I just returned from a Volvo dealer for the ETC software upgrade and a check on the underside of my 2000 V70XC. A few weeks ago a private garage told me that my "front viscous coupling boot" was missing. He said that the boot alone was not available and I'd have to order a whole assembly for $1,000 + $500 labor to install. He said that it wouldn't cause any problems for a while but as dirt and grit got into the joint, it would wear out and need to be replaced.

This sounded a bit suspisious to me, so I took it in to the dealer (had to anyway for the ETC software upgrade) and had them look at it. I asked the service manager to just put the car up on a lift, inspect the drive train and pay special attention to the "boots" to make sure everything was ok.

Mark at Annapolis Volvo (in Maryland) brought me into the shop to show me under the car. He noted to me that the front CV boots were just beginning to show signs of leakage, but that everything else looked fine. I then asked him if the viscous coupling boot was ok. He took me back to the center-rear of the car to look at the viscous coupling and said it was fine and that there was no boot on it. I then told him about the private garage diagnosis. I verified with the parts department that there is no such thing as a "viscous coupling boot".

BTW, the private garage had rotated my tires and put the rear tires on in the wrong direction (directional Yokohama Avids). I had planned to then take the car to the private guy (who said over the phone that he would switch the tires back the right way) after finishing at the Volvo dealer, but did not want him near the car again! Mark at Annapolis Volvo corrected the tires for me. They then washed my car and sent me away without charging a dime.

Does anyone have advice on what I should do next? Should I contact the BBB? I hesitate to name the private garage in this message in case there is some slim chance that they were not intentionally trying to rip me off.

I used to run the shop at a Volvo dealership, and you wouldn't believe some of the crap that indie shops pull. I've found that people typically badmouth dealers on here, but like anything else, there are good ones and bad ones. I've heard of indie shops replacing the valve cover gaskets on 850s, $500 job, there is no valve cover gasket, and all they did was wash the engine. I've seen them throw all kinds of parts at a check engine light and not even fix it. We had one that they replaced bot O2 sensors, air mass meter and a couple of other things and all it was just a disconnected vacuum line! We had one 850 they told the customer it needed a automatic transmission, but the bolt broke on the support for the right fron axle and it pulled out of the tranny. Car wouldn't go anywhere, the customer said that they put it up in the air, so they knew they were ripping off the customer. Another 850 had the upshift arrow flashin, the mode selector lights flashing and a check engine light. We pulled a code for no communication between the tranny and the control module. Turns out, they started by replacing the gear position sensor (PNP switch) and doing a flush. Lights came back on, needs a trans, they did that, put a used on from a junkyard in, lights still came back. Then we got it, first we cleaned the corroded connectors on the trans wiring harness, the tech drove it home, lights came back. We put a new control module in it, that did it. About 6 months later the car was towed in. It was leaking ATF profusely, wouldn't move. The used tranny blew up! We put a remaned unit in, and we actually did it cheaper than the indie shop! The indie shop is now longer in business, CT motor vehicles dept pulled their liscense for fraud.

Hate to say it but unless you have a proof of what they have told you, they will deny the whole incident. Just stay away from them.

Ta-ta, j.
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Nautica-Blue Volvo 2001 XC70 and Green S70

I would contact the BBB and that's about all you're going to be able to do. Good chance they were just ignorant, but if they didn't know what they were talking about, they shouldn't have offered to do a "non-existent job" for the grand or so they quoted you. This, plus putting the tires on backwards and not catching the leaking front CV boots is inexcusable.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Hi,
I had an experience several years back when I had my 240 towed to an "indie" Volvo shop after my motor threw a rod on the hiway. At the time I thought the motor was "toast" but thought I`d have them check it out Cuz I`m not a mechanic. Anyway, the owner called me the next am to say that in fact, the motor was irreparable & they could install a used motor for $1800. Sounded a little steep & as it happened a Volvo buddie was parting out a car that had a great motor(he`d been rear-ended) so he put it my car for $400 total. I had to go get my car towed to his place & I went down to meet the tow truck, I looked under the hood of my 240 & it had been completely stripped, absolutely nothing there. The owner of the shop came out to tell me I owed him $600 for taking the motor apart to see if it was repairable. After much heated discussion, we settled on $200. just to get my car off his lot & my parts back.
It seemed that this was a situation for the BBB but when I called I was told that this company had never had any complaints lodged against them & therefore there really was nothing that they could do for me.
Probably you should consider your situation a "lesson learned" & a cheap one at that.
Sorry for the longwinded anecdote!
Rich

I do not know about your state but in the state of california the BBB is absolutely worthless. They are an independent organization that can, at worst, give you a bad recommendation and usually the actually just don't recommend you. Let me ask you this, when was the last time you or anybody you know called the BBB for their recommendation? In eight years of running my own business I have had one customer call the BBB on me, the lady was not only completely unfounded in her accusations, she was a complete and total lunatic. I was in the right in the situation and unwilling to refund her the money and the BBB said that they would not be able to recommend me in the future. Let me tell you that put the fear of God into me real fast, yeah right!! I think you would be far better off to go by the shop and explain the situation to the owner and ask him if he would be willing to put the car in the air and show your EXACTLY what they are talking about and make sure that the tech that looked at it is right there to go over it with you. In instances like this it is usually a misunderstanding and not an overt attempt to rip you off. They could be a case of ignorance also, just because they are wrong does not mean they are criminal. If they refuse to accomodate you then I would politely let them know that you have a written estimate from them, that you have had it inspected at the local dealer and that maybe they would not mind explaining the nature of this $1000.00 recommendation to the Bureau of Automotive Repairs. I do not know what they call it in the state that you reside in but most states have some sort of Consumer Affairs Division that oversees stuff like this. They have a little more clout in situations like this as it is usually them that issues the Automotive Repair Dealers license, and revokes them as well.

Mark

Thanks to Mark, and everyone else, for your replies. I do, in fact, have written proof of their claim. I have a service receipt that states:

"NOTE: NEED TO REPLACE FT VISCOUS COUPLING BOOT/WILL CALL CUSTOMER NEXT WEEK WITH ESTIMATE" (printed in all caps on receipt).

You may be right that it is a misunderstanding, but I don't feel that I owe the guy the chance to make it right at this point. Plus, I don't really trust him to be alone with the car. I only feel bad that I am not doing more to warn others if, in fact, he is trying to pull one over on me.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone that responded. Lesson learned, cheap.

Twinsdad

Right...the BBB is a club that businesses join by paying some dues...it has absolutely no clout.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

I don't think the BBB is a waste of time, Granted I have never Called for a reccomendation, but...

When I purchased my Used Pontiac 4 years ago from a Pontiac Dealer, They did a pay-off on my trade, and it was supposed to be all taken care of that week (the week before my payment was due)

Well, a week later my payment on the old car was taken out of my account. I called the bank and they had no information about a payoff. I called the Dealer and they wouldn't return my calls.

I e-maild the BBB and with in a few days i got a reply stating the Dealer was contacted, and i should be hearing from them soon. I never did get that phone call, (in fact i got a letter saying *I* was unreachable, and they had tried 3 times, which is total bull but whatever) But with in the week of filing the complaint, my orignal loan was taken care of and i recived a Check from the dealer covering my payment and the interest that i shouldnt have had to pay.

I should have run away when a different salesman tried to sell me an old Chrysler coupe that the steering wheel sat between my knees, and my head rubbed the headliner. When i told them "I don't fit in this car" their reply was "well it has tilt steering!" (Yeah, i know when i got in i put it all the way up, and the seat all the way back, still can't fit)

I won't shop there again, but at least my issue was taken care of.
Mike.