engine system service required

[chf]

Originally Posted by chf

Had a similar issue while driving back from France. My local volvo dealer has now diagnosed that a new swirl valve actuator and link are required. The car is just over 3 year old and 44k miles and covered by a 12 month volvo used care warranty. However the dealer is telling me the warranty won't cover this repair and will cost me £310 !!!

I read my warranty T&C's and exclusions and wouild like to understand what are these replacement parts as the only exclusion is the exhaust systems and thought we are dealing with air intake problems.

Could someone clarify ?

Cheers

Anyone ?

[Beavis]

i would say just over 3 years old, just out of main warranty, its rubbish they should be trying to squirm out of it.

although i am not an expert, normally warranties exclude expendable items, tyres, brakes, exhaust etc, so as this is an integral part of the engine system i would be arguing the case it should be covered.

get a second opinion from another dealer if needed.

at the end of the day, you would not expect to pay £30-40k for a car, which after 3 and a bit years has a bit that breaks. if it were 6-7 years old, don't think you would have a case, but just outside of manufacturers warranty i would be expecting it to be done out of good will if they are insistent it is not covered.

[chf]

Originally Posted by StuT4

i would say just over 3 years old, just out of main warranty, its rubbish they should be trying to squirm out of it.

although i am not an expert, normally warranties exclude expendable items, tyres, brakes, exhaust etc, so as this is an integral part of the engine system i would be arguing the case it should be covered.

get a second opinion from another dealer if needed.

at the end of the day, you would not expect to pay £30-40k for a car, which after 3 and a bit years has a bit that breaks. if it were 6-7 years old, don't think you would have a case, but just outside of manufacturers warranty i would be expecting it to be done out of good will if they are insistent it is not covered.

It makes you think whether you should buy a Korean car that comes with 7 year warranty instead of apremium brand !

Did talk with the manager at the volvo dealer who told me that after checking with volvo care that the work would not be covered under warranty and he admitted that he didn't understand why not !!!

So I am not giving up, if necessary will go every Saturday in their showroom to loudly complain about reliability of volvo cars ...

Still would like to understand what the swirl actuator is and does.

Cheers

[Beavis]

Originally Posted by chf

Still would like to understand what the swirl actuator is and does.

when my swirl throttle link broke - i managed to find out....

New components and functions
Swirl throttle
• Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control is used to an even greater extent compared with previously in
order to comply with the emission requirements of EURO 4 with regard to nitrogen oxide emissions,
NOx etc.
• One set of the cylinder head's inlet ports, the tangential ducts, are equipped with a shutter, a so-called
"swirl throttle", in order to improve the combustion process during exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
control.
• By closing the throttle the flow of air through the swirl ducts increases, which increases the swirl
formation in the cylinder. This improves the mixture of air and fuel. In this way the emissions from the
cylinder are reduced.
• The throttles are closed during idling and then open steplessly up to an engine speed of approx.
3000 rpm. At an engine speed above 3000 rpm the throttles are open.
• The position of the throttles is regulated by a direct current motor. The motor is controlled by the ECM
by means of a PWM signal.
In order that the ECM shall know the position of the throttles and to be able to compensate for any wear
in the internal components the throttle motor is run to its mechanical stops (open/closed position) at each
5th ignition switch-off. (The function is in the ECM and may be modified for start of production).

VCC, Dept. 50040, NCF 0520, Technical Presentation 2005, March, version


I agree that you would expect a premium brand to be backed up with a premium aftercare service for when things go wrong.

if car warranties are like any other insurance, you should be covered by the financial services ombudsman. put a written complaint in, the insurance company has to provide a final response, which if you are unhappy with, you can appeal to the ombudsman - i think that each case that goes to them costs the company involved a few hundred pounds, if they are found against. this is assuming that they can prove that it was not covered in the first place.

bet if you go in on a saturday morning saying what a load of rubbish their warranty is, quite loudly, and want to know who to complain to, they may change their mind...

[chf]

Some update ... apparently a kit exist to just replace the arm as opposed to the motor. Kit only cost £25 so of course they are now happy to do the work under warranty ! I should not forget to also ask for a refund for the £32 that I paid for the initial diagnostic !

Car booked in for Sept. 30th, so wait and see ....

[BestGear]

Originally Posted by chf

Some update ... apparently a kit exist to just replace the arm as opposed to the motor. Kit only cost £25 so of course they are now happy to do the work under warranty ! I should not forget to also ask for a refund for the £32 that I paid for the initial diagnostic !

Car booked in for Sept. 30th, so wait and see ....

It would be worth noting the part number of the kit if possible - may be a big help to us all at some point!

David

[chf]

Will keep this in mind ;-)

[chf]

Originally Posted by BestGear

It would be worth noting the part number of the kit if possible - may be a big help to us all at some point!

David

Swirl valve link kit PN V31216460