NHTSA Complaint #10159111 — 2000 VOLVO V70XC

UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY, AFTER TRAVELING AT SPEED FOR 30 MINUTES, A KNOCKING SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP AND STEAM WAS EVOLVING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT MAXIMUM. STEAM WAS EVOLVING NEAR THE TURBO AT THE FIREWALL. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS NOT RUNNING, BUT MAKING A BUZZING SOUND. THE ENGINE OIL WAS HOT, STEAM OR SMOKE EVOLVED FROM THE DIP-STICK TUBE, BUT THE LEVEL WAS GOOD. THE COOLANT BOTTLE WAS EMPTY. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE CRANKED RAPIDLY, AS IF THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION, AND MORE STEAM WAS PRODUCED AT THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE HEAD. I PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY SERVICE STATION. THE SERVICE STATION TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT BOTTLE, PLACED THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT AND CRANKED THE ENGINE. FROM BELOW, COOLANT COULD BE SEEN EXITING THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEARBY FOREIGN VEHICLE SERVICE STATION FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. THIS STATION DETERMINED THERE IS NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDERS #2 THROUGH #5, AND ONLY 40 PSIG IN CYLINDER #1. THE TIMING BELT IS IN PLACE. THE STATION BELIEVES THE ENGINE HEAD IS CRACKED OR WARPED AND SUGGESTS THERE MAY BE CONSIDERABLE BOTTOM END DAMAGE AS WELL SUCH AS PISTONS, RINGS, AND CYLINDER SLEEVES DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. I CONTACTED VOLVO CARS AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS INCIDENT SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V451000 REGARDING ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAN FAILURE ON 2000-2001 V70'S AND 2001 V70XC'S (AND OTHER MODELS). VOLVO CONTENDS MY VEHICLE (A 2000 V70XC) IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THE COOLING FAN ON MY VEHICLE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE DEFECTIVE FAN COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB