I'm new to this forum and welcome advice and input. I have owned my S60 for just over one year and it has 52.5K miles on it, so it's only 2500 miles off warranty. It just began knocking a day ago (sounds like a rod knock) and a local dealer confirmed it's an internal engine problem and that I need to replace the engine. 7K to install a used engine; 12K for a new one.

I have oil change records for the two changes I've had my local mechanic do, but the used non-Volvo dealer that I bought it from did not provide me with prior owner oil change history (which applies to about 28K miles of initial use) and the Volvo dealer says there is no record of Volvo oil changes in the system.

Do I have a shot at getting Volvo North America to give me Goodwill Assistance on this vehicle? I bought it with 28K on it and have changed the oil 2X - most recently at 44K, though neither time at Volvo. Nevertheless, a new engine at 52.5K miles is ridiculous.

Any advice on how to negotiate this with Volvo is welcome. Thanks.

 

What is the VIN?

 

You vill have a hard time getting Volvo doing a replacement of engine bc of the oil change not done right... but do ask them anyway
You should change the oil at 7500 miles intervalls so that means you should have done your last oil change at 44+7.5 51.5k miles
Your schedule for oil change is oc 7.5 - 15 - 22.5 - 30 - 37.5 - 45 - 52.5 K miles ie 7 oil changes

The car is worth about 15K $ so if you can sell it in current condition and buy another one is one option oc

 

The oil change interval from 2013 and on is 10k miles, so the two he did are fine. However, this could be a case of neglect by a previous owner burning a current owner.

 

Ok tnx ES6T

All 2013 Models

All 2009 Models

At year 2013 and on schedule does not say anything about using fully synthetic oil so my recommendation is to use that type - not doing that will destroy your Turbo ....

Turbo sidenote: When stopping the car after a spirited drive - do not shutdown the engine immediately - let it idle a 30-60 sec so the Turbo can cool down

 

It has never given the oil specifications on the maintenance table. But the owner's manual does specify synthetic as of 2013.

 

Care to post the VIN, SRaimo? If the car had free maintenance, the first three services should show up.

 

Guess not.

I doubt they will offer any help. You bought the car from a non-Volvo dealer. You had it serviced twice at independent shops. The car was likely neglected prior to you owning it. They have no reason to warranty a neglected engine in this situation.

 

I'm with ES6T on this.

I would hope, for your sake, that VCNA, will provide some assistance. However, it is doubtful, when one considers the fact that you have not established a relationship with a dealership, for any service on the Volvo. That, along with the lack of service records prior to your ownership, tends to indicate, to me, no real reason for VCNA to offer Good Will Assistance. That type of assistance is usually reserved for loyal customers.

BUT it doesn't hurt to try.

 

Any update? Or do we have another "I need help" who never returns?

 

VIN is #YV1612FS7E2296555

 

That car did come with the first three services free but unfortunately the previous owner never had them done.

 

Thank you, ES6T. Since you were able to check, can I presume that you work for Volvo? Wondering if you have any further advice for how to nurture support from Area Manager and local dealership agreeing to offer some Goodwill Assistance. I get that contractually Volvo owes me nothing; morally and relationally, though, I would like to think that for 7K or so the Area Manager and dealer might want to win over a new Volvo driver and gain a loyal local customer.

 

Yes, I work for a dealer as a tech.

In this situation, there isn't much I can tell you. I don't think they are going to offer anything. Sorry, but you are not a loyal Volvo customer and they would have no reason to believe you will become one. You bought the car at a non-Volvo dealership. You had two oil changes done since you have owned it, neither at a Volvo dealership. Now you are at the dealership just to try to get a free engine.

It would be totally different if the car was purchased at a Volvo dealership initially. But I would not expect them to stand behind an engine that may not have had an oil change until you bought it. This is not an engineering issue or a design flaw, so this wouldn't be covered even if the car was still under warranty. Even if the original owner had brought it in with a problem at 35,000 miles, they would have been told the engine was not maintained as outlined in the maintenance table and therefore would not be covered.

You might try fighting with the used car dealership you bought it from but I doubt they will do anything.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

 

So, if you were in my shoes what would you do - replace the engine with a used engine for approx. 7K (as informally quoted) or sell it - again, with 52.5K on it? I presume the other parts being fine make the car worth something...

 

You didn't ask me, but in response to your question, I'd sell it. My answer is based on the lack of service and service records. There could be other items that may need repair/replacing, i.e., the transmission.

 

If I were you I would at least ask for assistance, but just don't expect much if any. When that doesn't work, try contacting the selling dealer. After all, everything is worth a shot at least. Then, if you like the car, ask the dealer if they can do any better on the price if you do the work with them. They may be willing to move a little, depending in their parts mark up. And a new engine from Volvo would have a lifetime warranty, so that would certainly be nice.

 

OK, thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

 

Thanks for your input.