My wife owns a 2010 Volvo XC60 V6 T6 model with 155,000 miles.
Over the summer the Check Engine Light came on and she made enquiries with several garages as to what may be causing this to happen. A couple of independent garages said it was more than likely the catalytic converter but in the end she took it into the nearest Volvo dealer who diagnosed a front O2 or Oxygen sensor which they replaced. After a week or so the Engine Check light came back on, she took it back in to the same dealer who this time said the rear Oxygen sensor had failed, this was replaced but again after a short time the Engine Check light has come back on.
The car is going into the same dealer on Thursday for an oil change/service and I intend to bring up this issue as the total cost of supplying and fitting the sensors were in excess of $2000!
Wanted to ask if anyone else has encountered this problem with their Volvo, specifically the XC60?
It also seems to me that the sensors not the cause of the problem as it seems unlikely both would fail shortly after fitting, as such it's likely Volvo mis-diagnosed the problem in the first place?
Any suggestions on here as to how I can proceed with this, for example, for a start I think Volvo should reimburse me for the cost of the sensors as the replacements have done nothing to remedy the initial problem of the Check Engine Light coming on, it's obvious the fault lies elsewhere, the catalytic convertor maybe?
Thanks in advance

 

Without knowing the code, I can only assume.

But a lot of times, it winds up being the cat. However, the oxygen sensors are usually replaced first because they are cheaper and a false reading could indicate a faulty cat when the cat is actually fine. If it was the code I've usually seen, I recommend the front oxygen sensor and warn the customer it may need the cat.

 

I don't know what codes they were etc but on both occasions it turns out they diagnosed the fault incorrectly at a great expense to us, I suppose my main point is whether or not I have any recourse for a refund?

 

They may not have done anything wrong. The fault tracing for the code I commonly see actually specifically says "If no faults are found, try a new front heated oxygen sensor. If the fault persists, replace the catalytic converter."

 

OK thanks, I would have thought Volvo diagnostics would have been precise enough to specify and pinpoint the exact problem but I guess not?
Have sourced a new cat and pipes on Ebay for $488, may get it shipped direct to my local mechanic and ask him to fit

 

There isn't anything different about a Volvo vs another car. Oxygen sensors monitor the efficiency of the catalytic converter. So an oxygen sensor reading incorrectly on any car can cause codes for the cat.

 

OK thanks

 

Hi. I posted on someone else's post that had the same problem. I have a 2010 XC70 T6. to make a long story short. I found that certain brands of gas trigger the "Check Engine" light to come on. Furthermore, My car recently passed an emissions test in California. I was told by the dealership and another mechanic that if the catalytic converter was the reason for the Check Engine light to come on, it would NOT pass the emission test. So what is it? I'm not doing anything else until I get a definitive explanation of why the light comes off and on. I have 2 more years until the next emissions test to figure it out.