Issues with broken odometer in 1987 240DLwagon

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nancy via CarKB.com
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Nancy via CarKB.com

Last year, I brought my car in for a routine service to the dealer (even
though it's a 1987 240DL wagon Volvo, it's been maintained all these years
by the dealer), and they told me that the "trip odometer button fell into
the dash" during the service, but not to worry about it. Since the trip
odometer had not been working for years, I didn't think much of it. Several
months later, I noticed that the main odometer was not working either, and
did not think back to this incident. So when I brought the car back for
service just now, I noted that the mileage on the main odometer was EXACTLY
the same as the mileage recorded on my last service call, indicating that
the main odometer had not worked since that time! The service advisor first
said that it was not their problem since I had not called about it for
almost a year. When I pointed that that the evidence irrevocably proved
that the odometer stopped working the day of that service, he agreed, but
then claimed that it was all a coincidence. They want to charge me $988
just for the part (speedometer head), not including labor! Do you think
this truly could be a coincidence? What would you suggest doing?

I understand that only the dealer can replace the speedo head according to
law, but can't just the odometer be fixed? Where can I find the appropriate
part and a decent mechanic to replace it? I'm in Baltimore, MD.
 
Nancy said:
Last year, I brought my car in for a routine service to the dealer (even
though it's a 1987 240DL wagon Volvo, it's been maintained all these years
by the dealer), and they told me that the "trip odometer button fell into
the dash" during the service, but not to worry about it. Since the trip
odometer had not been working for years, I didn't think much of it. Several
months later, I noticed that the main odometer was not working either, and
did not think back to this incident. So when I brought the car back for
service just now, I noted that the mileage on the main odometer was EXACTLY
the same as the mileage recorded on my last service call, indicating that
the main odometer had not worked since that time! The service advisor first
said that it was not their problem since I had not called about it for
almost a year. When I pointed that that the evidence irrevocably proved
that the odometer stopped working the day of that service, he agreed, but
then claimed that it was all a coincidence. They want to charge me $988
just for the part (speedometer head), not including labor! Do you think
this truly could be a coincidence? What would you suggest doing?

I understand that only the dealer can replace the speedo head according to
law, but can't just the odometer be fixed? Where can I find the appropriate
part and a decent mechanic to replace it? I'm in Baltimore, MD.
your best bet is to find a replacement speedometer head from a local
junk yard & purchase the sticker from the dealer that goes on the door
jamb that states the original mileage of the vehicle

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as
long as I live,
nor should any American.
 
Nancy via CarKB.com said:
Last year, I brought my car in for a routine service to the dealer (even
though it's a 1987 240DL wagon Volvo, it's been maintained all these years
by the dealer), and they told me that the "trip odometer button fell into
the dash" during the service, but not to worry about it. Since the trip
odometer had not been working for years, I didn't think much of it. Several
months later, I noticed that the main odometer was not working either, and
did not think back to this incident. So when I brought the car back for
service just now, I noted that the mileage on the main odometer was EXACTLY
the same as the mileage recorded on my last service call, indicating that
the main odometer had not worked since that time! The service advisor first
said that it was not their problem since I had not called about it for
almost a year. When I pointed that that the evidence irrevocably proved
that the odometer stopped working the day of that service, he agreed, but
then claimed that it was all a coincidence. They want to charge me $988
just for the part (speedometer head), not including labor! Do you think
this truly could be a coincidence? What would you suggest doing?

I understand that only the dealer can replace the speedo head according to
law, but can't just the odometer be fixed? Where can I find the appropriate
part and a decent mechanic to replace it? I'm in Baltimore, MD.


What?? Just replace the speedometer, go to a junkyard and find one with the
same ratio number on it, I buy the entire instrument clusters for 10 bucks
when I find one with a guage I want.
 
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