Repair facilities in Anaheim Hills, CA?

[Padraig]

Anybody have anything good or bad to report about Import Auto on La Palma
Ave? I have verified they are ASE Certified and on Auto Club's list of
approved service providers.

I have a 2001 S80 with a bad transmission. It's slipping and whining and a
sign on the dash says "SERVICE TRANSMISSION - URGENT" so I don't have a few
days to mull this over.

As I understand it there are 3 possibilities --- 1) the TCM programming has
become corrupted and it may be possible to let it reprogram itself. 2) The
valve body may be boogered up somehow and need replacement, or 3) the trans
itself may need to be replaced. Obviously that'd be a whole lot more costly
than either of the first two possibilities.

I'm looking for a repair shop that will be honest enough to give me the
straight scoop and not just automatically try to sell me a whole
transmission that I may not need. Maybe Import Auto is a good place. Maybe
not. The whole damn car - in running condition - is probably only worth
about $6,000.00 so I sure don't want to spend a whole lot of money on it.

TIA,

Pat

 

[clay]

Anybody have anything good or bad to report about Import Auto on La Palma
Ave? I have verified they are ASE Certified and on Auto Club's list of
approved service providers.

I have a 2001 S80 with a bad transmission. It's slipping and whining and a
sign on the dash says "SERVICE TRANSMISSION - URGENT" so I don't have a few
days to mull this over.

As I understand it there are 3 possibilities --- 1) the TCM programming has
become corrupted and it may be possible to let it reprogram itself. 2) The
valve body may be boogered up somehow and need replacement, or 3) the trans
itself may need to be replaced. Obviously that'd be a whole lot more costly
than either of the first two possibilities.

I'm looking for a repair shop that will be honest enough to give me the
straight scoop and not just automatically try to sell me a whole
transmission that I may not need. Maybe Import Auto is a good place. Maybe
not. The whole damn car - in running condition - is probably only worth
about $6,000.00 so I sure don't want to spend a whole lot of money on it.

TIA,

Pat

Don't know about Import Auto (but if you try them, report back)
I've used a m&p right around the corner from work. Nothing big but they
seem like straight shooters.

Made in Sweden Inc-Volvo
(714) 529-9910
861 W Lambert Rd
Brea, CA 92821

Embarrassing... I parked my '83 245 next to the owner's wife's 81? 245.
Same color and interior except hers is mint and mine is, well... used.

 

[Padraig]

Don't know about Import Auto (but if you try them, report back)
I've used a m&p right around the corner from work. Nothing big but they
seem like straight shooters.

Thanks for the tip clay.

Well, I guess I'll find out about Import Auto. I had it towed over there
this evening. I'll let ya know.

Pat

 

[Roadie]

Anybody have anything good or bad to report about Import Auto on La Palma
Ave? I have verified they are ASE Certified and on Auto Club's list of
approved service providers.

I have a 2001 S80 with a bad transmission. It's slipping and whining and a
sign on the dash says "SERVICE TRANSMISSION - URGENT" so I don't have a few
days to mull this over.

As I understand it there are 3 possibilities --- 1) the TCM programming has
become corrupted and it may be possible to let it reprogram itself. 2) The
valve body may be boogered up somehow and need replacement, or 3) the trans
itself may need to be replaced. Obviously that'd be a whole lot more costly
than either of the first two possibilities.

I'm looking for a repair shop that will be honest enough to give me the
straight scoop and not just automatically try to sell me a whole
transmission that I may not need. Maybe Import Auto is a good place. Maybe
not. The whole damn car - in running condition - is probably only worth
about $6,000.00 so I sure don't want to spend a whole lot of money on it.

The whole damn car in NOT running condition is worth zero - or pretty
close to it.

I don't understand the logic here at all. You are looking for
transportation - right? So if I follow your comment correctly, if the
repair bill came in at $2k then you would not repair the car, but
would then turn around and spend an even greater amount of money on
another used car or a new car. I've heard that argument before to
justify skimping on a repair and I do not get it. The reason we buy
and repair cars is because they provide transportation. And it makes
the most financial sense to make our cars run for a long as
possible.

 

[Padraig]

I don't understand the logic here at all. You are looking for
transportation - right? So if I follow your comment correctly, if the
repair bill came in at $2k then you would not repair the car, but
would then turn around and spend an even greater amount of money on
another used car or a new car. I've heard that argument before to
justify skimping on a repair and I do not get it. The reason we buy
and repair cars is because they provide transportation. And it makes
the most financial sense to make our cars run for a long as
possible.

Sorry Roadie. You didn't understant anything.

I paid nearly $40K for this damn thing in 2000. I regret that it has
depreciated as much as it has but that's another matter.

My older brother died a couple of years ago and as executor of the estate my
wife had to deal with a pair of old non-operative cars. I called around and
the best I could get from the wrecking yards was "Tow 'em over here and I'll
give ya a $100 each for 'em. If I have to send a truck over to haul 'em off
your property the cost of transportation will eat up the hundred bucks
value, so I won't give you a nickel but think of the bright side - I'm
willing to haul 'em away at no cost to you!" Thanks guy. You're a prince.

