Protect your V50 / C30 / S40 engine, especially if R-Design

ToomanyVolvos

As above. I recently posted some pics of an accessory belt that was just 1900KLMS old on my C30 R- design (to the D5, maintenance you must do thread).

To follow up that belt shredded and snapped due to a minor impact on the engine "skid plate". A small hole maybe the size of a beer can on the plastic skid plate allowed debris / rocks to interfere with the accessory belt / pulley which in turn snapped wrapping around the crank pulley and apparently destroying the motor!

NRMA have concluded it was an incident and approved the replacement of the engine at 9.5K plus various other costs adding up to 13.5K!

TBH, it's likely that replacing the TB and other bits the engine would be OK without bent valves but NRMA approved a new motor so that's what's happening.

So that leads back to the title. The skid plates, particularly on R-Design cars are inadequate as are the stupid plastic timing belt covers. Both should be alloy on an interference engine.

IPD make aluminium skid plates for about $180 USD. Problem is freight for just 2 units is $1053USD!!!!! Clearly this is not viable and IPD are yet to offer a better freight option.

Does anyone on here have any thoughts about using an IPD unit and getting a local company to duplicate their design or some other way of maybe getting a bulk order of these to Australia? I think every C30 / V50 / S40 must have one (especially R-DESIGN).

egads (she/her)

I think @AshDVS has a skid plate in the works for these

timbo

Focus on performance do a undertray for the P1 chassis but not as cheap as ipd.
http://focusonperformance.com.au/heavy-duty-alloy-undertray-sump-guard/

Just my 2 cents...
Ive run without an undertray on a significantly lowered C30 daily for like 50,000kms and imho it's unlikely that stones caused your issue especially if your tray was still relatively intact.
Your valves will be bent for sure if the timing belt snapped.
Did anyone check the alternator freewheel or the A/C compressor?

ToomanyVolvos

Sounds good. The IPD one is great, and at $180 USD fair value.... But it needs to be landed on you doorstep for under $300 AUD to be viable.

I was thinking we should be able to group but these at under $300 ÀUD for >10 delivered or similar amount built locally.

Either way these are a must have.

ToomanyVolvos

timbo;c-140973 wroteFocus on performance do a undertray for the P1 chassis but not as cheap as ipd.
http://focusonperformance.com.au/heavy-duty-alloy-undertray-sump-guard/

Just my 2 cents...
Ive run without an undertray on a significantly lowered C30 daily for like 50,000kms and imho it's unlikely that stones caused your issue especially if your tray was still relatively intact.
Your valves will be bent for sure if the timing belt snapped.
Did anyone check the alternator freewheel or the A/C compressor?

AC compressor had a stone in the pulley. No check on alternator. Evidence of recent impact on retarded plastic plate and debris trapped inside plate. Suspect impact with gravel speed bump or pot hole, bit nothing major.

We also have an AWD V50 that I've been running with no skid plate for some time. The AWD is slightly higher. NRMA sent the vehicle to an engineer / investigator that concluded the above was the cause. If he's correct we should all have an aluminium plate under these cars.

Bonus that the IPD one has the oil service holes designed into it, which is an absolute must.

ToomanyVolvos

Just to back up the importance of the issue, I recently purchased a V50 Statutory write off that had a nasty hole in the sump. Another R-Design! Total write off because a a silly impact.

The Focus on performance one is tooooo exxy (I think 300-350 AUD is Fair and if IPD can do it for $180 USD someone in AUS can do it), plus it doesn't have the oil service hole which is absolutely ESSENTIAL. Friggin around with belly plates just for an oil change is just stupid.

ToomanyVolvos

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/5947/113839-aluminum-skid-plate-p1-s40-v50-c30

$152.96 USD (and IPD still have to make a profit on top of whomever is making these for them), surely an Australian manufacturer can make something at least as good for under $300 AUD. If not, we are truly shitsville that "autoexpert" thinks we are.

timbo

I'm not saying the sump isn't vulnerable, have had plenty of customers destroy them, but it was an issue even in the T5/R 850s so it's not a new concern.

Philia_Bear

The Volvo factory skid plate is $600aud iirc
I still need to buy one for my s40

Ex850R

I don't think one could be made here for under 300 bux.(I'm a fabricator.) Limited sales would mean holding onto a large item. Shipping it around Oz wouldn't be cheap either.
Don't scrimp if you feel it's that important is my thoughts....
I will buy the one @AshDVS is making.

