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44 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2003 at 6:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volvo S80, Engine

Messages Page 1 of 5

#1 of 44 2000 S80 T6 with Disappearing Coolant by schoemer

Sep 02, 2002 (6:55 pm)

Help! Does anyone else have the coolant warning "stop engine" sign coming on frequently (at least 1x month for the last 6 mo. perhaps) The dealer keeps topping it off (sign comes on when it reaches the minimum level). The engine never shows hot, I never see evidence of a leak in my garage, yet the coolant disappears. The dealer checked and found no leaks. Dealer is not aware of this problem with anyone else, or so they claim. It is getting a bit annoying to say the least! Can't find any problems of this sort on this site except way back in 2000. My car has 55K but this has been happening since before the 50K warranty. Absolutely love the car otherwise!

#2 of 44 by mullins87

Sep 02, 2002 (7:50 pm)

Did the dealer pressurize the cooling system and watch the pressure over a period of an hour or so?

#3 of 44 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 03, 2002 (7:37 am)

Tell the dealer or an independent shop to stop being lazy and diagnose the problem. Mullins is absolutely right, you need to pressure test the system and perhaps use a detecting dye to find the leak.
 
You either have a hidden leak or a head gasket issue going on. Those are the only possibilities.

#4 of 44 S80 hassle by chetdude

Sep 23, 2002 (12:33 pm)

I bought a 2000 S80 2.9 and it has been nothing but problems. The transmission dropped at 50k, the onboard digital fuel economy gauge never worked (despite repeated trips to the dealer) and worse off, after three years, the driver's leather seat looks like it has 300k miles in wear. Did we get a lemon, or has anyone else experienced similar problems? This is our fourth and last Volvo. It's enough to make me long for the old 240.

#5 of 44 by jrosasmc

Sep 23, 2002 (2:18 pm)

Hmm, sounds like a lemon.

#6 of 44 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 23, 2002 (6:04 pm)

Well, not so fast here. I heard "3 problems in 50K miles".
 
Now the trans is inexcusable, okay, one big demerit
 
The gas gauge, well, just about any car made can fart one time electronically.
 
The leather seats might have been a lack of instruction on Volvo's part to owner's on how to properly take care of leather. Lots of people really don't know and damage the interiors unknowingly. If the leather is allowed to dry, it will scrape and crack like nobody's business.
 
Of course, leathers come in different grades, and I don't think Volvo uses top, top grade--but it should be a decent grade of hide. If it comes from Scandanavia, their hides look great and dress great because they don't use barbed wire but sometimes they aren't so durable. I owned three Saabs and all the leathers went to hell, but that was older stuff than yours, too.

#7 of 44 by jrosasmc

Sep 23, 2002 (7:13 pm)

Maybe Saab and Volvo didn't use the finest leather back in the day.

#8 of 44 coolant problem by s80nightmare

Oct 21, 2002 (9:28 pm)

Since I have so much experience with the S80 problems, I feel that I can tell you this. GET OUT NOW! Seriously though, I just had my radiator replaced at <40,000 miles. I also rec'd low radiator fluid warnings. Three weeks after they replaced it though, I overheated and rec'd a "STOP CAR" message about a half mile from home. I barely chugged home and refilled the coolant. I brought it back in (1 1/2 hours round trip) and they said that there was an air gap in the hose that caused the most recent problem. I have zero faith in this car, so we'll see where I break down next???

#9 of 44 I dunno... by lancerfixer

Oct 22, 2002 (6:01 am)

The leather in my 740 looks great after 14 years, and I don't have a garage. I imagine the previous owner did. I regularly use Zymol cleaner and protectant (two separate products) on the seats, though.

#10 of 44 Service Message by balooo

Nov 03, 2002 (3:51 pm)

I 'd like to have my oil changed by a less expensive service provider then the dealer.
Does anyone know the "trick" to turning off the the service message?
 
Assuming I can take my S80 in for major service intervals makes more sense to me.
I have 15,100 miles on my S80 and took it in for the 7,500.
I don't see the point in spending nearly one hundred bucks for what is basically an oil change.

Messages Page 1 of 5

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