Rubber banged

I wonder if you can help me with Volvo? I have a 2002/52 V70D5 registered. I am the first owner. Mileage is 77,526. It has been driven carefully and the MPG average over the whole 77K miles is 51+. The cam belt broke on Wednesday morning and the whole engine needs replacing at £6,740. The car has always been serviced on time and the cambelt is not due to be replaced until 90,000 miles or 8 years (i.e. 10 months from now). Having followed carefully all Volvo's instructions, I am dismayed to have a bill of £6,740 as a result of Volvo's own incorrect assessment of how long the cam belt on this engine will last. Volvo has offered £2,000 contribution, so I shall still be around £5,000 out of pocket - and the fault is entirely Volvo's.
I would be grateful if you can help and persuade Volvo to increase its contribution considerably.

Asked on 10 April 2010 by D.C., Cheltenham,

Answered by Honest John

If you go to: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v70xc70-2000/? You will see that the first item in What to Watch our For is: “D5 timing belts, tensioners, pulleys and waterpumps all best changed at 60,000 miles or 4 years whichever comes first. Tensioners prone to failure and may not last the scheduled 96,000 miles or 8 years. Pulleys also likely to fail and throw the belt off rather than belts themselves are to fail. 2.4D and D5 Inlet manifold swirl flaps prone to breaking off at any time from 3 years old.” With a car now in its 8th year and the reasonable offer of £2,000 from Volvo I don't think you stand any chance of further legal redress. I’m surprised Volvo does not do a VAG and issue an edict that all belts, tensioners, pulleys and waterpumps need replacing at 4 years or 40k miles.

Tags: technical issues owning engine

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