faulty v70 engine control module

Hi
I have a 2000 v70 with 60k miles with faulty engine control module.
The problems began when we noticed the interior fans on the car
running full tilt when we returned to it on a hot day. Then the cruise
control function became intermittent,and then we got the sysyem
message "system service required". The dealer plugged it in to his
computer and informed me that it was reporting an internal moule
fault, but that he had reset it and thought we should see how it goes
as a new module is about £1000.
The cruise has continued to be intermittent but at cruising speeds of
about 60-70 mph the car is quite juddery and last week we got a new
message " performance reduced" with the engine feeling quite sick and
sluggish. I've got it booked in with the dealer and feel I know what
he is going to say.
Does anyone else have experience of this? I know the car is warranted
for three years but surely you could reasonably expect an electronic
device without any moving parts to last more than four years? I guess
the point I'm trying to make is about quality, after all this car cost
in excess of £30k new and is useless without a new module, I'm looking
for strong arguments or evidence that I can put to the dealer in order
to force Volvo to accept some level of responsibility. Surely Volvo
would not suggest that four years is good enouh for this quality of
car and if so, if I keep the car for another 60k miles can I expect to
have to buy another module?
Any comments(good or bad), suggestions or strategies that have worked
in forcing a major car companies hand will be gratefully accepted and
carefully considered.
Thanks in advance
Andrew

 

A friend recently had the ECU on his 4 year old BMW give trouble, and
the replacement was quoted at about £1500. After much searching he
found one in a scrap yard for £100.

Might be worth you ringing around.


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

 

This isnt really viable- with the current CanBus Volvo's the ECU's are
specific to each car- once they have been programmed they wont work with
another.


Tim..

 

I would be back at my dealer, or another one for that matter speaking with
the manager in no uncertain terms that you expect at least 50% goodwill
payment, preferably free replacement by Volvo on a part which is designed to
last the life of the car !!!

Tim..

 

Get an opinion from another dealer.

Niels

 

This is normal on our 01 V70,,,keeps the humidity circulating in the
parjed car,

 

The interior fan comes on for 5 minutes at full tilt after the car has
been off for 30 minutes if the A/C has been used to dry the evaporator
and help stop that "A/C smell."

Your other problems sound to me like the dreaded and common Electronic
Throttle Module failure, not anything to do with the Engine Control
Module.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

1) That does not sound like the main ECU, perhaps the cruise control?
Perhaps this site might help, perhaps not, you can e-mail for an opinion:
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/Volvo_Parts/Volvo_V70_ABS.htm

2) In the bad old litigious USA Volvo gives this level of protection:
http://www.volvocars.us/VolvoOwnership/VIP/
The Volvo New Car Warranty provides comprehensive coverage for four years
or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additional warranties cover
corrosion, seat belts, the supplemental restraint system, emission systems,
genuine Volvo replacement parts and genuine Volvo accessories. Please
^^^^^^^^^^^^
refer to the warranty information booklet provided in the vehicle glove box
for details. Should you encounter any problem with your Volvo, simply
contact the nearest Volvo retailer for assistance.

I believe that the USA standard for emission related parts, like the ECU,
unlike the abs controller (sorry) is 10 yrs/100,000 miles...

Why should the people who brought the world GW Bush get a additional year of
coverage, and 80k KM of coverage might be another argument. Best you will
get from the dealer is a better price on the part and YOU pay for
labor....if Volvo gets involved you might get the part free, but I will be
very surprised if you get free labor.

Best of luck!

 

Well, thanks very much to all who replied.
I feel a bit stupid but at least I know why this car doesn't smell of
wet cement like my 850.
The car went into the dealer yesterday and it was the throttle module
that had failed(spot on Mike), so they changed it.I have been on a 200
mile round trip today and the engine was very smooth with cruise working
faultlessly.
They are looking for £515 in total for the job but the service manager
is going to contact Volvo to see if they are prepared to contribute. He
wasn't very hopeful as it is such a common fault they actually keep the
module in stock. Which brings me back to my original post, it does not
seem right to me that a car of this "quality" should have this kind of
expensive fault after what I consider to be a relatively short life.
Lets face it you might have second thoughts about buying one if you knew
you would be faced with 500 plus quid bill to replace none moving parts
after 60k miles.
Thanks once again to all, and if I don't get a satisfactory response
from Volvo perhaps everyone should be made aware of what they consider
to be good enough.
Regards
Andrew

 

If it is acknowledged as a common fault I'd say that strengthens your
case for a contribution. Manufacturers do commonly pay out for known
issues, even out of warranty. Land Rover replaced the dashboard lots
of Discoverys (including my own), often well after warranty expired as
it was known to be a common fault (and also glaringly obvious, so
perhaps generating more corporate embarrassment).

Good luck (I'm looking forward to mine failing now!)...

--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

 

I agree 100% with what Tim says here. In the USA, for example, VW is buying
loads of folks new coils due to faulty ones installed in the factory--the VW
dealer kept those parts in stock!

GM recalled every Saturn (a BS us only line I believe) SUV because the rear
suspension breaks, yes the control are breaks!

In the USA after the dealer there is the 'zone' which is part of the dealer
network run by the builder. If the dealer denies your claim ask for the
name of the zone rep.

Good luck, Andy!

$1000 for a module on a 4 year old car--its Robin Hood with a 21C twist--
rob from the people and gives to the rich!

 

I have to report that Volvo have agreed to contribute 50% towards the
cost of the module, thus reducing my bill from £515 to £270. Perhaps not
as much as I would have liked, but better than nothing. It just goes to
show, it's always worth asking.
Thanks to everyone
Best Wishes
Andrew

 

The Coil pack problem is well documented here in the UK- they've been
failing pretty much since VAG started using them on the 4, 6 and
occasionally 8 cylinder engines. Its cost them millions. It doesnt seem like
the new ones are totally reliable either- these have been failing too!

The 4cylinder 20v turbo applications and V6 2.4 seem most affected.

Tim.