Frequently Asked Questions

If your vehicle fails emissions, it could be something as simple as a new gas cap (for some vehicles) or an indication of a larger repair needed.

Swedish Motors has registered technicians to perform these repairs and adjustments. Bring it in or give us a call 303.443.4812 and we can explain your options.

We have an Air Care Colorado emissions center here in Boulder on Airport Road just off Valmont for a recheck after your repair with us.

Since opinions vary between 3,000 and 10,000 miles, we suggest it always safest to follow the mileage or time period in the manual that came with your vehicle.

If your manual is unavailable, call 303.443.4812 and we can look the numbers up for you.

Please, note that if you use synthetic oil the Volvo warranty still requires the normal oil change intervals.

Do NOT drive. Don’t even drive to the next exit.

Turn the engine off as soon as safely possible. The light means the oil pressure is dangerously low. Call for roadside assistance and get your vehicle towed to us.

Without oil (even for a few minutes) the engine starts grinding itself away. Within moments, your precision machine becomes an old car.

Next stop is an expensive engine swap. This is one of those problems that require a mechanics attention before proceeding.

Call us on 303.443.4812.

Do NOT drive. Don’t even drive to the next exit.

Turn the engine off as soon as safely possible. The light/gauge means the coolant (antifreeze) is dangerously low. Call for roadside assistance and get your vehicle towed to us.

Without coolant (even for a few minutes) the engine starts melting itself away. Within moments, your precision machine becomes an old car.

Next stop is an expensive engine swap. This is one of those problems that require a mechanics attention before proceeding.

Call us on 303.443.4812.

We often buy Volvos that need repairs or that can be used for parts.

We have a bulletin board on which you can place your ad at no charge.

Just give us a call 303.443.4812 to make arrangements.

If it’s not a simple over-the-phone fix, then we recommend your insurance company (many insurance plans cover tows) or AAA towing services.

Volvos 2013 and newer use full synthetic per manufacturer recommendations. Generally, Volvos 2012 and older are fine using conventional oil.

Note: We have experienced higher oil consumption on vehicles with 75,000+ miles and so recommend a high mileage synthetic blend (even on newer models) and to shorten the oil change intervals for best performance.

Yes, absolutely! We do pre-purchase inspections and highly recommend you get any potential vehicle you may purchase checked out by a trained technician before buying! Many customers find this helpful in either avoiding costly future repairs or knowing they’ve found a used car that’s in good condition.

Call us at 303.443.4812 to schedule.

Often, a check-up is recommended about once a year and is intended to catch most problems. It is vital to maintain your vehicle’s recommended factory maintenance schedule (based on mileage). Most common intervals for these are 5,000 miles; 7,500 miles; and 10,000 miles depending on year and model of vehicle.

The tires should be rotated during this check-up since front wheel drive vehicles wear them differently than the rear tires. We can do this for you for a fee or, in most cases, your tire store has included this fee in the purchase of the tires. They will thus do it at no additional expense.

You should bring your vehicle in to see us for a quick check-up before going on a long trip or before summer heat or winter cold (as the temperature changes can often wreak havoc).

Overall, your owner’s manual will have the recommended intervals listed. If you have questions, call 303.443.4812 about your model and year.

1. Before you turn on your wipers in the morning, make sure that they are not stuck to the glass. Turning the wipers on before this is done will strain the linkage to the wiper motor. Heavy snow can also do this. The safest is to place your wipers up, away from the windshield.
2. Don’t roll down your windows when it’s cold and icy for the same reason as the motors are strained when ice is present on the glass. We’ve seen at least one window get stuck each winter from an enthusiastic and optimistic person.
3. To avoid a build-up of condensation, keep your fuel tank at least half full at all times. This condensation can possibly freeze.
4. Have your car checked for winterization (coolant, tires, brakes, wiper blades, windshield washer solvent) by one of our highly trained technicians.

If the car seems to be running normally, not making any unusual sounds, and is good on fluids, you should be safe to drive it to us to get it checked. If you are unsure, get it towed to be safe (you could cause consequential damage to the engine or other components otherwise).

A Check Engine Light might be accompanied by reduced engine performance or Check Engine Light FLASHING at you, which means it is more serious, get the vehicle towed to us IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT drive. A constantly flashing Check Engine Light is damaging to the engine and other components.

Low tire pressure means you should check your tire pressure. We recommend in CO temperatures to set your tire pressure at 38psi for Volvo (check the inside of your door panel for your specific model’s psi recommendation, not the tires themselves as the door panel number will allow for the weight of your car and engine). If one tire is low, it means it has a leak and should be inspected. If all tires are low it is most likely caused by a temperature change.

This message may indicate low tire pressure or possibly a defective component in your tire pressure monitoring system. Each tire pressure sensor has a battery and life expectancy is between 80,000-100,000 miles or about 10 years. Come see us for a diagnosis to determine what needs to be repaired if this light comes on for you after you’ve filled your tires up with air. This light generally comes on when you are at a 25% loss.

If the light comes on when the vehicle is cold, or first thing in the morning, but then turns off after a few minutes, pop the hood and check the level of coolant. If it is slightly low, go ahead and top off with coolant (in an emergency, you can add some water, but no more than two cups!). You’ll want to keep an eye out for any drips or loss in coolant over time. Give us a call if you have this happening more than a few times in a row or see drips beneath your car.

If you are driving along the highway and the light comes on, stop immediately. Do NOT drive. Don’t even drive to the next exit.

Turn the engine off as soon as safely possible. The light/gauge means the coolant (antifreeze) is dangerously low. Call for roadside assistance and get your vehicle towed to us.

Without coolant (even for a few minutes) the engine starts melting itself away. Within moments, your precision machine becomes an old car.

Next stop is an expensive engine swap. This is one of those problems that require a mechanics attention before proceeding.

Most modern cars don’t require these as often as past cars do. Current cars have more common issues such as cabin filters (this is like the furnace filter in your home and important for the function of your climate control blend doors, motors, and sensors), USB ports becoming broken, power window locks, and sugary drinks spilled on the center electronics area wreak havoc and lead to many costly repairs.

Common repairs on a Volvo:

1. Strut caps and sway bar links (could be as frequently as 25,000-30,000 miles)
2. Lower control arm bushings (somewhere around 80,000-120,000 miles)
3. Engine mounts every 100,000 miles
4. Axles (could be as frequently 80,000-90,000 miles)