http://deep-shag.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] deep-shag.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2010-09-01 10:28 am
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older volvo repair advice, despretly needed!

I took my '99 V70 to Cinderella Carriage to have an issue fixed where I am driving along, the dash warning lights come on, the odometer and speedometer stop working, and car begins to hesitate. Can't get full power. $800 and one day later, all the same problems come back. Two days later the air conditioning compressor seizes, taking out a drive belt along with it.

After having it towed in, they do not want to talk about issue A of the $800 repair that did not work. Only of fixing new problem, or selling me a new car. I need to take it somewhere else for a second look.

So it is near Fresh Pond right now. Any ideas about where to take it? MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!
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[identity profile] lizzielizzie.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
No suggestion on a new mechanic, but if you paid by credit card I'd call the credit card company and block the $800 charge. Fuckers.

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Be warned: The credit card company is going to want to know that you put forth a reasonable amount of effort to get the mechanic to either correct the situation or refund your money first.

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Unfortunately I do not have any suggestions for where to take your car but...

Your problem sounds like a classic alternator/charging system failure. Given the confluence of issues I wonder if it wasn't that the compressor was already on the verge of seizing and was thus causing the accessory belt to turn too slowly to properly charge the battery. This strikes me as the sort of thing they should have noticed before charging you $800 to repair something in the first place and should thus fix the actual problem at their expense unless they can reasonably show that the problems were not, in fact, related.

Was the car making any kind of squealing noise at any point in this process BEFORE the compressor completely seized up? That would be an unmistakable indication of this problem.

[identity profile] afty.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
What did they do to fix your car the first time? What did they say was wrong with it?

[identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I take my older ('96) Volvo to ABJ by Medford St and Pearl St. I've been using them for years and they are fabulous with older cars owned by people who don't have any interest in paying for them to be like-new. :)

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/ 2010-09-01 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Seconded on this recommendation. (We ended up getting a newer car last year for fuel economy reasons; it hasn't had any issues yet, so I kinda miss Al and the crew.)

[identity profile] panda681.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I go to Foreign Auto Center on Prospect St. near Central square. Owned by Jimmy. I realize may not be as convenient to where you live but it is near central square T and buses. They fixed many problems on my Camrys and my husbands Saturn. There were several occasions where he would try to fix something and if the problem came back he wouldnt' charge us a second time to fix it, or would only charge us parts and not labor. I also felt he was pretty honest in terms of not gouging us if given the opportunity (like scheduled maintenance).

Not convenient but ...

[identity profile] paradoox.livejournal.com 2010-09-02 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
J & K Auto in Newton Centre off of Beacon Street.

[identity profile] kmac912.livejournal.com 2010-09-02 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know about Volvo's specifically, but I drive a 14 year old Jeep Cherokee and I've started taking it to Chris' Auto on Highland. It's new ownership (never used the old guys, so no opinion on whether Chris is better or worse) and I am very pleased with them. They fixed a compressor, which died again a few days later. They replaced it again at no cost to me with no discussion, which was great. The Jeep has been needy over the past few months and I find the prices reasonable and they usually fix something extra in there as a bonus. Good luck!
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