Volvo recall to alter cooling system

[scbamber]

Several models made in the last few years are subject to a recent Volvo recall to add an extra pipe to the cooling system reservoir. My 2015 D4 V60 is due to go in for annual service, seatbelt recall and the coolant system recall on Monday.

The dealer left a voicemail message this afternoon Friday just to remind me, and said that they would be changing the coolant for the charge of £74.95.

I have not seen anyone else on the forum say that the coolant had to be changed,nor that the system would need draining completely as the recall fix is at the top of the system. Nor was I aware that the coolant was a recommended change at the 6 year point.

If the change of coolant is made necessary by the recall, why does the customer pay?!

Have I missed something?!

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by scbamber

Several models made in the last few years are subject to a recent Volvo recall to add an extra pipe to the cooling system reservoir. My 2015 D4 V60 is due to go in for annual service, seatbelt recall and the coolant system recall on Monday.

The dealer left a voicemail message this afternoon Friday just to remind me, and said that they would be changing the coolant for the charge of £74.95.

I have not seen anyone else on the forum say that the coolant had to be changed,nor that the system would need draining completely as the recall fix is at the top of the system. Nor was I aware that the coolant was a recommended change at the 6 year point.

If the change of coolant is made necessary by the recall, why does the customer pay?!

Have I missed something?!

The coolant was replaced in my 2014 64 V70 D4 when the bleeder hose was fitted as a result of the recall, but I wasn’t charged for it.

There’ll be a Volvo service bulletin for the work, and you can be sure that draining and replacing the coolant will be part of the work that Volvo requires the dealer to do at Volvo’s cost.

Time to use a different dealer instead, perhaps?

[Ian21401]

That charge mentioned could just be a clerical admin. error. Have a polite proper conversation with your dealer about it.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by scbamber

Several models made in the last few years are subject to a recent Volvo recall to add an extra pipe to the cooling system reservoir. My 2015 D4 V60 is due to go in for annual service, seatbelt recall and the coolant system recall on Monday.

The dealer left a voicemail message this afternoon Friday just to remind me, and said that they would be changing the coolant for the charge of £74.95.

I have not seen anyone else on the forum say that the coolant had to be changed,nor that the system would need draining completely as the recall fix is at the top of the system. Nor was I aware that the coolant was a recommended change at the 6 year point.

If the change of coolant is made necessary by the recall, why does the customer pay?!

Have I missed something?!

NO! you should not be made to pay at all ! What colour is your coolant? If it is clear Blue/green then tell them to put it back in .. which is standard practice ..

However if it is dirty brown/yellow then yes let them change it as they have the proper vacuum gear to ensure no air locks . you shouldn't be made to pay £75 though , there is no extra labour, the coolant is just over £20 !

[scbamber]

The fee was nothing to do with the recall for the cooling system bleeder pipe

The Service Dept at the Volvo Dealers was very straight, along the lines of "There's no set Volvo advice about when to change the coolant, but we usually suggest it at 5 years. It's true it may last longer". I have done exactly 6 years. They were not at all pushy, and said that they used the Volvo vacuum tool (I'd already found a UK dealer's video about that) to ensure it was completely drained before a refill. I opted to have it done: not cheap but par for the course for the dealer's hourly rate, and done properly.

Very few manufacturers specify a set time or mileage for a coolant change, but they specifiy just about everything else! I had read enough to know that even the newer OAT or HOAT coolants suffer degradation of the corrosion inhibitors after several years even though the antifreeze aspect usually remains fine.