Thanks for reply. This is the first Volvo that I have owned. Really only brought this model with the D5 because looking at other makes eg.. BMW, Audi, Mercedes, some jap and korean all have problems with either trans or motors or both.
Been driving a Pathfinder for the last 15 years with no problems at all but finally decided to move to something a lot more comfortable.
Just brought this car from a dealer a week ago and had the AA ( NZ automobile association) do and inspection before I brought it. The inspection came though with a good report so I brought it and flew to Auckland and picked it up and drove 1000km back home including the Cook Straight Ferry crossing.
When I got to the airport to fly up, the flight had been cancelled. Had to rebook new flights and of course was starting to panic a bit about making the ferry crossing that I had booked with none refundable tickets. Finally got to Auckland 4 hours late and dealer picked me up from the airport and rushed back to the yard to sign some documents. I didn't check the car out because of the report the AA had given it and jumped in and started my journey back home.
It was only a few hundred meters before I was on the motorway and cruising at 100kph and happy with my purchase. One I hit the next city and obviously no motorway and down to normal city driving speeds I noticed a loud ticking from the engine and the transmission was vibrating through the steering wheel and whole car at times manly when slowing down or at a more constant speed. Its like a manual gearbox in top gear at a very low speed vibrating the whole car. The motor seems to be noisy over all but also has this loud ticking coming from the timing belt end of the engine. Sounds like a really loose tappet. Also when I got home the front tyres were over half worn and the AA had measured the tyres and in the report had said all were 7.5mm of tread.
Obviously by this stage I'm starting to get extremely pissed off with the report from our trusted automobile association report who have certified and qualified mechanics to test vehicles before buying. Ive never used them before and always check vehicles myself before buying and if I had checked this vehicle I would have run away as fast as I could.
Was talking with the AA yesterday complaining and their reply was they trust their machanics and that the problems with the engine and transmission must have happened after it was inspected and that the dealer must have changed the front tyres. Well what do do.. Laugh.. Cry.. What a load of bullshit. I picked the car up less than 48 hours after the inspection. The front tyres only had 4mn of tread so brought new tyres yesterday. Now only a difference of about 1mm between front and back so should be better for the AWD. I hate having different diameter tyres on 4WD vehicles.
Anyway, can any of you guys give me some advice on what you think the problems are with this motor and transmission. I always do my own repairs to all my vehicles but obviously the trans is a different story. OBTW, this vehicle was advertised as having a textbook service record from new at NZ's best and most expensive European dealership. But once again when at home I checked the service book and about 70% of the services on the car were over the kilometer service intervals. Bloody horrified when I saw this. Oil changes at almost 30,000km instead of 15,000.