Why Does Your Volvo Knock Over Bumps On the Road?

Posted on | 10 Oct 2018 By Anita Gaal

The Volvo is known for its class, optimal performance, and sleek style. Many drivers express how smooth and effective the overall drive is. This, along with their reputation for luxury, are primary reasons why consumers purchase a Volvo. However, when a driver experiences an unpleasant drive that consists of feeling every single bump on the road, this can prove to be both frustrating and concerning. Below are some reasons you might be experiencing a loud or bumpy ride.

Suspension Issues

Your engine communicates directly with your steering wheel, which then tells the tires where to go. When there is an issue with any part of the vehicle, especially the suspension system, there are bound to be issues with roughness. When problems occur with how the car is moving over the road, suspension is the primary cause of concern. However, there are a few underlying issues that could be contributing to the unpleasantness of your drive.

Inspect Your Tires

When your tires are old, worn, or need air, they can make driving a headache. They can impact the motion of your vehicle, thus making it easy to feel every bump in the road. If the tire is not firmly secured into your wheel disk, it may result in vibrations or even shakes. This, in turn, could make your car feel every bump and hole in the road. In addition, your wheel alignment could also be to blame. If one of your wheels begins to veer off in a opposite direction, have your alignment checked out to make sure the problem doesn’t get bigger. It is also important to have your tires rotated every 4 to 6 months.

Another thing it is important to keep your eye on is tire air pressure. If your tires are low on air, they will not be able to provide the smoothest ride. Sometimes, a simple trip to the air pump may make a huge difference in how your car drives. In addition, too much air can also play a major role in the smoothness of your drive. It is key to understand the parameters surrounding your personal car’s pressure and stay within those limits. This will be the difference between a smooth ride and a bumpy one.

Brake Issues

When you experience a delay in your breaking or even strange smells coming from your transmission, it may be wise to get your brakes properly inspected. When they are not working in the expected manner, they may impact how smoothly your car drives. One way to fix this problem is to simply clean your brakes from contamination. A simple whisk away of dust, dirt, or debris can make a major difference in the performance of your car.

Transmission Issues

Although the thought of having transmission issues can bring about major anxiety, it is still important to make sure it is healthy and up-to-date. If the source of your Volvo’s trouble is the transmission, a thump in the road or even a slight vibration being picked up from the road can indicate a larger issue. Leaking, dirty, or contaminated fluids that come from the car’s interior are also signs to look for. If you are experiencing a sudden change in the way your car drives, have a trusted auto repair shop take a look at your transmission to make sure it is working properly.

How We Can Help

The beauty of the Volvo is timeless. Since this car represents class and style, it is important to keep it healthy in order to increase its longevity. Routine maintenance is the primary way to avoid hefty damages done to your vehicle. Therefore, having a reliable and trustworthy group of specialists to work on your car is ideal.

Our professionals at Euro Automotive, have been serving the car owners of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, Fort Worth, TX for over 18 years. Known as the number one shop for European cars, Euro Automotive can provide reliable and cost effective solutions to your vehicle issues. We are dedicated to solving your car crisis and making you feel taken care of. To get started on the road to a smoother ride in your Volvo, call to schedule an appointment or stop by today.

* Man Driving Volvo image credit goes to: huettenhoelscher.

* Volvo XC40 image credit goes to: y_carfan.

How to Deal With a Transfer Case Failure in Volvo

Posted on | 7 Aug 2018 By Anita Gaal

For many years, Volvo has been making cars that are four wheel and all wheel drive. Four wheel and all wheel drive allows the car to successfully maneuver through rough terrain such as dirt, gravel, and snow. Due to this capability, along with a sense of style, Volvos are being chosen more and more as a go to car to drive in areas where all wheel drive is necessary.

For a Volvo to have the four wheel and all wheel drive capability, it requires a transfer case. If the transfer case is failing then this means that the vehicle is no longer functioning in the all wheel drive mode. This can prove to be very dangerous if it goes unrepaired. One example would be if it has begun to snow and your Volvo needs to be in four wheel or all wheel drive in order to maneuver through the streets that will soon be covered in snow. As I’m sure you can imagine, this can get dangerous very quickly. Knowing the symptoms for a transfer case failure and how to deal with it in your Volvo will ultimately keep you and others safe.

What is a Transfer Case

A transfer case is the component that is going to send the power from the engine through the axels to each of the four wheels. Depending on what model of Volvo you own, there are three to four drive modes, and for each of these modes they will have different transfer cases. The first is that the car will be in all wheel drive at all times. The second is part-time four wheel drive. This means that you have the ability to go from two wheel drive to four wheel drive when you need to. This is beneficial for those who drive mainly on paved roads and rarely go through extreme elements.

The third and newest mode is active all wheel drive. This will have the most complicated transfer case system, because the car has to decide when to switch automatically into all wheel drive mode. Going into all wheel drive mode will be brief and it depends on the type of terrain you are driving on at that exact moment.

Symptoms of a Transfer Case Failure

There are a couple different ways you will be able to tell if your Volvo is experiencing a transfer case failure. Knowing them ahead of time will allow you to recognize them if they were to occur.

Grinding Noises Underneath Car

Like most parts in your Volvo, in order for the transfer case to work properly there needs to be fluid or lubricants involved. The lubricants will keep the transfer case functioning the way it needs to be as smoothly as possible. If there is a lack of fluids running through the transfer case, then as it attempts to work there will be a lot of grinding occurring. If your Volvo starts making any type of metal-to-metal grinding noises, then you know to take it in immediately.

Volvo Jumps In and Out of Four Wheel Drive

If your Volvo automatically goes into four wheel drive or if you control when it does, a failing transfer case will mean that the car will not be able to follow this four wheel drive command. The car will jump in and out of the four wheel drive mode seemingly at random. This could be due to a possible lack of fluids in the transfer case. The lack of fluids may be caused by a leak that will have to be addressed. Broken pieces in the transfer cases can also cause this problem.

The Professionals Who Care

Once you notice either one or both of these signs of a transfer case failure in your Volvo, bring it down to Euro Automotive so we can properly address the issue. Our technicians are certified in handling the most complex issues so you know that we will be able to effectively repair a transfer case that is failing. We want to keep you safe in all terrains that you are travelling on with your Volvo.

We are located in Dallas TX, and are easily accessible from Fort Worth, Garland, and Arlington. Whether you need repairs or standard maintenance, bring your Volvo in to our experts at Euro Automotive so we can help you get back on the road.

* Volvo Steering Wheel image credit goes to: huettenhoelscher.

* Volvo XC60 R-Design image credit goes to: gargantiopa.