That gives everybody an idea of what the going rate for non-op cars is - and
it agrees with what you said.

But I'm not "looking for transportation". I already have other cars so I've
got transportation. That's not a problem.

My concern is whether or not I should even invest the money to repair my
Volvo at all. It's a toss up. I'm not emotionally tied to it. And if the
repair estimate comes in too high I may just decide to bite the bullet and
walk away from the thing. No point throwing good money after bad.

Think of it this way: If the value of the non-running car is zero or, okay,
a hundred bucks --- and the value of the running car is $6,000.00, would you
be willing to spend $6,000 for a Volvo rebuilt exchange transaxle (quote
from Shelly Volvo, Buena Park, CA)?

Realize now, when you get finished the car is not worth $12,000. It's still
worth only $6,000. You didn't improve anything. You just brought the car
back up to running condition. That is not added value. If you expect to
put an ad in the paper and sell it to somebody who wants to actually use the
thing he or she will expect it is in running condition, right? So they're
not going to be willing to pay you a bonus over and above the $6 grand,
right?

Yes or no?

Alright. That's why I'm searching around for a better deal. I don't want
to pay Shelly Volvo $5,975.00 to R&R my worn out trans. Okay? Especially
when I stop to remember this isn't my favorite car anyway.

UPDATE: Import Auto @ 3401 La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA came back to this
afternoon and verified that the trans was shot and metal was circulating
around in it. The manager called Volvo first before calling me to confirm
his acquisition cost to buy an official Volvo remanufactured transmission.
Then he called me and confirmed my worst fears - that the problem was not
simply a programming issue with the TMC or even a valve body. It was the
whole magilla. He then gave me a verified cost to do the job: $3,964.78
total parts and labor including California Sales Tax on parts. A hell of a
bullet but I've decided to go ahead and bite it. I gave him the job. I
ain't happy but what the heck. Onward and upward right?

My questions yesterday really had to do with whether anybody in this NG knew
anything about them or any other good repair facility in north Orange County
because obviously I don't want to deal with some schlock who's going to rip
me off. I didn't really get any feedback on that so I had to rely on the
fact that they are Auto Club certified and have ASE certified mechanics, so
I would hope that means they have ethical business standards and don't just
automatically try to sell everybody who comes through the door on the
highest possible repair cost. I didn't have a hell of a lot of choice
because the vehicle was down and I needed to make a decision fairly quick.

That is all.

 

[Roadie]

Sorry Roadie. You didn't understant anything.

I paid nearly $40K for this damn thing in 2000. I regret that it has
depreciated as much as it has but that's another matter.

Hey look hotshot...you said it was worth $6,000 now not me. What you
paid for it in 2000 is irrelevant - you have used up at least $34,000
in value over the past 6 years, and likely more because the
transmission is now screwed up. Do you want transportation for a
reasonable cost or don't you. If you want to spend a lot more money,
then be my guest and buy another car.

My older brother died a couple of years ago and as executor of the estate my
wife had to deal with a pair of old non-operative cars.

That has absolutely nothing to do with whether you are going to spend
a little money repairing a 6 year old car or whether you decide to
spend a lot more.

I called around and
the best I could get from the wrecking yards was "Tow 'em over here and I'll
give ya a $100 each for 'em. If I have to send a truck over to haul 'em off
your property the cost of transportation will eat up the hundred bucks
value, so I won't give you a nickel but think of the bright side - I'm
willing to haul 'em away at no cost to you!" Thanks guy. You're a prince.

Welcome to the wonderful world of administering estates and executing
wills. People accumulate a lot of stuff they thought was valueable
but the reality is otherwise. Your deceased brother had a couple of
junkers - what can anyone say.

That gives everybody an idea of what the going rate for non-op cars is - and
it agrees with what you said.

But I'm not "looking for transportation". I already have other cars so I've
got transportation. That's not a problem.

My concern is whether or not I should even invest the money to repair my
Volvo at all.

Get this straight - you don't invest money in a car - you spend it.
That's all. You spend it and in return you get transportation. You
do not get a return on your investment, indeed you do not even get
your principal back. All you get are receipts for expenditures.

It's a toss up. I'm not emotionally tied to it. And if the
repair estimate comes in too high I may just decide to bite the bullet and
walk away from the thing. No point throwing good money after bad.

People like you are ripe for the picking by car dealers. Your
original purchase price in that Volvo is sunk, gone, evaporated. You
will not get it back period. You have a choice - Spend some money to
fix the car or spend a lot more to buy a substitute. Your choice your
money. My guess is that you have convinced yourself that it makes
more financial sense to spend a lot more m,oney on a new car. Good
luck my friend.

Think of it this way: If the value of the non-running car is zero or, okay,
a hundred bucks --- and the value of the running car is $6,000.00, would you
be willing to spend $6,000 for a Volvo rebuilt exchange transaxle (quote
from Shelly Volvo, Buena Park, CA)?

Realize now, when you get finished the car is not worth $12,000. It's still
worth only $6,000. You didn't improve anything. You just brought the car
back up to running condition. That is not added value. If you expect to
put an ad in the paper and sell it to somebody who wants to actually use the
thing he or she will expect it is in running condition, right? So they're
not going to be willing to pay you a bonus over and above the $6 grand,
right?

You are not buying an investment - cars are never an investment from
which you will make some money. They are only...repeat only a source
of transportation for which we pay money.

Yes or no?

Alright. That's why I'm searching around for a better deal. I don't want
to pay Shelly Volvo $5,975.00 to R&R my worn out trans. Okay? Especially
when I stop to remember this isn't my favorite car anyway.

UPDATE: Import Auto @ 3401 La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA came back to this
afternoon and verified that the trans was shot and metal was circulating
around in it. The manager called Volvo first before calling me to confirm
his acquisition cost to buy an official Volvo remanufactured transmission.
Then he called me and confirmed my worst fears - that the problem was not
simply a programming issue with the TMC or even a valve body. It was the
whole magilla. He then gave me a verified cost to do the job: $3,964.78
total parts and labor including California Sales Tax on parts. A hell of a
bullet but I've decided to go ahead and bite it. I gave him the job. I
ain't happy but what the heck. Onward and upward right?

I would take the car to a Volvo dealer and have them do the job. Big
mistake to take it to an independent.

 

[Padraig]

Thanks for the tip clay.

Well, I guess I'll find out about Import Auto. I had it towed over there
this evening. I'll let ya know.

Well it's a done deal now. They installed a rebuilt exchange trans -
purchased through Volvo so I guess it's not full of "will-fit" parts. Runs
fine. Total cost came out to be a few bucks less than the original quote.
I can't say I'm happy because I'd be even happier if I still had the
$3,953.00 in my bank account but oh well. At least I didn't go to Shelly
Volvo who had quoted $5,975.00 in a "worst case" scenario (i.e. if it needed
an exchange trans).

 

[Padraig]

Well it's a done deal now. They installed a rebuilt exchange trans -
purchased through Volvo so I guess it's not full of "will-fit" parts.
Runs fine. Total cost came out to be a few bucks less than the original
quote. I can't say I'm happy because I'd be even happier if I still had
the $3,953.00 in my bank account but oh well. At least I didn't go to
Shelly Volvo who had quoted $5,975.00 in a "worst case" scenario (i.e. if
it needed an exchange trans).

PS - Of some interest to a few...

When I picked the car up the guy on the write-up desk mentioned "Boy, the
part numbers on the housing and other things we saw before we bolted
everything together look a lot like GM part numbers."

Actually I think he's right. The S80 was designed and began production
prior to Ford buying Volvo's car manufacturing assets. If I'm not mistaken
I think I read somewhere in about the year 2000 that Volvo had been buying
FWD transaxles for the standard S80 2.9 from GM's Oldsmobile Division - the
same one Olds was using in their Aurora. The S80 T6 had a different trans &
I'm not sure who the builder was. Current cars are entirely different, I'm
sure.

 

[Robert]

Now that you've got it all repaired, and since you said you have other
cars, I would get rid of this as soon as possible. If you're spending
$3,953 only seven years into it, imagine what it will be only three
years from now. Wait a little longer and you won't get back a cent of
the $40,000 you spent -- but maybe spend another $40,000 on repairs!

 

[Mike F]

PS - Of some interest to a few...

When I picked the car up the guy on the write-up desk mentioned "Boy, the
part numbers on the housing and other things we saw before we bolted
everything together look a lot like GM part numbers."

Actually I think he's right. The S80 was designed and began production
prior to Ford buying Volvo's car manufacturing assets. If I'm not mistaken
I think I read somewhere in about the year 2000 that Volvo had been buying
FWD transaxles for the standard S80 2.9 from GM's Oldsmobile Division - the
same one Olds was using in their Aurora. The S80 T6 had a different trans &
I'm not sure who the builder was. Current cars are entirely different, I'm
sure.

The T6 transmission is a GM 4T65LE, and used in various Cadillacs and
the Olds Aurora. There are some Volvo specific mods inside, but it's
basically the same.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

[Roadie]

Now that you've got it all repaired, and since you said you have other
cars, I would get rid of this as soon as possible. If you're spending
$3,953 only seven years into it, imagine what it will be only three
years from now. Wait a little longer and you won't get back a cent of
the $40,000 you spent -- but maybe spend another $40,000 on repairs!

Your math makes no sense at all. The $40,000 is gone.

He needs transportation and had two options: Spend $3,900 to repair
the car. Or spend $40,000 for a new car. Guys like you are ripe for
the picking by new car dealers!