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Faulty V50 PVC valve

About a month ago a very loud high-pitched noise began in my 2008 Volvo V50 turbo petrol. My local mechanic who has always looked after the car diagnosed faulty pcv valve. He informed me he had seen it a few times at early mileage and that overseas, and he specifically mentioned North America, the warranty was extended to 10 years. I rang Volvo who were very courteous, but claimed to know nothing about the problem. I asked my mechanic to repair it thinking it would cost $200-$300, but he rang back to tell that the part in Australia would cost $900 while the same part from USA was landed for $420. I rang Volvo again and emailed them but they refused to acknowledge me until I mentioned the Dept. of Fair Trading when they then began a succession of emails. The end result was that my car would have had to be transported 200 km to the nearest dealer and I would have to pay for diagnostics before they would look at it. Obviously, now the problem is fixed and I have suggested they receive the faulty part to have a look at but no way. Had I have taken it to a dealer and not been recompensed it would have cost me about $2000 instead of $820 with my local mechanic. I feel I have been dudded when this part is under extended warranty in other parts of the world.

 

The first port of call after your mechanic diagnosed the problem should have been to a Volvo dealer to have them inspect and diagnose the problem. That way they could experience the problem first hand and not through your complaints and the mechanic’s report. There are times when you can’t help thinking that Australian customers are being treated very poorly by car companies that don’t follow up on recalls overseas here. On top of that the cost of parts compared to overseas is something that needs to be addressed, possibly by authorities. There’s no doubt in my mind that Australian motorists are being ripped off.

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