19 replies to this topic

[Makarios]

http://www.claytonvolvo.com/sb.cn

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[Makarios]

Went in today for the fuel tank recall on my 97 850 Turbo.

Also asked them to give me an estimate on some work.

Here's what I got:

Customer reports: At idle car runs rough, almost stalls then catches back up...customer knows it needs oxygen sensor.

Found Codes 231 Fuel Trim Part Load, 114 Mode Swith Also Bad Hoses On Throttle Unit And Intercooler
!Note Customer Declined Service.

Labor: $75.00

[JPigg34]

I have had two recalls done there, the gas tank and seat heaters. They are very nice and have great service. I have yet to have any other work done by them because my family has experience with them and they are too expensive.

Edited by JPigg34, 20 July 2005 - 03:17 PM.

[merlin390]

Went in today for the fuel tank recall on my 97 850 Turbo.

Also asked them to give me an estimate on some work.

Here's what I got:

Customer reports: At idle car runs rough, almost stalls then catches back up...customer knows it needs oxygen sensor.

Found Codes 231 Fuel Trim Part Load, 114 Mode Swith  Also Bad Hoses On Throttle Unit And Intercooler
!Note Customer Declined Service.

Labor: $75.00

its call diagnostic fee. they have to get something for the time they spent on the car. Looks like the samco hose kit would fix some of your problems and some vacuum lines?

[N653DS]

Clayton Volvo, used to be about a mile from the house - they moved, moved, now 25 miles. My '95 850 Turbo came from them, shop rate is a tad high for what you get - n my opinion. Went in to get new front spindle nuts and spindle bearing bolts (put in new axle shafts and front spindle bearings). The old boy behind the counter was worthless. He finally found the transmission seals - after much guessing. The nuts - ordered on line, had 'em in two days. Needed a fuel pump relay, had on on hand, sort of threw it across the counter, no thank you, kiss my butt, nothing, just pay the lady. The parts department is not owner repair friendly at all.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

[JPigg34]

Jack, the older gentleman, at the parts desk is an asshole. If you see him when you go in there, just leave. Don't even bother trying to deal with him. He knows nothing about customer service.

[merlin390]

Jack, the older gentleman, at the parts desk is an asshole.  If you see him when you go in there, just leave.  Don't even bother trying to deal with him.  He knows nothing about customer service.

but what does he know about parts?and volvo;s

[JPigg34]

but what does he know about parts?and volvo;s

He didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I said I needed a fuel return hose.

[merlin390]

which return line?

[chimp type r]

The old boy behind the counter was worthless. ... The parts department is not owner repair friendly at all.

That about sums up my experience with Clayton. I've only bought a couple parts from them and every time they've given me a blank stare like I came in asking for parts for a freakin Mercedes or something.

The service people seem to have it together though. I've had two recalls done there and everything looked fine from what I saw. The one service tech I've talked to--I think his name was John--definitely seemed to know his stuff...which surprised me since I had just been at the parts counter.

[N653DS]

I concur with the comments about the service department for the most part. However, when I had the A/C evap change-out done they boogered the plastic steering column housing trying to pry it apart. It doesn't show unless the wheel is turned 90 degrees, but I still know it is there.

When they had the Auto Show a while back (maybe in april?) I happened into a Volvo rep from Volvo USA, she was very nice to me when I told her I had a 850 with better than 235k miles on it. She made some nice comments about Claytons - then I unloaded on her about the old boy in the parts department. She seemed to take everything I was saying in as I had specific instances, had the details, she said she would look into it. Last time I was there the old boy was still behind the counter. I avoid him like the gombu plague.

For serious stuff I tend to use European Motor Werks on Sutherland. Ken knows Swedish cars and I feel comfortable with him working on my car - although I do most of the stuff myself.

I am looking for another car, maybe another Volvo. Clayton's will have to go a long way to get my business again - just because of the parts department. A sad testimony isn't it.

[merlin390]

for the right deal/money on a car I am sure you would deal with their sales dept. and just continue to avoid their parts side. ??

[JPigg34]

For serious stuff I tend to use European Motor Werks on Sutherland. Ken knows Swedish cars and I feel comfortable with him working on my car - although I do most of the stuff myself.

Where on Sutherland is it located? I know where Autohaus used to be. Where is it from Autohaus?

[MadeInJapan]

Hi guys...been frequenting these boards for awhile and the first time I noticed a board on the dealers. I have to say that the old fart behind the counter is gone now. It was either Buster or Jack, but haven't seen them in months. There's a new guy who's in charge by the name of Bond...yeah, aint James Bond...just Bond, but he knows his stuff and is very helpful. If you call, ask for him. I even send him email sometimes and direct him to threads on here and Swedespeed. Don't think he's joined but he's been lurking, and he's been educated about some stuff, for instance about the USA Spec iPod adapter for S70's and 850's and agrees that Volvo's own unit is too expensive to have done at the dealer, even for the newer P2 cars. He's always trying to save me some $$ and makes good recommendations. He is DIY friendly. I used to hate to go to the parts dept. there, but not any more. Just thought I'd give you a head's up on what's up at Claytons.
Regards,
MIJ

[MadeInJapan]

I continue to be impressed with Clayton Volvo after their parts dept. changed hands.
Also heard today that their hourly service rate is $75 an hour... I had thought it was more (area Benz/Porche is $100-110 an hour). Evidently they recently had a meeting and decided not to raise their rates.
Have had other customers saying good things about the service dept. work too...something you never used to hear about Clayton just a few years ago.

