2001 XC Multiple Coil Failure

Hi

I had severe running problems (2001XC) and had the ETM replaced under the
2006 10yr/200k mi. program but was advised that the ETM wasn't my main
problem...and that every one of the 5 coil housings was cracked, and arcing.
I saw the old coils and they did have a hairline crack in each, in exactly
the same place...the cost was about $750 for the 5 coils plus other assorted
parts and labor.

It seems odd that 5 identical parts would fail at about the same time,
unless there was a domino effect with one failure causing the next, causing
the next and so on, but this wouldn't be the case here.

Has anyone heard of a similar incident?

Regards,

Gerry

 

Does it arch, run it in the dark and look, does it missfire? Maybe
there was some recall on that part, research it. 750$ US, it cant be
that big a job, 30 minutes, 1 hr? I dont know about volvo coils, but a
coil should be 30-50-$ 750, thats a scumb bag dealers price and what,
$1000 out the door for maybe 150$ worth of a job , right. Find the
part, call independants for bids.

 

Most likely there were misfire codes also stored in the engine control
module as for 5 coils going bad it is possible but does not happen often
in the dealership we try to repair the Volvo the way we feel is the
best way which is not always for the customer experience has shown that
if 1 or 2 coils are bad the others are not far behind yes it is
expensive this way but as had happened to us in the past we would just
replace the defective coil or coils & then the car comes back a few days
later with the same customer complaint check engine light is on & car
not running right codes show misfire codes for the coils that were not
changed so we try to effect the repair correctly " Fix it right the
first time" even for my own car which has the same set up coils for each
spark plug I changed all 5 @ the same time to fix the problem right the
first time
Glenn K
Volvo Certified Technician 2008
ASE Certified Technician 2008

 

I would just try something if it was my car before spending big money,
Epoxy the cracks closed, I used JB weld years ago on my radiator, Get
some epoxy, laquer thinner, and 80g sandpaper, clean with laquer
thinner, sand and epoxy the cracks. If you see it arch, its arching to
ground and you loose the voltage needed to fire. Even a automotive
silicone caulk would work, but read tube expiration dates. Its worth a
try.

 

I used JB Weld to (temporarily) fix the cracked fuel injector rail in my
245.
Strong smell of gas in the cabin one day. Pop the hood and find fuel
spraying all over the engine compartment. Everything nicely degreased...

For sure, I'd pay a visit to the local pick-a-part. Find some uncracked
used ones.

 

A fuel rail and an ignition coil are two entirely different things. A
fuel leak under the hood is extremely dangerous, a cracked coil may
"leak" electricity, but it will harmlessly discharge to the nearest
grounded metal object.

I've repaired cracks in CRT TV and monitor flyback (line output)
transformers that were arcing on several occasions by filling the crack
with clear silicone caulk. Those in which the windings were not damaged
to the point of arcing internally held up. I wouldn't hesitate to try it
on an ignition coil, but then I don't mind messing with it again later
if my fix doesn't work.

 

A rip off practice, replace everything because one failed, and the
priced you dealers charge, my dealer wanted 275 for one coil, one
lousy 30 $ freakin coil, suck the customers dry you do. Thats why I
use my local for anything out of warranty.

 

No, really?
Why would you think a high pressure, fine mist of raw fuel spraying
around under the hood could be a problem?

Seriously, when I lifted the hood and saw gas dripping off everything
under there, I was surprised it didn't go up in a ball of flame driving
down the highway.
Cloud of fuel, plenty of airflow... Should'a gone boom.
Must not have any leaky coils arcing under there. *g*

 

That is your choice to use your local Volvo specialist & yes Volvo's
parts price are not cheap but the choice comes down to what you the
customer wants to do if they want to repair the Volvo our way then we
repair the car if they choose to go the route of a local Volvo
specialist then they just pay a diagnostic charge of 1 hour labor & then
they go to there local Volvo guy to correct their problem the dealer is
here to make money just like your local guy who does not have the
overhead to stock most parts for Volvo as the dealer is required to
stock a large amount of parts for all of the Volvo's that are on the
road today also remember that when you are out of warranty & you choose
to do most of your servicing & repairs @ the dealer they are more
willing to help the customer out with goodwill assistance on big repairs
ie: transmissions & Control Modules where if you performed just the
warranty repairs & nothing else then the chances of the dealer offering
any goodwill assistance would be very slim

 

Sorry to put it to you this way as I guess you work for a dealer, you
are probably honest and fair but dealers are not in general. My dealer
has no "good will" I was under warranty and he wanted 350 just to go
over the car to " see" what was needed on 5 issues. 5 coils you would
replace if one is bad, so I guess when one window breaks you replace
all openers? When one bulb burns out do you replace all 20? If one
speaker blows do you replace all 8? Thats a bs attitude to replace all
5 coils if one is bad, and at 750 its criminal for a lousy coil or
coils. The dam coils are defective anyway or they would not crack. A
coils is just copper wire around a steel core and isnt worth more than
20$. No wonder my Volvo dealers repair shop is empty, and my local
with 6 bays has 30 cars in his lot and a 5 day wait. Something I go by
and its been correct, you can see a honest mechanic, his lot is full
and he cant work on your car for days, even if you beg him to. Sure
dealers have multi million dollar showrooms, mine has a free phone,
tv, coffee, dognuts and ac. But after the warranty is over only
suckers use dealers for repairs. Its also funny how coils were
excluded near the end of my warranty. Im going to seal mine, and then
buy an aftermatket coil and pay a friend 20$ to pop it on. $750.00,, a
dam joke.

