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1. Throttle body cleaned [supposedly] 4 weeks ago by Shop #1 to correct stalling on start up and a "rattle" underneath. Shop #1 told me this was a temporary fix because I need a new engine - "something in your engine is broken and that is causing oil to get into this area". The "rattle" diagnosis: "just your engine"
2. Throttle body cleaned again last week by Shop #2 because still stalling. Shop #2 also replaced PCV canister/Air intake hose/PCV valve/and cleaned PCV vacuum nipple. Shop #2 had not addressed the "rattle" problem the day I picked up the car - and I don't know why.
3. Shop #2 Bottom-line: Took the car back to Shop #2 to find the root of the "rattle", but moreover, because my idle now is way high after their throttle body/PCV etc. work. Shop #2 now advises I need a new catalytic converter [the rattle] and another $300-400$ just to diagnose the reason for the new high idle. I okayed the catalytic converter, but couldn't justify $300-400 for exploratory surgery - especially when the idle was fine when I dropped off the car. Shop #2 has now declined to put in the catalytic converter without the addressing the idle issue. I picked up the car today after dropping another $85.00 for probably nothing more than what they knew the first time.
4. My bottom-line: Want to keep my car - love it! Don't know which way to turn now, however, or who to trust to give me an adequate assessment of the car. Don't mind regular maintenance [as that has occurred since day 1], just don't want to pour bucks into the car if she's terminal - i.e. Shop #1 says I need a new engine, nor be forced to pay a "Expert Volvo" specialist $300-$400, at minimum, just to figure out what's causing a problem that did not exist before I took the car to them.
5. And if you have read this far – many, many thanks, and also for any feedback you may have that will arm me with information I need, or guide me in the right direction to keep my baby on the road for many years to come.
All the best to you and yours – Laura,
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