I wonder if anyone else has had this problem-- My 2012 XC60 was purchased last year with 53K miles on it (not a Volvo Dealer). It had a low, whirring noise coming from the engine when I purchased it, but I assumed it was just the sound of a 2012 Volvo. The whirring noise corresponds with the engine speed, whether in Drive or in neutral/park.
We have now driven it for about 5000 miles. The noise began getting louder recently, so I took it to a Volvo Dealer. He had his head mechanic drive it.

The bad news: the service manager said they are 99% certain it is a bearing in the "REED" assembly. Unfortunately, he said this bearing cannot be replaced by Volvo, because it is too deep in the engine block and replacing it may damage the block. He also said that Volvo Corporate directed them NOT to replace it.
When I asked if it will fail eventually, he said he can't predict, and they have not seen one fail yet. It may not be that bearing, but something else. However, they'd have to tear the engine down very far to diagnose it with certainty. So what do I do?

My online searches indicate the bearing does fail and some people predict very extensive engine damage when it fails. I also learned that the service manager misspelled the assembly. It is called Rear End Accessory Drive or R.E.A.D assembly. So now I don't trust anything the service manager says.
Volvo sells the main gear with the bearing, so I don't understand why they would tell their dealers to NOT do the repair. I am going to a different dealer for a second opinion next week.
Elsewhere, the "Automotive Tech Info" website has detailed instructions on how to do the repair, but it requires advanced skills and special Volvo tools. So, I decline that option.
If there is an Indy mechanic who will attempt this repair, I am not aware. In fact, there are not that many indy mechanics who will repair Volvos in the Lehigh Valley, PA.
Other experiences with the R.E.A.D (or READ) assembly would be good to hear.

BTW: I noticed a similar issue on the XC90 forum. Is it related? (should this be under the same thread?)

 

You might find helpful info here - I don't envy you trying to find someone to do that job - (if it's needed)

https://www.volvoread.com/

 

Let me finish this story of the defective (noisy) R.E.A.D. unit. I went for a second opinion at another Volvo dealer here in the Lehigh Valley. I got a very different story about the ability to repair this unit as compared to the story from the other dealer. Apparently, this "2nd Opinion" dealer's head mechanic had done multiple repairs on READ units. Furthermore, they confirmed that there are multiple accessories connected to the READ that may be causing the noise. Their initial "good news" was short-lived, but they said they thought that the noise was coming from the alternator. So, I OK'd a replacement of the Alternator, at a much reduced cost of the entire READ unit. Afterwards, they concluded it was NOT the source of the noise, and they replaced the alternator unnecessarily. I declined to pay for that, but they compromised by agreeing to not charge for labor, but only the cost of the part.

So, we were then into a multiple day repair of the entire READ unit (bearing, seals, etc.) There was a delay in getting the parts supplied from Volvo US. And this was followed by a delay when they realized their repair shop was missing the unique tools for this task. (They recently moved the Dealership Shop, and "lost" the tools in the move.) Delay! And More Delay!

Alas, 3 weeks later, they completed the repair and the noise stopped. Total cost of parts, labor (including the unnecessary NEW alternator), came to $6300. In the end, we have now paid about the market value of a 2012 XC60, with the used car price we paid plus the cost of repair. So, our "great deal" on the purchase doesn't look so great, in retrospect.

Regarding the "song and dance" we got from the first dealership about Volvo Corporate office saying not to do this repair, I never resolved the differing prognoses. And I thought it would be bad form to "tattle-tale" on one Dealer to Another Dealer. And the head mechanic that succeeded in doing the repair is retiring soon. This confirms my on-going suspicion that Volvo dealerships are dishonest and do not tell the truth to customers. Furthermore, I am beginning the feel that Volvos (in the P3 generation and later), are not reliable anymore and are too sophisticated for DIY used Volvo owners like myself. This is our third Volvo, and we have enjoyed "Volvo quality" up to this date. But, I'm considering what is the best economical path forward for our next car purchase.

 

Bringing this back to life. Interesting to me as my 2011 xc60 3.2 has developed this whirring noise as well from the READ unit, as 2 different Volvo mechanics have told me in the past 2 months that the noise seems to be coming from this unit. I should add that one of these 2 mechanics changed my alternator for me right before this noise started, pretty much right after the alternator change this noise became noticeable to me. I don't think it existed before this as my ears are sensitive to the engine noises and I very much think I would have noticed.

Now I would not pay what you paid for this repair my car is barely worth that amount, if at all(265,000 km). What did you end up doing, sell the Volvo and get another brand? If yes, what did you get? I'm very interested. I wish I had the knowledge to do everything on my car myself because mechanics and dealerships can NOT be trusted based on many experiences I have had with them and this message of yours proves it again. They deceive and I can't really prove them wrong or accuse them.
Would love to hear from you with a bit of an update.

Thanks

 

I too have this issue with my 2008 XC70. I removed the alternator and isolated the noise to the READ unit bearing. I cannot find a local shop (Knoxville, TN) that has done this before or that will attempt this repair. From the volvoread.com website this bearing replacement is fixable, and fcpeuro even sells the bearing/sprocket (part 31272770), so someone is replacing them.

Anyone have had this repair done?

 

I had a 2008 3.2L XC70 that developed the same noise. It grew louder over time, to the point that it was quite loud inside the cabin. I spent a large amount of time trying to track down the source of the noise, with many smaller mechanics stating failing alternator noise, bad tensioner or idler pulley noise, and even AC compressor issues. Each mechanic gave a different diagnosis. Took it to an official Volvo dealership and was told all of the above was the case. -__-

Eventually I found a specialized Volvo mechanic in Portland Organ who did a much deeper dive and came back with the R.E.A.D. Assembly bearing issue you speak of. He was grim in his prognosis. It will eventually fail, but it may take time (unknown how long). If it goes, it almost always totals the engine. He recommended I take it back to the Volvo dealership with his findings to see what they would recommend, as he was not interested in doing the replacement. They came back with a confirmation diagnosis and refused to replace the baring. "90% failure rate", "sign a waiver if they total the engine", "don't have a guy who will even do it", etc. They then suggested that my only viable options were to either replace the engine (for a car I bought for $7,000), or sell it to them for $2,000. I ended up selling it in the local auction "as is" (with the condition disclosed) for $6,000.

Long story short, it's up to you if you want to keep driving it at your own risk. From what I understand, the R.E.A.D. Assembly bearing failure is rare, but it is a serious one if it happens. Most mechanics or dealerships don't feel it's worth the labor hours or risk to try to replace it, but it can be done with the right tools, experience and time.

 

Any recording of this noise? I have a "whirring" noise but it's definitely from the alternator (using a stethescope).

 

I don’t have a recording of my 2008 noise but I sold that car to a local mechanic who said he was up to the task. The car still had plenty of life left.