 

The coils do not fail if they crack usually there is a internal fault I
have never changed a coil just because it was cracked there will be
diagnostic trouble codes set which tell us which cylinder is misfiring
the quickest way to determine if it is the coil or the plug is just swap
it with the next one over clear all codes & start up car & see what
comes back if you started off with cylinder 3 misfiring & after the swap
cylinder 4 is now misfiring then the coil is faulty but if the code
shows cylinder 3 to still be @ fault then it is not the coil I under
your anger toward the dealer & our practices of repairing them & maybe
you just have a dealer who places money first & customers 2Nd that is to
bad because most of us are not like that as for charging the customer to
diagnose a problem while the car is still under warranty that belongs to
2 people the service manager & the service adviser us technician's
just report back on what we found with the customer complaint then it is
out of my hands if you feel that you were treated unfairly by your
dealer then you should take the next step & contact Volvo Customer
Service & explain what you have told me & see what they have to say
Glenn K
Volvo Certified Technician 2008
ASE Certified Technician 2008

 

Sorry to put it to you this way as I guess you work for a dealer, you
are probably honest and fair but dealers are not in general. My dealer
has no "good will" I was under warranty and he wanted 350 just to go
over the car to " see" what was needed on 5 issues. 5 coils you would
replace if one is bad, so I guess when one window breaks you replace
all openers? When one bulb burns out do you replace all 20? If one
speaker blows do you replace all 8? Thats a bs attitude to replace all
5 coils if one is bad, and at 750 its criminal for a lousy coil or
coils. The dam coils are defective anyway or they would not crack. A
coils is just copper wire around a steel core and isnt worth more than
20$. No wonder my Volvo dealers repair shop is empty, and my local
with 6 bays has 30 cars in his lot and a 5 day wait. Something I go by
and its been correct, you can see a honest mechanic, his lot is full
and he cant work on your car for days, even if you beg him to. Sure
dealers have multi million dollar showrooms, mine has a free phone,
tv, coffee, dognuts and ac. But after the warranty is over only
suckers use dealers for repairs. Its also funny how coils were
excluded near the end of my warranty. Im going to seal mine, and then
buy an aftermatket coil and pay a friend 20$ to pop it on. $750.00,, a
dam joke.

Mark,

Glenn has been a great wealth of information here over the years, his
hands-on experience is not something to take lightly. If he says to change
all the coils because the rest will soon fail then I would do that. If you
don't think the quality of the part is up to snuff or the price is too high
at your dealership take it up with Volvo Customer Service as he suggested.
Don't drive him out of our group!

 

Glenn is a gentleman and a qualified mechanic listen to what hes saying .If
one coil goes off most likely the others will soon after .
Now you can replace each one as they blow or get it right straight off .I
sure know which I would prefer ..Also which one is going to make you real
angry after five visists for the same thing as well as extra costs ?

Sorry to put it to you this way as I guess you work for a dealer, you
are probably honest and fair but dealers are not in general. My dealer
has no "good will" I was under warranty and he wanted 350 just to go
over the car to " see" what was needed on 5 issues. 5 coils you would
replace if one is bad, so I guess when one window breaks you replace
all openers? When one bulb burns out do you replace all 20? If one
speaker blows do you replace all 8? Thats a bs attitude to replace all
5 coils if one is bad, and at 750 its criminal for a lousy coil or
coils. The dam coils are defective anyway or they would not crack. A
coils is just copper wire around a steel core and isnt worth more than
20$. No wonder my Volvo dealers repair shop is empty, and my local
with 6 bays has 30 cars in his lot and a 5 day wait. Something I go by
and its been correct, you can see a honest mechanic, his lot is full
and he cant work on your car for days, even if you beg him to. Sure
dealers have multi million dollar showrooms, mine has a free phone,
tv, coffee, dognuts and ac. But after the warranty is over only
suckers use dealers for repairs. Its also funny how coils were
excluded near the end of my warranty. Im going to seal mine, and then
buy an aftermatket coil and pay a friend 20$ to pop it on. $750.00,, a
dam joke.

 

I had a fuel line break on a 264 injector hose ,yes fine mist runs lean then
misifired, then fire and months to fix it all up including the risk to my
house as it caught fire in the carport .