How dependable in Volvo semi Truck

how did the guy fix it for $200?? What did he do?

 

I have an 05 780 with a d12 that I bought with 600k on it last march. I'm still paying on it for about 2 yrs, and with the inframe it's currently receiving, have put enough into it to pay 1.25x over. I think it was horribly abused as a heavy haul truck before I got it, and some of the damage was self inflicted (4k for cracking a radiator goin over a curb). Within 4 months of aquiring it, I had put in a turbo, cac, cams, rockers, a full a/c system, and various other smaller repairs.

This year I've had a steer airbag, both egr valves/cooler, some electrical issues(the most recent one leading to my first ever arrest...see firearms n the road thread) and now the inframe.

I'm not sure how bad a 20% loss in compression is for one cylinder, with the others 92-100% but I"m taking dealer's word on it being bad, and doing the whole inframe since an exploratory dissasembly for the one cylinder would cost 1/2 as much as getting it all out of the way and save more trouble later. On the plus side, this is about the only left to make this truck pretty much brand new....

 

is that compression figure from s ashop diagnostic? Or available from the dash unit? or other....?

 

Well I think we have to first define dependable, to me it means not to be towed. I think I have to judge the truck on that.
I had only one experience with a tow truck. I was on I-80 in Indiana, at the service plaza. The truck started, Idled, got my PTI done, and when I started to drive away it shut down. It started several times and every time I got to second gear it would shut down.
Called for a service truck and although he charged me $250.00, he was unable to tell me what was wrong, or fix anything; he only wanted to put antifreeze in it and drive away. He did set me up for the tow truck, and schedule it for the next day, his company.
Later that day I started to browse through the onboard diagnoses in the digital display and found that the engine crankcase pressure sensor had failed. I called the 800 number on the Volvo service locator and the lady that answered told me that that was the code for high crankcase pressure and since it was Sunday there was no way to get one to me.
The Tow bill was $575.00 to get me to the Volvo dealer.
The crankcase pressure was $86.00.
The labor was $100.00.
So in 340,000 miles I have only had that one experience. The truck is dependable; I think it's the industry (truck maintenance) that has issues. Next time you go into a shop ask "who is the master mechanic?" do they even have one. When I was growing up every shop had at least one Master Mechanic, He wasn't the shop supervisor, that was the guy that took care of the business end of the shop. The master mechanic was the guy that had the tools and knowledge to diagnose the problem. Today we just have part changers. They mostly rely on us to tell them what's wrong with the truck or can only wait for some part to break to know what to fix. That's only if the feel like fixing it, and only if they don't have to think about it, and we don't interrupt their phone use.

 

The shop fixed the oil leak in the head by removing the harness from the head, washing it out with brakeclean, and pouring an epoxy into the connector, letting it set till hard 30 min to 2 hrs. Then putting it back together. There is a small amount of oil back there now but i think it comes from the valve cover gasket now.

 

Do any of the dealers provide warranties on the better used trucks?

 

What I hear about Volvo Diesels they are expensive to have worked on it and it seems to be a problem finding techs who know what they are doing or finding anyone who will work on Volvo diesels.

Any truth to this?

 

I have found by asking others it is both the parts and tech issues. Now do not get me wrong I am a big fan of volvos, but the only engine I would own that they make is the D12/13 and not the D16 for a reason. The D12 has been in boats for a long time and I am guessing they share some of the same parts. The same goes for the D13. If you do not believe me, look at the parts list.

Edit: There are more techs for cummins and detroit than Volvo combined. I dont recall how many cat techs as I am familiar with cummins and detroit. Nearest shop for me is Orlando and West Palm Beach compared to cummins which has three in my area. Even detroits can be worked on in my area but no volvos. The EGR's on Volvos can be $$$$$. I saw on here it was 1500 a piece.

KH

 

It would be my last choice.

There are alot of very experienced mechanics on here, some even from overseas,

that have a wealth of information to share !!!

I'd value Their opinion !!!

Good Luck !!!

 

Last I checked, one even commented the D12 was a good motor.

KH