Back in the shop today and tomorrow.

"EL_ULY" (uly)
12/11/2014 at 18:16 • Filed to: around worklopnik

Yay dirty hands! Booo warranty work!

Good thing this is a customer pay job.

Came in with a check engine light. After checking all the easy things, everything was fine until the compression test. Once the head was off, I saw the valve guides were really bad.

I'll let the machine shop worry about that. Sent the head off, i'll put it back together tomorrow. Now, where is my vanilla Snack Pack? Time for a little pudding cup and OPPO!

DISCUSSION (19)

Tareim - V8 powered > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 18:17

so what's the difference between customer paying and warranty work then?

EL_ULY > Tareim - V8 powered
12/11/2014 at 18:23

lets say a car comes in with a window that doesn't work. You get 1 hour pay for diagnosis (check switch, Drivers Door Module "DDM", window regulator, etc.) then decide it needs a new regulator. $300 for the part and 1.5 hours (door panel r&r, timing sequence, and a bunch steel of rivets) labor. BUT NO!!! It is still under warranty so you only get paid 0.3 hours including diagnosis and the job not to mention a bunch of paperwork to turn into the warranty clerk that takes a half hour to fill out.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tareim - V8 powered
12/11/2014 at 18:23

My guess is that Volvo doesn't pay as much per hour as Joe Blow off the street does, and no markup on parts.

Tareim - V8 powered > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 18:24

so you get screwed on labor costs then?

EL_ULY > Tareim - V8 powered
12/11/2014 at 18:26

yup. But sometimes it's a job that warranty pays more than the job takes...which is rad but it's usually not the case.

EL_ULY > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2014 at 18:30

true true. Though, it will be done right the first time and with genuine parts and warranty on both labor and parts. Or Joe Blow can do it sort of for $50 using ebay parts :]

AM3R shamefully returns > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 18:48

on a scale of 1-10.. How much do you love your job?

EL_ULY > AM3R shamefully returns
12/11/2014 at 18:59

7.8/10

I used to make over $30/hr as a tech but dropped down to $12/hr when I came to the parts department. Most of the reasoning was the inconsistency in pay. I can be at work from 7-6 every day as a tech and only make 30 hours pay when cars don't come in or customers do not buy the work. In parts, I am hourly. The pay ends up evening out in a way and a lot more constant. I still have to be an expert on these cars in both cases and it's a lot to maintain as new cars are released. I'm no enthusiasts but I like the repair aspect the job because every day is different and one is constantly learning. When I started at this dealer I was the front end specialist. This was for all four brands here (volvo, merc, lotus, aston). I wasn't test driving these cars around with a smile because of what they were. As if they were a dream job. Nope, I was driving them to diag or confirm repairs so I can get paid. It was always the way whether it was an old 940 or V12 Vantage S. The cars are neat but being enthusiastic doesn't get the cars repaired any quicker. If sure there are enthusiast techs out there. I wish I could find that again because I really like cars. Still, I find the job to be great but it would be even better if they pay matched all that we have to learn to do it, mental and physical.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 19:29

Not saying it's not worth the cost, just that Volvo corporate's not going to pay as well as a normal customer.

Autofixation > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 19:38

I work hourly in the parts department at a Subaru dealership. Definitely have to know the vehicles.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 20:11

Kinja'd!!!

Whats up with this perty gurrrl?

EL_ULY > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2014 at 20:49

yup, same with every brand :'( but it's part of the gig

EL_ULY > Autofixation
12/11/2014 at 20:50

Indeed, but as an ex tech, i do answer a lot of my workmates questions.

EL_ULY > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/11/2014 at 20:51

annual service, front brakes, oil leak, radio static, and state inspection

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > EL_ULY
12/11/2014 at 21:27

Were u "required" to test out the brakes after they were changed?

EL_ULY > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/11/2014 at 22:13

Always. You have to seat the brakes properly after installing pads and rotors. Check fluid levels afterward and another sweep of the ABS module for codes just in case

Hiroku > EL_ULY
12/12/2014 at 05:07

How hard was it to remove the head? I suspect my 850 blew the head gasket, but having a shop replace it would be way too expensive, so I'm thinking of paying a friend a couple beers to rent his private garage for a couple of days and do the work myself. Figure it'd be doable for the average amateur DIYer?

Keep in mind that a) it's a Turbo, so complexity should be a bit higher, b) I have an Automotive Mechatronics 1-year course and know a thing or two about my car, but no actual hands-on experience (other than a 2-months end-of-course internship at a Volvo dealer), and c) the garage in question is a small 20 square meter cubicle with no access to air tools and/or specialty parts!

EL_ULY > Hiroku
12/12/2014 at 09:12

Turbo add no complexity to be honest. Air tools are a big advantage. I can email you a run down of how to do this direct from Volvo and give you a list of parts you will need if you want. It will need to be sent to the machine shop for sure. Valve guides are not serviceable so the machine shop should be able to do that. Just let me know what you want to do. It isn't too bad to do buddy if you have the room to organize everything you take of carefully.

ulysses@starmotorcars

Hiroku > EL_ULY
12/12/2014 at 09:26

That would be most helpful, thank you very much :)

Yeah, I would definitely take it to a machine shop to have the head resurfaced, cleaned, and tested for cracks/leaks. Throwing in some valve stem seals while in there, as they're cheap-o and known to leak in this car with high mileage (although the car hasn't used up any oil at all for as long as I've had it!). I was hoping not to need too many valves/guides/seats etc. though as that would escalate costs considerably (downside of having 20 valves!).

I'll shoot you an e-mail within the next couple minutes!