I took my 2007 Volvo S40 for an oil change today at the dealership and they found a crack on the coolant expansion tank (see picture below). They wanted to charge me $200 DOLLARS!!! to replace it. He tried to scare me saying that I will need to replace my coolant every couple of days if I didn't fix it (the crack is on the top).

I have a few questions:

1. Is this tank under pressure, does this crack affect performance, etc. I know I need to replace the tank but will it be really bad if I drive the car for a few days under this conditions?

2. Where can I get an OEM replacement for this tank online at a cheaper price than dealership?

3. Is there an online manual or book with instructions on how to do it myself. Thanks!

 

The expansion tank is under pressure and you will lose coolant quite rapidly risking overheating if you dont repair the split or replace the tank.
Try looking on ebay, IPD or FCP etc for a better price. Sure you can do better than dealers quoted price.

 

I replaced mine for a similar crack. Bought it online and installed it in a few minutes. It's really easy. Just have a few shop towels ready to catch any spilled coolant as you don't want your pets to drink the stuff if it spills on your floor. It's tastes sweet but is poisonous.

 

Thanks guys for the help. I purchased a new tank and changed it. I lost some fluid in the process and now the level is right under the letter "MIN" (see attached picture). I seems like it doesn't need much more to be at the appropriate level so I was wondering if it is ok where it's at now or do I really need to spend on money buying a new gallon of antifreeze to just to add a bit more to the tank.

Thanks again!

 

Just add a touch of water then drive the car to mix it all up. That small amount won't dilute your coolant much.