Not many (if any at all) '07's on the lot...but great incentives for a pretty wide range of '06's that are left, including a Ocean Race Edition of the XC90, if anyone is interested.

[ACES70]

my experience with Clayton has been mixed, Chris in service seems smart enough until you get down to some of the more technical aspects of some things. Lela doesnt know anything except how to smile, I have only been there twice as i have had my volvo for only a couple of months but the first time it was a 1700$ repair which i took and the second time it was 3400$ which the dealer paid because it hadnt been two weeks since i bought it. It was nice to get an 07 s40 when i got the work done though.

[WereWolf]

I'm new to this site/forum and after reading reviews about dealers I figured that I had to add my two-cents worth to the melee.

I bought my son a 1993 940 Turbo Wagon since I have a new grandson, I figured that this was a good bet for safety. The wagon developed a serious miss & rough idle, with no power under 2000rpm. Since this happened on the Memorial Day weekend, no-one was open but my local Firestone Service Center. We took the car there and left it for a diagnostic. The report was burnt valves. #1 & 4 Cyl's had 150psi compression, with #'s 2 & 3 having only 60psi each. I found this odd since valves don't usually burn-out overnight. I figured much more.

I paid Firestone $105.00 for the diagnostic and took the car to Clayton Volvo when they opened-up on tuesday (after the holiday). I saw Layla in service, told her all the info I had on the car & left it with them. I called back about 5 hours later and she said that the Service Manager wanted to know if I was interested in a job as a service rider, since I nailed it right on the head with my diagnosis as a blown head gasket.

I told her no thanks but to go ahead & fix it as long as it wasn't over a couple thousand dollars, and to call me if it was. I also told her to change the timing belt since it wasn't changed since before I bought the car. To make a long story short, the mechanic discovered that the head had a micro-crack between #2 & #3 cylinders. Fortunately, he was a pack-rat and had a turbo head without the cam in good shape. So for $300.00 extra, he swapped our cam into the head, added new bearings, adjusted the valves and put it all together again. Total bill, $1,400.00. I thought that this was quite fair.

I just bought my wife a 94, 850 wagon and had it in for its initial servicing at Clayton. The oil change was a tad high at $64.00 but the car got washed & vacuumed. I have (2) 5-Series BMW's that I always take to Grayson BMW, just up the road, (a 525i & a 535i) and their oil changes are only $54.00, which also includes the same wash & vacuumings. Now Grayson's labor rate is $105.00/hr, while Clayton's is $75.00/hr. .

As far as the parts people go, I found them to be extremely friendly and helpful. They went the extra mile in printing out exploded parts diagrams, installation diagrams & parts lists/prices for me as well as ordering the various odds & ends parts that I wasn't so sure went where. So as far as I'm concerned, I'll keep going there, even though they are 16 miles away.

[WereWolf]

One more thing, I gotta get a 780 (Bertone) coupe somewhere. I may even give up my 1990, 535i, 5-speed ride for one.

[ACES70]

Have been dealing with Clayton off and on now for about 2 years and I have an update from my first post.

At first I was worried that i was going to be completely shunned for having any aftermarket parts on my car. And while they wont work on the parts that are their they will continue to keep anything else you have stock left in great shape. The labor rate can be a bit steep. Im not sure if its over a $100 dollars an hour but it always seems like even simple stuff takes them all day. But hey everyone likes the loaner.
Also the parts department has been very helpful in finding the parts I need, as I dont always have the part numbers on the way in. For the little stuff under $50 they stay competitive with having other OEM parts shipped in from other parts of the state (Daryl Waltrip), but above $50 its almost always more cost effective to call Jamie.
I have also been recently dealing with the sales department. David Burns is the guy to talk to. He was an older guy and seemed to know his stuff. If we get one from there thats who ill buy it from. Their inventory is pretty sparse in terms of used cars but they do have alot of 08s and they have "one of three 2007 6-speed Red S60Rs in the country."

[beckzach05]

my experience with Clayton has been mixed, Chris in service seems smart enough until you get down to some of the more technical aspects of some things. Lela doesnt know anything except how to smile, I have only been there twice as i have had my volvo for only a couple of months but the first time it was a 1700$ repair which i took and the second time it was 3400$ which the dealer paid because it hadnt been two weeks since i bought it. It was nice to get an 07 s40 when i got the work done though.

Layla knows less than nothing. Every time I've gone in, it's been a battle of knowledge with her. As we speak, I'm waiting for her to call me back and say "yes, we can reprogram your car to accept your key fob" exactly like I told her they could at 11 this morning.

The service techs are good guys. They really know their stuff, and can get things done once the car hits the bay. Parts dept. has been good to me so far, but we'll see once I start asking for nuts and bolts for an RMS replacement.