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Had a nice conversation with a Volvo mechanic today.
Ken at the former Newport Motors in St. Catharines ..busy warming up his Subaru Outback to drive home!! showed me where the
transmission oil dipstick is..down deep under the intercooler piping..it's a little yellow plastic handle you pull up on...demonstrated it for me,
and said it's not comfortable, because it's hot down there, and recommendation is that it be checked "hot"..showed me the dipstick, and oil
was a reassuring pale honey colour!
I say former because on Aug 01 2004 they apparently gave up their Volvo and Subaru dealerships...in the space of some 13 years,
according to Ken, they had only sold about 2000 Volvos..not an impressive showing.
He said they're only now starting to see throttle module failures on cars about 100,000 to 130,000 KM old..because the owners have for the
most part taken good care of the cars..changed the oil and filters frequently and kept the PCV plumbing in good shape..thus minimizing the
buildup of "crud" in the throttle.
Interesting that he drives a Subaru. Hmmmm. He reports that in the northern New England states which he has driven extensively, there are
very large numbers of Subarus..and interestingly, large numbers of Volvo Cross Countrys too!
Nice guy..as I've found most of them to be...problem is that dealership was always plagued with rather surly frontline people....people who gave the clear impression they had better things to do than help customers. In contrast, Robert Motors in west-end Toronto is a very good place to visit. You may not always like the answers, but they're always logical, and most important, willing to take time to explain things..and to be pleasant with customers. Fascinating what a difference a few good people can make...Eh?
Hope Ken is among the survivors.
Hisself
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