Hi,
Just had to have my fuel pump replaced to the tune of well over a thousand dollars. Cost and problem fall in to the "unreal" category. Hard to believe that something as simple as a fuel pump has evolved into a piece of equipment that apparently as complicated as something that is vital to the launch of the Shuttle. Oh for the days when a fuel pump was activated by the cam shaft, held on to the engine with two bolts, cost five dollars, took about ten minutes to replace and seldom failed. According to the Stealership that did my work, in order to get to the fuel pump, they had to remove the rear seat to get to the fuel pump? I haven't had time to survey the total amount of damage they did in doing this, but do know that the headliner and steering wheel are covered with greasy hand prints and after three days there is still a strong odor of gasoline in the car. My Volvo is an 03 S80 with only 45000 miles on it. Is this typical of Volvo dependability and excellence? Guess i'm going to have to go Japanese.
Comments please.

Sorry about your experience. According to All Data standard time is as follows:
Diagnose a pump problem .6hrs (this can be done with VADIS)
Replace pump 2.7 hrs
Total Time 3.3 hrs
Does not include time to drain the tank. (If they even bothered to)
Cost of pump $315.33 (I think that includes the level sensor and gross filter)

It is indeed done through a hatch under the back seat.

What is their hourly rate?
How do they price their parts. (check the above price with another dealer)
Were you paying hourly for an incompetant mechanic who could not perform? If he cannot keep his hands clean and off the insides of a customer's car that is incompetant.

I would call a meeting with the Service Manager with the General Manager present and have him explain the bill. Tell them you want it adjusted. It is much too high. Have them clean up your car as well.

I also have an 93 S80 about 48K miles. So far just bulbs and stuff.
At the last service I asked them to replace all the wheel nuts, they were all rusted and looked terrible. At first they acted dumb and said they were not chromed for "environemental reasons", what a crock. With a little more questioning they admitted that this was a known problem and there were plastic nut covers with a little removal tool which they could sell me at an outrageous price. The value of the caps is probably 5 cents each, the tool maybe 25. In the end they put them on for nothing.

In all other respects this dealer has been great and his parts are cheaper than other dealers in the area.


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David Hunter

Hi. I dont have any direct experience of 03 AWD, BUT, if the constraints are anything like earlier versions, there is a good deal more to it than removing a back seat. See last thursdays posting for AWD FUEL PUMP.

Best regards. Howard. Isle of skye.