I just had a bad experience with my dealership here in Miami. I took my 2001 XC70 in to my local dealership for the 60k service and they replaced the sparkplugs (about all they did, everything else is "Inspect"). After I drove it away it did not idle properly, felt like a cylinder was missing when stopped at a traffic light. Well after I took it in again (and waited 4 hours) they said the ignition coils needed replacing, does anyone else have this done? It was pretty expensive.

Below I pasted my nasty gram that I sent to Volvo, not that they will answer anything:

Unfortunately, this will not be a positive email; however, I'd like to share my experience, which will steer me away from buying another Volvo.

I assumed the best care for my 2001 XC70 is to have it serviced by the dealer at which I purchased the car, although via Overseas Delivery. My car has been serviced 100% by Deel Volvo, Miami, FL, only 1 of 2 dealers (as far as I know) in Miami-Dade County. The only time something was done outside the dealership was 4 new tires, and this only because the service advisor (who is no longer there) recommended I go outside.

My experience that has me upset is the following: I took the car in for it's 60,000 mile service on Dec. 16th, 2005. A usual I had a S40 as a loaner (that's why I do not get as upset about the $683.00 price of the service). As far as I can see from the invoice, the oil was changed, as well as the spark plugs; the rest of the invoice was 3 pages of "Inspect" items.

As soon as I picked up the car and drove it away, I noticed that it was no longer idling properly, every time I stood at a traffic light I felt a cylinder miss. I called my Service Advisor from the cell phone, and left him a message that I did not think the car was idling correctly. I kept on my way home, assuming maybe the computer had to get used to the new spark plugs. I never got a call back in 2 days; I then went on a 3 week vacation (flying, not with the car).

When I returned, I called my service advisor and told him I had left a message 3 weeks ago and he never called back. It did not matter to him and he could not get me in to look at the problem for 3 weeks. I finally talked to a manager and I took the car in the next day (Jan 11th). I waited 2 hours and then they showed me that the ignition coils were cracked and I needed 5 new ones, I questioned why this was not found out at the time of the service, and they talked around the subject, when I questioned that they do not even test drive the car after what they themselves call a major service, they just looked at me blankly.

My point is, how can they do that kind of service and not even test drive the car?

I paid another $448.00 for ignition coils, supposedly with many discounts, and waited another 2 hours.

Due to the lack of "Quality Control" of the service this will be the last service done at a Volvo dealership; I will not set foot in another, assuming this is global. I will keep the car until it gives me too many problems, as I do all other cars I've owned, and I love this one, but it will NOT be replaced with another Volvo

Thank you for listening,
Klaus PE
Picture gallery at http://www.pbase.com/saltwfish
Also member of
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/E-DIVERS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/floridawrecktech
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Canon-300D
http://www.volvo-forums.com/f9-volvo-xc70-forum.htm

sorry to hear. could be worse, a bmw dealer forgot to put my oil back in once durring a service.

:cat: Hi there. This won't be much consolation to you-but one of my coils packed it in on my S80 just after a 95,000k service.

I had to front with $385.00 for one coil and labour. That included my Volvo Owners Club discount.

I had a two hour wait also. But, to be fair to the agent-they had service jobs from here to Africa waiting. It was one of those days for them.

It was one of those days for me also. I was just about to drive the best part 500k's down country when it happened.

But, look on the bright side-you know that the coils are attended to for the next 60,000k's or so!!

Cheers

Can only speculate on how the coils got bad. Given dealer did the plugs, there is probably reasonable chance they damaged it because this car has its coils right on the top of the plugs. The coils need to be pulled out to get to the plugs.

On the replacement. It is ok to just replace one based on what I've read.

Here is a link for some additional info.

http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=52141

If you trace all of the thread, you will see there are wire looms that crumble over time and expose the coil pack wires. In case of the S80, one wire got squeezed and finally came in contact witht the head. This burned out the coil. People also replaced single coil with success.

I've also heard replacing all 5 even if one goes bad. I suppose the reason is to make absolutely sure the coils are all operating at the same spec range being new. This is probably highly unnecessary but dealers probably have to more strictly adhere to factory advice more being a dealer. You might find a good Volvo independent through word of mouth from other Volvo owners in the area.

Sounds like the service was really bad. A burnt out coil should be very noticable when they start the car to test it. I'm assuming they at least started the engine and drove it out of the garage. They surely did a test drive. They didn't say anything which sounds like a cover up. I also hope you got more than plugs done for your $600+, major service should include oil, air, cabin filter changes, engine oil, plug, radiator fluid change. I got all of this + tranny drain+fill for <$400 at a reputable Swedish car independent.

Thanks for the info. My idea was to get an independent anyway after what I think was average to poor service by the dealer....