves, clogs the manifold and prevents the intake valves from properly closing (all covered by 100% goodwill and/or a legal safety recall) also flows through the EGR valve. The original design relies far too heavily on EGR volume to meet the Euro 6 NOx limit... the fact that later versions of the VEA used AdBlue is, to me, an admission of this.

But EGR valves have been giving trouble on just about all cars for the last 15 years or so , a noticeable exception was the original D5 .

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Clan

But EGR valves have been giving trouble on just about all cars for the last 15 years or so , a noticeable exception was the original D5 .

So that's OK and we should just accept it? If Volvo could do it for the older D5 then why not the VEA! I don't suppose the newer VEAs (with AdBlue, so less EGR flow) have anywhere near so many soot-related problems, including the EGR valve... Volvo really should have done a better job in the first place, would have probably cost them less in recall and goodwill (and definitely less in reputational damage).

[bobarctor]

Originally Posted by Zebster

So that's OK and we should just accept it? If Volvo could do it for the older D5 then why not the VEA! I don't suppose the newer VEAs (with AdBlue, so less EGR flow) have anywhere near so many soot-related problems, including the EGR valve... Volvo really should have done a better job in the first place, would have probably cost them less in recall and goodwill (and definitely less in reputational damage).

Indeed. Plus, if I understand correctly, there is a modified EGR valve which is now fitted instead of the original units presumably to counter these problems to a degree.

If I had been lucky (!) enough to encounter this problem in the warranty period, they would have paid for that replacement. Because I didn't I'm supposed to pay for their retrospective design modification?? Nope.

[Bendolfc]

Originally Posted by Zebster

So that's OK and we should just accept it? If Volvo could do it for the older D5 then why not the VEA! I don't suppose the newer VEAs (with AdBlue, so less EGR flow) have anywhere near so many soot-related problems, including the EGR valve... Volvo really should have done a better job in the first place, would have probably cost them less in recall and goodwill (and definitely less in reputational damage).

It's not the VEA engine itself that's the problem, it's something with the way it's installed on these cars. The SPA cars, even those pre adblue don't have the same issues.

I suspect there are some subtle layout differences in these cars that's the cause of the problem. JLR had similar issues when they introduced their new engines and had to move things around a bit in later cars to cure it.

As an aside, I don't think you will find any diesel cars on sale now that don't have adblue, EGR alone simply doesn't do enough to meet E6 temp d and E6d standard.