Dealer Servicing

[liuleichan]

>>A small point to note.....a lot of 'normal garages don't
>>really like doing the auto box fluid change, I have had
>>several "have I got to do it" from guys I know in the trade
>>!
>>
>>Namely the job is known to be straight forward but can be a
>>pain in the bum if they get it wrong !

And I guess some smaller garages may not like to take the risk of something not done very often, and / or given that manual transmissions are prevalent.

>I asked if they do it for my service... but they say it
>"never gets done"...

I think there's no official time - in recent years, I think Volvo consider it a lifetime thing.

The service schedule does show changes at 50k intervals for adverse conditions.

I had mine done at 85k miles, and will probably (at least) halve that period from now on.

>I think it's something like every
>160,000 miles.... I have the service schedule sheet... I'll
>scan it and post a link tonight.... I got my auto-oil
>changed for free when the gearbox fell apart!
>
>Service seemed good... they put some Fuel additive in (cost
>me £9.99) which I questionned... they said "oh yeah, it's
>really good, I've seen proof".."hmmmm" I said. They also got
>the wrong spark plugs so I gotta go back on sat to get them
>done (£50).

The auto fluid *level* is probably the most crucial. Beyond that, you can easily inspect the condition. From what I understand, the red colour of new fluid isn't *necessarily* essential (I think that's more a dye, than anything else). However the condition, is important - the colour may be indicative (if it's quite dark / brown), but I think the smell is probably more telling. If it smells as if it's sort of "burnt", it's a good sign that it needs replacing.

Personally, I just think auto gearboxes can be expensive, if they go wrong, and maybe more of a worry, than manual ones. I just see fluid changes (not anything like as frequent as engine oil changes) as reasonable preventative maintenance.

Lei Chan

Lei you're correct about the red colour, it is purely a dye added and is intended to disappear after a while.

My T5 only had under 25k miles when I changed the auto transmission fluid myself, because when I took a sample of it there was a very slight burnt smell to it (new ATF has a VERY distinctive smell!!!!) and I considered that around £50 on synthetic transmission oil was worth it considering the gearbox alone would cost thousands to replace.

After flushing the fluid I noticed the car did definately shift slightly smoother from first to second, not that it was bad in the first place.

I think on www.volvospeed.com in the maintenance section they talk about the values of changing ATF regularly although Volvo insist unless it's a taxi you don't need to do it!

I've recently bought an 850 T5 - bloody marvelous! Anyway, I was qouted £164.00 +VAT for a 120K service from Mill Garage, Leeds who ARE a main dealer too.... 0113 242 1224... if that helps???

My god...... my local dealer wanted £141.79 just for the flamin oil change !!!!!!!!

Needless to say they didn't do it ;)

Jim,
'96 855-R (The Flying Wardrobe)