Volvo Service Tips

Every year, when Volvo releases a new model, dealership employees get to take all these wonderful tests online, to familiarise themselves with new Volvo features.

The tests are a pain in-the-you-know-what. But the extra knowledge has paid-off for me, because when a customer who is having difficulties with some features on his or her new Volvo calls in, I know how to solve their dilemma.

One hard to use feature is located on the Sensus Infotainment System.

Customer’s usually call to ask for help with the new Sensus Infotainment System, especially how to turn off the radio because it’s tricky, you have to hold down the power button for 5 seconds to shut down the radio.  

The second hard to use feature is the  new box keys that slide into the dashboard.

The new box key is confusing to Volvo owners who are used to inserting and turning the key in the ignition lock cylinder. This is now a two or three step process.

 The trick here is to first slide the box key into the dash  — gently does it — if you push too hard it will pop out again. Next, Step on the brake pedal and push down on the START/STOP button, to start or stop the engine. Don’t yank out the box key. I see customer do that all the time with our Volvo Loaner cars — replacement vehicles.

The third hard to use feature is the hands-free Blue-tooth.

The problem here is pairing up your phone to the blue-tooth.  Software Engineers and IT Experts too, have difficulties with Volvo’s Blue-tooth.

 We get quite a few customers who just purchased a new Volvo havIng issues with pairing up their phones. Just last week, a customer called about this same issue. His blackberry phone initially paired up just fine with the bluetooth and worked great for six months. Then out of the blue it the phone stopped working with the car.

What the accessories technician says to do is, first isolate the problem. Use a different type of phone and see if it pairs up with the car. And if it does, then the problem lies with the first phone, in this case, the blackberry.

Next, call the blackberry help line and find out if blackberry recently did a software update on the phone. If they did an update, then here lies the problem. We discovered that Blackberry had indeed updated the software.  The solution was to get the old software put back in the phone. This can be a pain if Blackberry or any other phone keeps updating the software on a regular basis. Volvo should come up with a software patch to accommodate phone software updates.

Blue-tooth dropping calls is entirely another issue, probably a software bug in the blue-tooth.

Recently, one morning, a customer called the dealership to find out how much it would cost to have a bike rack installed on her 2009 XC90. So, I set out to do some research on trailer hitches.

Our expert Accessories Technician, David, says there are three ways to do this.

1. Bike Carrier mounted on a Tow Hitch

A trailer hitch installation will run you about $1100 ($700 for parts + $400 labor). And a Trailer Hitch consists of a cross member, a ball mount and a two inch diameter ball.

A hitch mounted bike carrier is a safe and easy way to transport up to 4 bikes on a tow hitch.

A quick locking-coupling makes it easy to fit a bike carrier onto the tow hitch. And an added advantage is that it’s easy to load a bike because the height is low. The bike carrier holds up to 4 bikes  — 4 non scratch cradles lock down the bikes. Dual quick release levers makes it easy to unload the bikes and if you are worried about security, there is an integrated locking cable which stores conveniently in the carrier arm. A bike carrier will cost you about $400 to install.

2. Fork Mounted Bike carrier - Roof Bike Carrier

This is a very stable way to transport a bike, with little to no risk of swaying or rattling. This kit is used to carry a racing type bike without the front wheel attached. However, you have to need cross bars installed to make this attachement possible. This will cost you about $100 to install.

3. Upright Bike Carrier - Roof Bike Carier

If you have load bars and crossbars installed on the roof of your Volvo, this frame-mounted rack can be easily attached. However, if you have a T-Track crossbar, you may require additional installation kits  for some attachments. We carry two types, the Aluminum Upright Bike Carrier and the Regular Upright Bike Carrier.This attachment will cost you about $125 for installation.

Get Rebates from Volvo Parts

Trailer hitch up to $35, Roof Bike Carrier $20, Load Bars/ Cross Bars $15

 For some reason it’s always the Volvo Passenger Side View Mirror that suffers damage.

 But most times it’s just the Volvo Mirror Glass that is knocked out of place or shattered.

That’s when you go “phew! I dodged a bullet“, as my boss likes to say. Wiping the imaginary sweat off his brow. 

Purchase a Replacement Volvo Side View Mirror Glass, and have it glued back on, don’t break into a sweat my friend.

So, after suffering damage to your passenger side view mirror, you need to call your Volvo Dealership as soon as possible and have a Volvo Technician look at it. Thus, you cannot just walk in and have it repaired on the spot, it doesn’t work that way.

This is because Side View Mirrors have become very complex pieces of equipment and our parts department does not keep them on hand. Once the technician has assessed the damage to your Volvo’s Side View Mirror, he or she will walk you to the parts department and help you order the correct parts. That’s if you don’t need the entire Volvo Side View Mirror replaced.

 Then simply make an appointment, and two days later we can have it fixed for you.

Watch out when….

You are backing out of your tight garage space one day, and Whack!.

 To your horror you discover the passenger side view mirror dangling from the side of your vehicle, held only by the merciful grace of the power cord.

Whack! Watch out at the parking lot.

Have you noticed that car’s nowadays are getting bigger and bigger while the garage space is getting tighter and tighter? Parking spaces have slimmed down while a lot of people have gained weight and become bigger. So a trip to the supermarket parking lot is a disaster waiting to happen. I usually try to park as far away from other cars as possible and just walk to the store. This helps avoid people who aggressively open their car doors and slam into your car, ripping off your Volvo Side View Mirror in the process.

The narrow side streets of Washington DC do not like side view mirrors, at all. And it’s only a matter of time before your poor Volvo’s Side View Mirror is sideswiped by a passing car.

With no proof that another car was involved in the damage to your Side View Mirror, you may have to file this as a collision claim with your insurance company and see your premiums go up.

Most people have a $500 deductible and a replacement side mirror for a new Volvo equipped with a blind spot camera (Bliss) will cost you up to $2000 to replace. On the other hand, a replacement Volvo Side View Mirror without a camera will cost you up to $800. In this case, it would be wise to eat the cost – pay out of pocket – and not suffer increased insurance premiums.

You now have to make a choice of going to a dealership or to a independent Auto Body Shop. A dealership will charge the going labor rate; about $112 -$116 an hour while a body shop will charge you about $40 an hour. The body shop will paint your side view mirror to match the body paint. While the Dealership has to pre-order a side view mirror cover that matches the exterior paint job. You decide.