ToomanyVolvos

Ex850R;c-140983 wroteI don't think one could be made here for under 300 bux.(I'm a fabricator.) Limited sales would mean holding onto a large item. Shipping it around Oz wouldn't be cheap either.
Don't scrimp if you feel it's that important is my thoughts....
I will buy the one @AshDVS is making.

I know it's harder to manufacture here and our retarded Govt has a lot to answer for.... But if IPD can make a profit (after paying staff, warehousing, design etc etc) on $152 USD on what looks to be a high quality item then I'd guess it must be getting produced for something like $100 USD. There's something profoundly wrong with Australia and our economy if it costs $600 AUD to make what looks like an inferior product.

Annlyn motors quoted about $370 +GST on a genuine Volvo plastic unit but this clearly never should have been plastic in the first place. In the same vein I struggle to understand why the TB's on interference engines aren't protected by a light weight high quality alloy cover to prevent engine destruction. Volvo (and others) should be taking some responsibility (by selling an engine at cost price, not 9.5K) when a failure happens to a TB that's poorly protected.

Vee_Que

Skid plates are just that, designed to protect against scrapes on car parks as well as provide underbody aerodynamics. Every car in the past 15 years at least is an interference motor and in theory the dealer who the oem want servicing the car for life would report a damaged skid plate and request for permission to be repaired by the owner.

It's normal to need to remove the skid plate to get access to the oil filter and oil drain. Its designed to be changed on a hoist keep in mind. And you inspect for leaks etc at the same time. Not a new issue there either.

ToomanyVolvos

I consider an oil change basic owner maintenance and resent the rediculous notion (from the OEM) that I should have to place my vehicle on a hoist and remove a skid plate every 6 months. It's not hard to build this into a skid plate as some vehicles do.

Hell, even my Aussie Ford has built in this cool little flap for a coolant drain and all other fluid service points are accessible.

Why are owners tolerant of OEM's and industry making it difficult for the end user to maintain?

Look forward to an Australian skid pan that is reasonably priced and has service points built in.... Till then I've been quoted $300 USD in freight from IPD for two units and seeing if they can squeeze in a third for similar shipping if anyone's interested.

bowie

Is the under-tray a super weird shape that prohibits cutting up some cheap chequer plate?

Philia_Bear

bowie;c-141158 wroteIs the under-tray a super weird shape that prohibits cutting up some cheap chequer plate?

Nope... TBH its not all that hard to make one at home

bowie

Just had to google.. there aren't really any weird bends. Ah someone have a go! :)

You will become Volvo internet famous.

AshDVS

This is on 'the list' but there are a few of things ahead of it.
We dont regularly see huge demand though - if we did, it'd be a bigger priority.

The problem isn't new, as Tim mentioned - in fact, it seems more common on the P80 platform cars (which we have a product for), but it does happen from time to time.

We've got a couple of different iterations that require some more work for the P1 platform cars, but they need some thought to help with less 'hands on' manufacturing (which keeps price down).
The more of it I can laser-cut and the less manual work required, the better.

c30c30

I heard a similar story on c30 crew of a member who lost an engine because of an accessory belt that gave way and took out the timing belt.

My c30 isn't lowered and I've scraped the sump on the once or twice, thankfully at low speed and without damage. If I were to lower then I think a skid plate would be a mandatory accessory.

ToomanyVolvos

I've acquired a 3 V50's and 2 C30's and 2/5 have suffered from this weakness (one busted sump on a V50 and one destroyed motor on C30 from debris that caused the accessory belt failure, both R-Design). A quality skid plate is essential for every one of these vehicles, unless you've got a spare motor and you don't care about changing it when the day comes. Just lie on your back and have a look at how exposed the sump is on an R-Design without a skid pan fitted. It's absolutely begging to get smashed, much more so than a P80. Perhaps the fleet of P80's in Aus have done many many re miles and therefore there are more horror stories.

My 2 IPD skid plates are in the post, 152 USD plus about $120 USD each in freight when combined with other parts. So just under 400 AUD on my doorstep.

Look forward to @AshDVS version as I'll be interested in 1-2 more if they are as good as the IPD ones and I can still do an oil change in <10 mins without pulling the pan or using a hoist.

c30c30

Just spotted this on ali. Looks like it's a composite steel / plastic guard. Only $200 delivered. www.aliexpress.com/item/UNION-Car-styling-For-Volvo-C30-Plastic-engine-guard-2012-2015-For-C30-Engine-skid-plate/32822634747.html

Or $170 from the same supplier, under this listing. www.aliexpress.com/item/BING-WINS-Car-styling-For-Volvo-C30-Plastic-engine-guard-2012-2015-For-C30-Engine-skid/32832617291.html Strong enough to stand on!