Garage Work advice

[WelshViking5]

Hi All. Pretty Noob question but i recently put my v70- into the garage to get a few issues resolved. they have apparently fixed these issues and stated that they need to keep it in as when they went to give it a road test it went into limp mod, their reader apparently doesnt read volvo fault codes. My issue is that before going in, limp mode was never an issue and when it was looked at by another garage before hand no fault codes were present. Am i right to suggest to that gareage that if there is a fault, it is their responsibilty to put right as it was not evident prior to their work being carried out. Or is the limp mode issue likely to be related to the work done. I had the turbo replaced, along with oil/fuel filters, egr valve and timing belt... could something simply need resetting?

[ThomasG]

I'd say it's their responsibility.

But even then, here's what I'd do myself (I don't know do you have capability, though):
I'd take my laptop and DICE (or ask someone who has these) and go in and read the codes myself, then instruct mechanic what needs to be done.

But that's me. And even then- under assumption that I'd use someone to do the job for me in the first place.
My priorities are
1: do myself if possible
2: use someone else if I can't do it myself.

There's very very few things that have to let someone else to work on (geometry/wheel alignment for example)

[Dancake]

There are a few things to consider before approaching the garage. How do you personally drive the vehicle? Is it possible that you have never taken the rpm beyond a certain point, meaning that perhaps you never would have discovered the limp mode issue? Why was the turbo and EGR replaced, and were they replaced with OEM or original equivalent parts? Has the actuator on the turbo been adjusted to suit the vanes or the wastegate? Is the timing correct? Is the oil level correct (not too high)?

It would also help if we knew the details about the vehicle in question, such as the age, engine type and mileage.

[christheancient]

Another thought - may or may not help?

Was the initial garage a Volvo one? A lot of non-Volvo garages do not use the 'best' of diagnostic machines. Volvo (even independent Volvo) garages use very specific to Volvo diagnostic machines that have some checks that 'ordinary' generic non-franchised garages don't have on their 'universal' diagnostic kit.

A lot of smaller 'non-aligned' garages can't afford the 'kit' that franchised garages have. As I once found out the hard way in once when I had a 'simple (?) fault' (can't remember what it was after all this time). I just popped down to a local 'independent' small garage. And after about half-an-hour decided he couldn't fix the fault - but still charged me!

I then drove (about 45-50 minutes) to the local Volvo indy (had the right kit!) and he fixed the fault in about five minutes and wouldn't even charge for me.

Guess who used to get all my work after that!

OK, I might have got some things done cheaper at the very local garage; but I never went back there for anything. I just went that bit further (in mileage!) to a proper Volvo place. And never had any problems or worries with work done there.

[Sotosound]

My first reaction is that it might be the new turbo that's causing this.

I seem to recall a similar problem when I had the turbo replaced on my 2003 V7 D5. If the turbo isn't working properly then the car might get a bit upset.

Your garage might do well to contact a Volvo specialist or even, perhaps, the supplier of the turbo for advice.

[ThomasG]

And for clarity:

That "specific to Volvo" diagnostic machine Chris is referring to is precisely a laptop running VIDA software and with it, a DICE unit (cable/translator between laptop and car).

[Clan]

Originally Posted by WelshViking5

Hi All. Pretty Noob question but i recently put my v70- into the garage to get a few issues resolved. they have apparently fixed these issues and stated that they need to keep it in as when they went to give it a road test it went into limp mod, their reader apparently doesnt read volvo fault codes. My issue is that before going in, limp mode was never an issue and when it was looked at by another garage before hand no fault codes were present. Am i right to suggest to that gareage that if there is a fault, it is their responsibilty to put right as it was not evident prior to their work being carried out. Or is the limp mode issue likely to be related to the work done. I had the turbo replaced, along with oil/fuel filters, egr valve and timing belt... could something simply need resetting?

You should not have to do anything take it back and let them sort it out , They were happy enough to take your money so one would assume they know what they are doing ..

The fault codes need reading , it is probably something to do with the turbo , ( what was wrong with it ? ) or the cam belt timing ...
They should take it to someone who knows what they are doing ( the dealer ) and pay for it to be put right ...

[DaveNP]

I'd agree with the others, in the first instance if it was OK when it went in and it's not now then it's their problem to sort it, plausibly the work they have done has meant another problem has become evident but again it's up to them to show that and not just keep bolting on new bits at your expense in the hope of fixing it.
You don't say what model, year etc it is, if it's a mid to late 90's V70 even though it has an OBDII port it may not read with a basic code reader as it wasn't actually OBDII compliant.

[Dancake]

From reading the original post, it would appear that the OP hasn't got their vehicle back from the garage and that the garage is trying to sort the issue. Some of the replies here highlight the misconceptions commonly associated with the motor trade. Take it back and let them sort it? That's what they are trying to do is it not? Some are jumping to conclusions here. We don't know for sure if the problem was there before the work, so you cannot confidently level the blame at the garage. The work they have done could simply have brought the issue to light. The last thing you want to do it get their backs up. They were honest enough to mention that there was an issue. Keep a level head and wait to see what the garage comes up with.

[ThomasG]

I'm guessing accepting that from time to time everyone has a chance of slipping on a banana skin, accepting that garage might have tried their best and simply being nice to them (by reading codes with own scanner, as I'd do) in expectation of good service in future..

That doesn't exist, does it?

Skin them alive, no matter did they mess up by coincidence or by incompetence..

If. IF I go to a garage to get something done, in 50% of cases I end up working together with mechanic. Or alongside. Like last time- we changed CV gaiters together, and whilst he was refitting the wheel and lowering the car, I fixed his work light and checked few other things "underneath".

What happened to just being nice to each other?