MY18 XC60 - Starter motor problem

[techwatcher]

I thought I would relate the tale of my starter motor problem which I had the other week - apologies for the length post.

I became aware of a brief metallic sound on engine startup, both on initial startup and when restarted from start/stop. The sound was new and consistent so I contacted my dealer who asked me to come over straight away so that they could have a technician listen to the sound.

The technician quickly diagnosed a starter motor problem and recommended that the car not be driven in case the starter motor failed completely. The dealer ordered a new starter motor for delivery the following day but had a problem as they didn't have a courtesy car for me. Things then started to get creative - the dealer suggested that I contacted Volvo Assist and let them recover the car.

Volvo Assist chap turned up, had a listen and quickly and emphatically declared that he knew the cause, and he diagnosed it as....broken baffles in the catalytic converter... I was a bit surprised and asked in that case why I didn't hear the sound on every acceleration; i got some mumbling back about ambient temperatures. I wasn't convinced and neither was the dealer.

The car was recovered by Volvo Assist and a new starter motor fitted next day - problem solved.

Great service from the dealer, Rybrook Volvo in Warrington.

Volvo Assist provided, through Thrifty, a nearly new XC60 R-Design - nice but I really missed the 360 camera on mine.

Interesting to have such a problem on a car that's done just under 50,000 miles. I haven't seen reference to similar problems on here so it may just have been a slightly dodgy starter motor.

[Chief inspector]

Although the previous model, still a VEA engine, I needed a starter motor at about 40,000 miles. It burnt out electrically in my case.

[gaby]

Stop/start related?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by gaby

Stop/start related?

No , I've not known a starter motor fault on a stop/start car in the last 10 years .. They are not standard starters but designed for the job .

[Chief inspector]

Originally Posted by gaby

Stop/start related?

I dont think so, it had been stalled (in snow, manual transmission) and started 3 or 4 times in a short period, then ....just didn’t.

Its the only car Ive ever had that the starter failed, and actually the only repair that XC60 ever needed.

[Roosterb]

I too use Rybrook Warrington. Their service is second to none.