Two months ago, 1 1/2 mi from the dealership to get 5K mile oil change, engine began to run poorly. A block away from dealership I noticed blue smoke when I accelerated. At dealership I turned engine off. Told them what happened and they asked me to start engine. Very difficult and then very loud noises from engine and raw gass smell from wet tailpipe. Car has 67K miles. Oil was changed, and compression in #3 clyinder found to be low (100 vs 170).

I authorised head removal for inspection at an off site shop. No problems found. Service advisor said that the fuel injector for #3 cylinder had gone wild and washed down cylinder, screwing up the valve lifter and they would all be replaced. Authorised that. When I called to confirm time for pickup, I was told that the engine was running fine "except" for a clicking coming fron the engine. I went to "see" for myself. Sounded like a sewing machine. None of the mechanics at this factory shop (McKevitt @ Oakland, CA)had any idea as to cause. I asked what noise periodicy relative to engine was and they didn't know for sure. At that point the car has been in the shop for one month.

Heads removed again and reinspected after the Volvo Guru was stumped and thought it could be (maybe) blocked oil delivery, bent valve, or incorrect assembly. It's been two months now, and there is talk about replacing valve guides (which are not accessable for proper inspection)?

I'm dumbfounded, appalled...What do you think? Any ideas? I've been keeping contemporaneous notes of all communications and haven't put all info here - - can fill and blank pertinent info. Thaks - alan dimen

They shouldn't of even removed the head.The only thing wrong was the stuck open injector. A good mechanic would of known that. If he had added some oil to the low compression cylinder he would of seen the pressure go back up. Did they locate the area where the noise is coming from? You should refuse to pay for the work. Put it on your credit cars and then call your credit company and refuse payment or do it with a check.

Afetr changing my oil, I authorised basic diagnostic tests. They did the compression test, noted the low compression in #3 and then put oil in that cylinder. There was no improvement in compression. This indicated (they said) that 1) it wasn't a problem with rings , 2)possibly a bent-stuck valve or, 3) the hydraulic lifters were washed down by the flood of gas and were no longer functioning. To chech #'s 2&3 they had to remove the head.

The first inspection showed no problems with valves or guides, and so the lifters were replaced. That's when I was told that the engine was running fine, but....

My service advisor also mentioned that there was an inconsistency in pressure readings. I'm not sure if he was referring to oil or compression.

As for payment, This is my 4th volvo (convinced my father to buy a 122S in '64) and I have come to expect long and reliable service. Should this happen at 64K? I don't think so. However, I'm willing to accept the possibility of an injector jamming. Possibly one can accept the replacement of the lifters- but I'd like to know if it is really necessary to remove the heads to inspect/replace the lifters? If not , then that's a point for "discussion". As for anything else forgettaboutit. It's on Volvo.

accept the possibility of an injector jamming. Possibly one can

> accept the replacement of the lifters- but I'd like to know if it is

> really necessary to remove the heads to inspect/replace the lifters?

> If not , then that's a point for "discussion". As for

> anything else forgettaboutit. It's on Volvo.

I would think that in an overhed cam engine the heads would not need to be removed to change the lifters. I have never realy gotten into an overhead cam engine but the lifters must be in between the cam and the valves. I would think only the removal of the cam would be necessary. It may be easier to remove the head to remove the cam.

I have not opened a Volvo engine but my experience with overhead cam's there are no lifter's. The Cam rides on top of the valve stems with the only adjustment being the gap between the stem and the cam lobe. What am I missing here?

With the hydro lifter/adjuster you can do away with the valve lash adj.,and all the tapets,shims & buckets, or whatever goes with the type of non-self adjusting valve lash system in question.......no???

Steve Ferraro

Hoboken, NJ

Just my .02¢, but if I was you the ONLY people I would let touch my car would be a Volvo dealer service department (a Volvo ONLY dealer would be best), that you are 100% sure does quaity work. If you dont have a shop like this in your area.....find the closest one then have your car flatbeaded there.

All dealer service is not the same....you need to find a good factory/dealer service center ASAP.

Steve Ferraro

Hoboken, NJ

Thanks for the reply and your $.02 (that's american, right?) But that's the problem. McKevitt Volvo IS a Volvo dealer (a large one with two showrooms in the SF area). I mean if they don't know.....

Have you or anyone heard of a problem like this?

Alan Dimen

Then why did they have to have the head removed at a "off-site" shop??? Any Volvo service dept worth its salt should have the tools/know-how to remove and inspect the head!

From what I understand the valve guides can be inspected with the valve cover and head off(as on other cars), but they are not sold alone/each....you would have to get a Volvo rebuilt head or a OEM unit. kinda messed up I think....unless there is a good reason??

find another dealer service dept ASAP.....two months....a red flag should have poped up for you weeks ago!

S. Ferraro

McKevitt is the only official Volvo shop within 20 mi. At this point I feel that somehow they screwed up and must make this mess right. If I yank the car it lets them off the hook. Is some other dealership going to take responsibility for another dealership's mess? McKevitt has been around forever and I think that eventually get it right. In the meanwhile I have had use of a new v70 loaner.

BTW, Volvo removed the heads, but the inspection was done out of shop. I thought that was typical. If not, perhaps it's time to call (volvo's)Home.

I think your only hope is if you can get a hold of the regional manager for your area. Spill your guts and make demands. 2 months is rediculous.

I've seen a couple engines where the injector(s) stuck opened and unless the engine hydrolocks (cyl fills up with so much gas that the piston can't compress it), it's been cured with a new injector, spark plug and oil change.

If it hydrolocked and bent/broke something, then I could understand why it'd be noisy.

Any ideas what parts might be a candidate for breakage??

Not without seeing the car. No way to guess from here. The car I saw that had one injector seriously hydrolock a cylinder while cranking in our shop and broke a tooth or two off the starter ring gear only, no damage to the engine otherwise. If a cylinder hydrolocks at higher engine rpms, more serious engine damage is possible (most likely lower end, not valves). It's even possible that a connecting rod or piston could be damaged by that happening.