Volvo XC90 T8 complete engine failure

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Giles11

Sorry to hear this Philip. One question I have is to what extent if any this problem is specific to the T8 as this seems to be solely related to the ICE. Query whether there is more engine wear with a hybrid or whether the engine management system warms up the ICE for the handover from electric

That is the million dollar question. Maybe it gets more wear as the T8 constantly switches the engine off and on. Also the T8 has the 320bhp variant of the engine with a different head than some of the other variants which is maybe more susceptible to damage?

So perhaps it is just a T8 issue. Or maybe just an issue for me and a few other unlucky people related to a manufacturing or design fault which has been quietly fixed.

Or perhaps it is a SPA engine issue which is now only just coming to light as the engines get older. The engine has been out for about 7 years. Mine had done 135k miles when it failed so I would suggest it is one of the higher mileage ones out there.

I do know of one other similar failure very recently. Also a T8 and it had been run for longer than mine with the fault. The entire engine was swarfed up inside and written off. They had an aftermarket warranty (lucky for them).

I guess only time will tell, but seeing as our 4.5 year old V60 has the same engine I have just spent 600 quid on a 3 year aftermarket warranty as I don't want to pay for the same repair on both cars......

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Will you keep it after do you think?

In the short term I will keep it as I don't have much other option. Have been trying to cope with one car for a few weeks now and it is a pain (luckily the dealer have offered me the courtesy car again from next Monday which will help).

So once I get it back I will be running it for at least a few months. However with used prices so strong at the moment and with the tax treatment of electric cars so favourable for at least the next 3 years I am seriously tempted to get a Polestar 2, sell my XC90 and sit on the money.

Then in 3 years see what the market looks like and either go electric company vehicle again, or opt back out and buy myself something newer (and with a warranty) 😉......

[Casa1862]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

That is the million dollar question. Maybe it gets more wear as the T8 constantly switches the engine off and on. Also the T8 has the 320bhp variant of the engine with a different head than some of the other variants which is maybe more susceptible to damage?

So perhaps it is just a T8 issue. Or maybe just an issue for me and a few other unlucky people related to a manufacturing or design fault which has been quietly fixed.

Or perhaps it is a SPA engine issue which is now only just coming to light as the engines get older. The engine has been out for about 7 years. Mine had done 135k miles when it failed so I would suggest it is one of the higher mileage ones out there.

I do know of one other similar failure very recently. Also a T8 and it had been run for longer than mine with the fault. The entire engine was swarfed up inside and written off. They had an aftermarket warranty (lucky for them).

I guess only time will tell, but seeing as our 4.5 year old V60 has the same engine I have just spent 600 quid on a 3 year aftermarket warranty as I don't want to pay for the same repair on both cars......

My S60 T8 is coming up to 3 years old and I'm thinking warranty as well. Any reason you decided aftermarket rather than Volvo? £600 for 3 years seems very good cheap, do you have any recommendations on warranty...or anyone else for that matter?

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Casa1862

My S60 T8 is coming up to 3 years old and I'm thinking warranty as well. Any reason you decided aftermarket rather than Volvo? £600 for 3 years seems very good cheap, do you have any recommendations on warranty...or anyone else for that matter?

I bought aftermarket QBE automation Gold direct from my Volvo Dealer. It proved good (and paid out 3 grand for my ERAD on my T8) so I bought the same for the V60. No reason to buy the Volvo one which is just an insurance backed product anyway......

[Casa1862]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

I bought aftermarket QBE automation Gold direct from my Volvo Dealer. It proved good (and paid out 3 grand for my ERAD on my T8) so I bought the same for the V60. No reason to buy the Volvo one which is just an insurance backed product anyway......

Thanks, I’ll find out more, I’ve got some motoreasy products and they have been competitive, however for 3 years they want £1379 for the most comprehensive one, £600 for 3 years seems incredible value, I’ll try to find a reseller.

Also, motoreasy limit the labour rate to £60 per hour, that won’t go far these days!

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Casa1862

Thanks, I’ll find out more, I’ve got some motoreasy products and they have been competitive, however for 3 years they want £1379 for the most comprehensive one, £600 for 3 years seems incredible value, I’ll try to find a reseller.

Also, motoreasy limit the labour rate to £60 per hour, that won’t go far these days!

Someone on the forum bought the same warranty as me from my dealer (Riverside in Doncaster), but they were Aberdeen based so had to do so via phone. Riverside were fine with this. It was a bit of a fuss for him to confirm that there were repair agents nearby to him but he got there in the end.

Basically I think this warranty is designed and priced to be sold with a used car but QBE can't actually stop it being sold separately. QBE just make it difficult for you by generally refusing to answer any questions if you ring them up......

[Casa1862]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Someone on the forum bought the same warranty as me from my dealer (Riverside in Doncaster), but they were Aberdeen based so had to do so via phone. Riverside were fine with this. It was a bit of a fuss for him to confirm that there were repair agents nearby to him but he got there in the end.

Basically I think this warranty is designed and priced to be sold with a used car but QBE can't actually stop it being sold separately. QBE just make it difficult for you by generally refusing to answer any questions if you ring them up......

Thanks, I think the more expensive quotes are because they correctly class the T8 as a hybrid, looking at your sig it says your V60 is T4, could that explain the price difference, its more than twice the cost.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Casa1862

Thanks, I think the more expensive quotes are because they correctly class the T8 as a hybrid, looking at your sig it says your V60 is T4, could that explain the price difference, its more than twice the cost.

Not sure. You are right the V60 is a conventional Petrol. However when I bought the same warranty for the T8 in March 2019 I only paid 599. Perhaps they are wise to the complexity of a hybrid now, or maybe it is still 599 with QBE for a T8?

[Philip Fisher]

It's back!

After almost exactly 2 months off the road as of today it is finally fixed and back on my drive.

It took about 6 weeks for the engine to be built and delivered from Sweden, then it took longer through the workshop than expected due to a few reasons. They had some problems with the autobox. When they took the drive shafts off it uncovered a leak - Volvo don't do any parts for the box so Riverside sent it out to a local automotive specialist who rebuilt the box. Finally the steering column lock packed up (which doesn't surprise me - the car was sat idle for 6 weeks and this never does any machine any good). So it has had a new steering column lock too.

I simply cannot fault Riverside Doncaster. They have heavily discounted the labour hourly rate; discounted me some parts; only charged me 15 hours labour (even though they reckon with all the diagnosis and buggering around they probably spent double that on the car); charged me for the box refurb at cost as well as only cost for the steering column lock too. They even got Volvo to contribute a rather stingy (but of course still better than nowt) 10%.

So all in, new engine, refurbed auto box, new column lock, serviced (which was due) and cambelt done of course (which was also due) it cost me almost exactly 9 grand. It was due a big service and cambelt change which would have been 1200 quid so the failure has set me back 7.8k net. An enormous amount of cash in my world - and I still wince when I remember my extended warranty running out 2 months before the failure - but all reckoned up not as much as I would expect for the work involved.

I am just happy it is back. I will drive it for a while and see how I feel about it then decide what to do. Maybe I will order that Polestar 2 and sell whilst the market is strong, or maybe now it is sorted I will get some value out of it.......

[SnineT]

The ONLY way to look at it is what could you have bought for 9k or even 18k if you take the scrap factor with it, absolutely nothing that could compare with it, and as most of your miles are motorway the rest of the car will effectively really have the wear a 60k mile one would that's been driven about town mostly.