I really am glad to hear that someone succeeds against these monoliths. I fought
long and hard and ran up against a stone wall named Ford. Mine was not a whimpy
bitch about a vehicle I regretted buying. It was repeated brake failures, ABS
malfunctions and a repair folder a foot thick. My only remaining weapon against
Ford is a permanent boycott of their products.
Jim
"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
> Obviously there was still a little room for the company to back up since
> they decided to amend their first offer and eat the additional $2000. I
> find it hard to believe that any factory rep would rescind the offer if you
> request a second opinion. Personally, if that happened to me, I would go
> straight to the Divisional manager and have that guy's head on a platter
> (metaphorically speaking).
>
> Maybe a little more persistence would have resolved your brake/ABS problems.
> It seems to me that reminding Ford of the potential for personal injuries
> and the inevitable law suits that arise from them would have gone a long way
> in reducing the 2+ years of poor brake service.
>
> I guess some of us give way to Goliath and others pick up a rock and give it
> our best shot.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. <microdoc@apk.net>
> To: T. Keith Vezina <tkvezina@bellsouth.net>
> Cc: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
> Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 9:07 PM
> Subject: Re: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new
> engine?
>
> >Volvo's deal could have disappeared as soon as some non-authorized mechanic
> >touched the engine. Ford has done this to me or my company twice. Once on
> an
> >Escort with a cracked head, the other with an Econoline conversion van with
> >brake / ABS problems that lasted 2+ years. An individual can't push an auto
> >company any further than they want to be pushed.
> >
> >Jim
> >
> >"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
> >
> >> I don't think that the factory rep was personally involved in the
> diagnosis,
> >> just the adjustment of the bill. It is the diagnosis and remedy that I
> >> question. Personally, getting only 50K out of a modern engine and having
> to
> >> pay $2000 is not my idea of a good deal; especially if an independent
> >> mechanic discovers that all it needs is a new head gasket.
> >>
> >> If it were me, I would spend the $60 for an independant mechanic to look
> at
> >> it. I don't see why Volvo's "deal" wouldn't still be there.
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. <microdoc@apk.net>
> >> To: T. Keith Vezina <tkvezina@bellsouth.net>
> >> Cc: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>; Steve Shoyer
> <Steve@shoyer.com>
> >> Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 8:26 AM
> >> Subject: Re: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new
> >> engine?
> >>
> >> >>From my experience, the Volvo Rep is the FINAL opinion. Steve got 50000
> >> miles of
> >> >use out of it, and will now get a new engine, all for $2000. Not a bad
> >> deal:
> >> >certainly not worth jeopardizing the offer by getting the rep pissed
> off.
> >> Ford
> >> >and GM have no provisions for a consumer to bypass or circumvent the
> field
> >> rep's
> >> >authority; I doubt Volvo is any different.
> >> >
> >> >Jim
> >> >
> >> >"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> For this kind of major surgery, I would recommend a second opinion.
> >> >>
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: Steve Shoyer <Steve@shoyer.com>
> >> >> To: 'mgs@autox.team.net' <mgs@autox.team.net>
> >> >> Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 10:03 PM
> >> >> Subject: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new
> >> engine?
> >> >>
> >> >> >After spending a couple of years working on my 1980 MGB, I thought I
> had
> >> >> >picked up a little knowledge about engines. However, we have a 1997
> >> Volvo
> >> >> >850 GLT sedan. Every once in a while, the "low coolant" light would
> go
> >> on,
> >> >> >so I'd top it off (with the "special" Volvo coolant, of course). It
> >> >> started
> >> >> >happening more frequently, and when we took the car in with 49,500
> miles
> >> >> (it
> >> >> >has a 50K warranty), we had them take a look at it. They said a hose
> >> was
> >> >> >loose, tightened a clamp, topped off the coolant, and told up it was
> >> fixed.
> >> >> >Soon after, the coolant light was back on, and the "Check Engine"
> light
> >> was
> >> >> >going on, too. The only other symptom was that the car would run
> pretty
> >> >> >rough after a cold start, but it would be OK after a minute or two.
> >> >> Anyway,
> >> >> >they said replaced the upper radiator hose and thermostat, and
> checked
> >> the
> >> >> >head gasket for leaks. For the "check engine" light and rough
> running,
> >> >> they
> >> >> >found gas washed cylinders which they cleaned, and they replaced the
> >> spark
> >> >> >plugs, oil, and filter.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >A few weeks later the "low coolant" light was back, as was the "check
> >> >> >engine" light. The coolant leak was becoming more pronounced. We
> took
> >> the
> >> >> >car back, and it's been at the shop for almost two weeks while they
> ran
> >> >> more
> >> >> >compression tests and waited for the Volvo regional service person to
> >> get
> >> >> >back to them about something. Today we got a message that they
> >> recommend
> >> >> >that the engine should be replaced, which should cost about $6500.
> It's
> >> >> out
> >> >> >of warranty, but Volvo is willing to pick up $4500 of the cost,
> leaving
> >> us
> >> >> >to pay $2000. From what I've picked up from my wife's translation of
> >> what
> >> >> >the service person told her, the bad thermostat caused a crack in the
> >> head.
> >> >> >They said that we could try to just replace the head gasket for about
> >> >> $1000,
> >> >> >but only if we were about to trade the car in.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >The car never overheated, and the temp gauge never showed that the
> >> engine
> >> >> >was getting hot. I still don't understand why there should be any
> >> >> >interaction between the cooling system and the "check engine" light
> >> (which,
> >> >> >according to the owner's manual, relates to the emissions system). I
> >> don't
> >> >> >know how a bad thermostat could crack the head, especially without
> any
> >> >> >external signs other than a low coolant level.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >We like the car, so we'll probably get it fixed, but can anyone tell
> me
> >> why
> >> >> >this might have happened? Is it something we should have to pay for,
> >> and
> >> >> if
> >> >> >not, what would be our argument for getting the dealer to pick up the
> >> whole
> >> >> >cost? I'm not trying to weasel out of paying if it is my
> >> responsibility,
> >> >> >but the car was in a few times for the same problem, and each time
> the
> >> >> >dealer said that they had fixed it. The $2000 would be better spent
> >> fixing
> >> >> >my rusted sills (although my wife might not agree).
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Sorry for the use of the bandwidth, but if anyone has any
> suggestions,
> >> I'd
> >> >> >like to know. Thanks.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >--Steve Shoyer (1980 MGB)
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
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