I have a 2018 S90 T8 Inscription. Where is the High Voltage Coolant Heater part # 31455369 located?

I'm a few hundred miles over my 50K warranty and I find out my parking climate doesn't work as well as the heater when I'm in all electric mode. Some research points me to the HVCH. Volvo dealer would charge $500 to diagnose and probably 2-3K+ to replace it. I would at least like to make sure its plugged in and it gets power when I turn on one heater, maybe swap it out myself if it's accessible. I am handy with tools, electricity and don't mind giving it a try. I just don't want to spend 1/2 a day digging for it just to find out I need to remove my transmission or engine to get to it. No amount of googling is pointing me at its location.

Is this swappable at home with say 8-10inch wheel ramps? Should I just give up and live with no morning heat a few months a year. I'm in Southern California so its not that cold.

Appreciate any help.

 

The HVCH is covered by a longer warranty.

 

That's not what Volvo Car USA customer service rep or 2 people at a local Volvo dealership think. A second local dealership said it "might" be covered, but I need to pay them $200 for diagnostic first, then they will know if that part is or isn't covered.

 

Tell them to check with their warranty administrator at the dealership. Whoever answers the phone might not know.

 

Our 2021 XC60 Recharge that we've had less than 9 months has already had this part go bad. It's under warranty obviously, but been over 3 weeks, and dealer says part still hasn't shipped from Sweden. So we are driving our new electric car around in gas mode or without heat. Not a very happy first time Volvo owner. Just hope this isn't going to be an ongoing problem. Have seen threads in other forums of people having to replace this part repeatedly.

 

Not sure this will help, but I did notice just yesterday in the manual an image of where coolant for that is added (I had wondered what went into that hole LOL). And it said it "should" be checked/serviced by a qualified Volvo techy. It's the curious cap to something without much verbiage high up in the firewall drivers side just below the driver's w/s wiper. If you feel confident playing around with that, might be interesting to check the coolant in there. It's to keep the Hybrid battery cells cool.

My T8 is a 2021 but I bet that stuff didn't change much from your year.

If it spawns a fix for you, PM me, I'd love a good stash of Sour Mash for Christmas . Evan Williams works

 

Thanks for trying. Had to pull up your 2021 manual to find what you are talking about. On my car that hybrid battery coolant cap is covered up by a panel. Sadly for me, you, and your "stash of Sour Mash" it had a bunch of greenish fluid in it, just above the low mark, so that's a no go. I do have a appointment for 2 weeks from now to have it checked out by Volvo.

 

Well, you never know until you know. Best of luck when you get it checked, maybe it will be something simple. Let us know how it goes.
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year

But I'm covered for the Holidays, just bought a 'small batch' of Kirklands Sour Mash from Costco, and even there's wasn't cheap LOL

 

In the last few weeks mine is actually gone bad also.

 

Good luck with the repair. 7 days ago my dealership confirmed that indeed my HVCH was the problem and put in the order, 5 days ago they said it's on back order and will try to put a critical request to get one rushed. I asked how long is the ETA, they said they will get back to me this week... still waiting for ETA.

 

Still waiting on that ETA from my dealer 2-1/2 months later. Multiple emails to Volvo Custom Care have not gotten me anywhere either. It's 5 degrees out right now.

 

I too have been waiting and told it is being expressed shipped. I am holding my breath. Will post when I receive it.

 

Agreed, my first Volvo In reality it started within the first month after I owned it but I thought it was more my problem the way it was getting used to all of the options in the car.

I was into the dealership this week for something else and they told me the part still hasn't been shipped . it's waiting to be produced in Sweden. If they're having troubles with this part they need to do more to keep it an inventory. I understand it's a complex system and their circuit boards involved which may be part of the problem but unfortunately they don't do anything to explain why it's delayed. If they would just be upfront it would be helpful.

 

Any progress?

I have a 2021 T8 exactly 12 months old, with 12k miles on it. Also confirmed today that the HV heater is "locked" whatever that means (as a practical matter it means zero heat from vents on electric). Anyway, they ordered and he told me that they recently had to order on for another, which took four weeks to arrive.

In 12 months I've had to replace the ERAD, now the HV heater, plus an erroneous check engine light they rectified with a software update (supposedly). I do not envy the person who owns this out of warranty.

BTW I did post on the swede forums about my car in case anybody is wondering the odds of two posts about the same topic on the same day--same person

 

Well you know the old expression squeaky wheels get greased. here is what I did. I first liked their LinkedIn page and then their posts started to show up automatically on my timeline in LinkedIn. I then responded to one of their posts. I was not publicly criticizing them to any great extent but it got a response and they gave me an email address to communicate with.

I sent an email to that address and within hours I had a response that the part is now going to be shipped. Shortly after that my contact person at the Volvo warranty department contacted me and said the part is ready to be shipped. Unfortunately that's how things must work.

I have another issue with ethanol gas that I'm now bringing to their attention again. The dealer's been absolutely no help. All they tell me that I should use gas without ethanol. Right now that's running $.75-$.90 more per gallon. Given that I can't use the pure mode because there's no heat I have to use power mode which means I'm consuming fuel at a much higher rate.

Love the Volvo but all this is rather discouraging in terms of Volvo ownership.

I had planed to replace this 2021 in 2023 with a full electric and Volvo may not be my #1 choice. ( PS it is for sure will not be Tesla, many others EV's coming to market)

 

They must be joking. Why are they saying this? I don't even know where I'd buy ethanol free gas and, as you pointed out, it's cost prohibitive anyway.

This thing is leased and last month I got volvo to agree to let me out of the lease free and clear on account of the dearth of these particular vehicles (Volvo wants them), though since then we've gained some "necessity" for a third vehicle after all.

I am sold on plug-ins as well. We have a rinky dink EV which is nice right now given gas prices, plus this car. The Rav4 prime is Toyota's version of a T8 and receives rave reviews. The Mach E has been well received also. Although I prefer not to use it at all the service experience at Volvo is definitely on another tier than what I'm used to (Toyota, Nissan). My loaner today was a T6 S90, which sure beats being thrown into the back of a shuttle bus minivan with a few other customers

 

No sorry to say they weren't joking. Even the service manager said that that's what they're recommending. I told them the manual that came with the car says that you can use up to 10% ethanol 91 octane. Of course 93 is preferred but you're never going to find that unless it has ethanol which is just an enhanced 91. They were surprised it said that. Shows you how well they know their cars. When things were working as they should I was able to use the electric mode. That was great.

Before buying the Volvo I did consider a RAV4 prime. At the time they were not available in the Midwest. They were all being sold by dealers on both coasts is what I was told. Not sure if there are any available as of 2022. I do believe that Toyota may be one of the leaders in solid-state battery technology in my experience with Toyotas over the last 20 years has been nothing but excellent.

 

I also would have bought a prime but they were not available a year ago. I contacted a toyota dealer four weeks ago and my salesman from 2020 on another vehicle told me they could order at MSRP with a several month expectation, which is pretty good. I know from rav4 prime forums some are still paying a few thousand over MSRP. I have a 9 year old Toyota now that has cost so little in repairs it's almost unbelievable, and has really cemented my respect for the brand.

I still drive my T8 in electric for the most part. With a jacket and all the heated surfaces the real lack of heat problem is mainly noted when I have multiple people in the car and the windows fog. Then it gets the constant AWD treatment to keep the motor running.

 

got to laugh on this. What we will do to make things work. I am watching Toyota carefully. Once the Lexus brand has a full electric SUV they will have my attention. not less money but I think they will be spot on for quality and reliability.

 

Lexus is the only luxury brand I’d own out of warranty.