Originally Posted by
gibbons
I would rather finesse them myself than have 500ft*lbs by an impatient someone else break the head off. Do I sound untrusting?
Seems to be harder and harder to trust service "techs" anymore. We've been covering this topic ever since I've been here, and things are not getting better.
So indulge me again with case in point: I still do all the regular service on the XC70, but I am no longer young and enjoy doing it less and less, so since I bought another new "domestic" make vehicle six years ago I've been having the dealer change the oil on it. They have a convenient separate drive-up fluid service lane with no appointment required and the price is reasonable, so I figure why not?
And here are the answers!
Whenever they do the oil change they also hang their measurement gadgets on all four wheels to check if alignment is in spec. At last year's service they show me that the readings indicate toe is slightly out. Even though the car still tracks extremely well and tires are wearing evenly, I figure it's been five years, so why not have them tweak it? Well, when I get the car back and drive a bit it doesn't take long to notice the the steering wheel isn't centered when going straight. So the next day I take it back in and ask them to realign it. It takes them 2 hours, and when I get the thing back it is hardly any better. Enough is enough, so I take to an independent shop I have confidence in. They get the alignment correct. The steering wheel had been installed at the factory off one spline and apparently the factory alignment "solution" was to compensate with offsetting the toe adjustment, so while total toe from the factory had been correct, only because the individual front wheels were offset out of spec. So when the dealer set each wheel's toe "correctly", of course the steering wheel was off center. Only they weren't sharp enough to figure out why. The indy also found that the rear sub-frame wasn't installed true either, and fixed that for me as well.
So this year, with limited service hours at the dealer due to the COVID 19 situation, they have no drive-up oil change, also I'm still aggravated with them from last year, so I decide to change the oil myself. It should be super easy compared to the Volvo, as the oil filter is top side and there is an easy-open hatch in the drip pan to access the oil pan drain. So I put the 13mm 12 point socket I've used for decades to drain oil on the drain bolt and the 3/8" one foot breaker bar I always use to loosen it and pull as usual. No movement. Pull harder, then HARDER and it finally moves, only not the bolt. All I've achieved is rounding off the points on the bolt! So now I have to remove the drip pan (12 bolts) and pound on a six point impact socket. There is no room though for my cheap impact tools, so I put on the my two foot 1/2" breaker bar, which easily removes wheel lugs tightened to 105 ft lbs, and it still won't move. I have to put a piece of pipe on the end to get enough torque with all the pull I can apply in the limited space with the car up on ramps, and it finally comes free. The torque spec is 20 ft lbs, but the dealer monkey who changed the oil last had to have it torqued over 100!! I'm surprised he didn't strip the threads in the aluminum pan's drain. Before I can finish I now have to go out and buy a new drain plug bolt. Bottom line, the most time consuming, aggravating oil change ever (and I've certainly done over a hundred of them) because someone who is supposed to be trained to do a job, either wasn't or didn't care to follow the training.
Last edited by Pennhaven; 05-27-2020 at 11:35 AM.
'04 XC70, Ash Gold / Taupe, Premium, Touring, Tinted Rear Glass, Rear Skyddsplåt, Wing Profile Load Bars, USA Spec 11,
StonGard Light Protection, Yokohama YK740 GTXs, Meyle HD Sway Bar Links, ipd HD TCV, subframe & top brace poly bushing inserts,
TitaniumTim XC Cup-holder Coasters.
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