Alternate Workshops for Volvos

[Fastforward]

Hi Martmode8850

 

I think these guys are good with BMW, saw mainly BMW there. mechanical stuff like changing brake pads or shocks should not pose any problem. With electronics stuff, your guess is as good as mine.

[Fastforward]

It's a long story , I think they are very familiar with BMW but it took them a long time to figure out why my car was overheating. I thought I had the problem fix and it came back after a few days. Sent it back to SM and diagnosis was the fan motor was intermittent. Fix it and no problem since.

 

I don't think they have the tools ( computer ) to check Volvos ( I am not sure ) as they did not have to use one to check problem.

 

I think if there was any savings, it will have to be on the labour as parts cost are pretty much the same as SM.

 

I think you have to weigh the pro and cons of sending it back to the dealership or an outside agency.

[Fastforward]

Hope all is going well. I'm surprised that for a diehard like u, u are not driving a brick in the US with the low cost of used cars there.

[Turbobrick]

Alls well here but as an "incomeless" student even an used brick is too much for me to bear, so had to get a cheaper Domestic Ford first

 

Cheers

[Wildwilly]

Just went to BVO today to try and solve my "yi hor" sound whenever going over hump especially during cold start coming from the front suspension area.

 

Bernard of BVO suggested that it could be the shock absorber and advised replacing the two front shocks with Monroe shocks. S$145 x 2....:-( excluding labour.

 

Hai..took back the car & realised that the sound is still as apparent. Think got no choice but to bring my car back to SM to diagnose.

[Soya]

any luck wif SM?

[Oneofakind]

It is probably the lower front a-arm suspension bushings. Same problem with the Saab 9-5, sounds like a donkey till I replaced the stock bushing with silicon ones.

 

The fix is to replace the stock rubber bushings with the silicon ones ($400).....not familar with Volvo but I suspect it is the same problem.

 

Also it is not the front shocks but rather the shock mounts that are worn out....suggest u bring this up to BVO, I do think they have mis-diagnose ur car.

 

This donkey sound is a problem on Saabs as well as the fix is as mentioned above.

 

Hope it works for u and good luck!

[Soya]

by silicon, i assume u mean polyurethane bushings?

 

one volvo bro replaced his stock rubber ones to polyurethane but oso cannot last.

[Wildwilly]

Yes, it was definitely a wrong diagnose to replace the damper.

It was found to be the bushing just as what you have said. Something like the rubber rubbing against the metal part.

 

Thanks!

[Oneofakind]

Yes ur right polyurethane.

 

For the Saab 9-5, this is one of the more effective way to rid the hee-hawing over humps. They seem to last longer than the stock rubber ones in the case of the 9-5 and most 9-5 owners eventually change to them.

 

Polyurethane holds up better than rubber in our hot and humid climate, u must of course get the high density ones or else . U do have to add some high temp Silicon grease too when the bushings are fitted else the bushings will be abraded when they turn around in the holders, they don't rotate of course but do turn a little when the arm moves up and down.

 

Had a S70 for the first 6 months of 2001, never got used to the driving position and found the engine a little too laggy for comfort and the hee-hawing (never resolved as I was still young and impressionable aka can be B**S**T by the mechanic) came in that short period of ownership , subsequently traded it in for an A6 2.8 Turbo ....was fun until the gear-box blew

Edited November 24, 2004 by Oneofakind

[Oneofakind]

UR welcomed.

[Mrbah]

You can try Juzz for Cars. Frankly, i don't think there is any workshops in Singapore that specializes in Volvos

[oomph]

Juzz for cars is also a BMW specialized workshop right? like BVO... are volvos that difficult to service?

[Ahbengdriver]

I just had my car done at Juzz for Cars. Would say they are the best in terms of service I ve seen outside ADs. The mechanics are very knowledgeable n best of all they keep yr cars clean during servicing. Small things like wrapping yr steering wheel with plastic wrap to prevent dirtying yr steering just shows they bother to exercise care.

 

My car also had slight Yi-Hor sound. Fixed by J4C

Edited January 22, 2007 by Ahbengdriver

[Magfocus]

AB, what Yi-Hor sound?

[Gregwoon]

Normal servicing should not be any problems, however with the newer cars, I suggest you go back to SM. I took mine out to BVO to fix a cooling system problem and to be honest I should have gone back to SM in the first place.

 

Why do you say you should have gone back to SM in the first place? I just got a 5 year old XC90 111,000 km and am trying to decide whether to go back to SM for servicing.

[Soya]

Why do you say you should have gone back to SM in the first place? I just got a 5 year old XC90 111,000 km and am trying to decide whether to go back to SM for servicing.

 

SM has a 120k timing belt change + service package. For timing belt, better to let them handle it as the cost diff not much.

[Cpohsg]

My XC90 is at 85k and SM motors is suggesting me to change my timing belt at 90k now instead of the 120k. Cost abt 1.8k. 1k for timing belt and 800 for the 90k servicing checks. I am hoping to find an outside workshop to do the job.