Un-#!#!#!#!ing-believable

[frosho]

RANT MODE ENGAGED

So most of you probably know I picked up a new DD - a 2006 Volvo V50. Everything was going great, until I found this...





That is a front strut mount bolt that had been broken and then GLUED BACK IN PLACE. #!#!#!#!ing GLUE. The dealer had the front struts replaced prior to me picking the car up, which means the only person who could possibly be responsible is the 'mechanic' who installed the struts.

I am beyond pissed. The level of deceit and negligence exhibited here is mind blowing. For #!#!#!#!'s sake it's not a piece of trim, it's an important suspension fastener, one that jeopardizes the safety of me, my passengers, and my fellow motorists when it is not functional.

I left an angry voicemail with the owner of the dealership on Saturday and sent him an email with these pictures yesterday. He finally called me back this morning, and he's as pissed as I am. He doesn't employ his own mechanic, so he uses an unaffiliated shop for work like this. He is going after the shop (they're playing dumb and denying any fault), and in the meantime he will be taking care of me in the form of new parts to be installed by me or a shop of my choice.

The same shop changed the front brake pads in addition to the struts, so I pulled the wheels off yesterday to check their work. It looks like the brakes were done right, but while I was under there, I found a control arm bushing with a huge amount of play in it. The tech must have been too busy gluing the bolt back together to notice the wheel rocking back and forth. Here's a blurry clip showing the amount of play -
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgyfA9w9bTg[/YT]

I included that video in my email to the dealer. He is going to send me a new control arm in addition to the strut mount, even though the arm wasn't part of the deal originally. So, I have to commend the dealer for working to make things right. I'm going to get the name of the guilty shop too, so I can publicly express my displeasure with their 'work'. Whoever did that has absolutely no integrity and no business working on cars.

[Muddummie]

That sucks man. Those repairs wouldn't have been so hard to correct either. Good thing you noticed them.

[Th3Juggernaut]

that sucks man at least you found it quickly. surprised a Volvo dealership would do that kind of 'work'. at least you have the paperwork saying what work they did and they passed the inspection so you shouldn't have any problem going after them if need be.

[frosho]

That sucks man. Those repairs wouldn't have been so hard to correct either. Good thing you noticed them.

That's the most bothersome thing about this. It could have easily been fixed correctly. There's just no excuse.

And yeah, I'm lucky I found it. I wasn't specifically inspecting those bolts, just happened to glance over and noticed that one looked like it was sticking up a bit, like it was loose. I gripped it with two fingers and started turning it, and it came right off in my hand.

that sucks man at least you found it quickly. surprised a Volvo dealership would do that kind of 'work'. at least you have the paperwork saying what work they did and they passed the inspection so you shouldn't have any problem going after them if need be.

It wasn't the Volvo dealer. He brought it to Volvo to diagnose and fix the misfire, and they also did the rear brakes. No problems to report with their work. The car was taken to a different shop to have the struts done, probably because Volvo would be extra pricey and the nature of the work should have been easy enough for any Joe Schmoe parts changer to handle.

[mike cm]

Lucked out like myself. The dealer we got the vw was awesome.

[frosho]

Parts are on their way to me via USPS

[jst_4_kiks]

Holy hell dude. Thats crazy. Good luck getting everything fixed. Props to your dealer.

[mjd4277]

Holy crap!! The shop that did the work should have their operating certificate revoked.

[frosho]

I read that a body was found behind a cinema in Hooksett yesterday...I bought the car in Hooksett...maybe Karma caught up to the perpetrator already lol

[Boofy]

That sucks man big time i would be doing some bitching

[frosho]

Add a tire patch to my list of #!#!#!#! to do... found a screw in one of them. At least it's in the tread.

[frosho]

Got the tire fixed on Thursday after work. Apparently the screw didn't go through, and it was actually leaking at the bead. Either way, it's fixed. My parts from the dealer also showed up on Thursday, so I got to work on Saturday while it was above freezing.

The new control arm went in without too much trouble. Had to move a couple a/c lines out of the way to get one of the bolts out, but it was pretty straightforward aside from that. I did my first oil change too while the car was off the ground. One other issue which I don't think I mentioned previously was a clicking noise coming from the front driver side wheel. I researched it online and determined that I had "axle ping" as Volvo calls it. A pretty common complaint. The fix is a new axle bolt, so I picked one up from Lovering Volvo and swapped it out. No more clicks.

Yesterday I tackled the strut mount. I decided try removing the remainder of the broken bolt instead of replacing the whole mount. Surprisingly (with my luck), I was successful! I even snapped a tap off in the bolt, but there was enough left sticking out for me to extract it with some pliers. I should've played the lottery after that.



I swapped in one of the bolts from the new mount and called it a day. The new mount can sit on the shelf until it's needed.


Souvenir


Now I just need to find some time to get it aligned. I have SolidWorks training in Westborough for the rest of the week, so it may not happen until next weekend. I'm quite happy with the progress, though.

[Church]

Got the tire fixed on Thursday after work. Apparently the screw didn't go through, and it was actually leaking at the bead. Either way, it's fixed. My parts from the dealer also showed up on Thursday, so I got to work on Saturday while it was above freezing.

The new control arm went in without too much trouble. Had to move a couple a/c lines out of the way to get one of the bolts out, but it was pretty straightforward aside from that. I did my first oil change too while the car was off the ground. One other issue which I don't think I mentioned previously was a clicking noise coming from the front driver side wheel. I researched it online and determined that I had "axle ping" as Volvo calls it. A pretty common complaint. The fix is a new axle bolt, so I picked one up from Lovering Volvo and swapped it out. No more clicks.

Yesterday I tackled the strut mount. I decided try removing the remainder of the broken bolt instead of replacing the whole mount. Surprisingly (with my luck), I was successful! I even snapped a tap off in the bolt, but there was enough left sticking out for me to extract it with some pliers. I should've played the lottery after that.



I swapped in one of the bolts from the new mount and called it a day. The new mount can sit on the shelf until it's needed.


Souvenir


Now I just need to find some time to get it aligned. I have SolidWorks training in Westborough for the rest of the week, so it may not happen until next weekend. I'm quite happy with the progress, though.

Uh yeah you should of, unless that bolt wasn't properly torqued to begin with. They usually are a bitch to get out.

Same washer diameter, same strength. Hmm unless the length was wrong or the pitch than I'd say the repair is A-okay. Although if I had a whole new strut mount I'd go ahead and replace it anyways, you know one of those WYAIT things.

[frosho]

Although if I had a whole new strut mount I'd go ahead and replace it anyways, you know one of those WYAIT things.

I'll probably swap out both sides sometime when the weather is nicer. For now, it's good enough. WYAIT doesn't really apply since I didn't have to remove anything to get the bolt out.

[Church]

Wyait applies the second you take tools out to work on your car ;p