Replaced ETM today but my problems remain!
 

Just had my ETM replaced with a new (yellow sticker) ETM along with Volvo software (the garage has access to this) by an independent garage - total cost £600. However, I have exactly the same problems, that is - after about 10 miles of driving I get wild oscillation in idle combined with a loud buzzing sound from the ETM.

What could be causing the problem?

I am going back to the garage on Tuesday.

Thanks for any help

Volvo2

Hi

I don't have a solution for you but I had a similar issue

In November 2011 I had my etm refurbed by a UK specialist.

In Nov 2012 (& 3000miles) it went again and while it was covered under warranty, the labour cost me.

200 miles later the feckin thing is gone again.

It's cost me e700 so far. I'm starting to wonder if I should just have replaced it with a new unit

Hi Garvan,

Thanks for replying!

My story has developed a little. After the ETM was replaced (with a new yellow sticker unit) I had exactly the same symptoms. The fault was eventually traced to a cracked breather box. This is very difficult to access and requires significant dismantling of engine components. I was charged a further £380 by the independent garage who undertook the fault tracing and corrective work. So the whole thing has cost me the best part of £1000 - including a car loan.

My original intention had been to opt for the ETM repair offered by ‘spokoluzik’ here on this site but as he did not respond to my posting, a personal message or the form I completed on his company’s website, I was forced to explore other options. As it turns out the ETM was not faulty, although I assume at 110,000 miles it may have been worth replacing it anyway.

It is perhaps worth noting that the cracked breather box fault gives ETM failure symptoms.
It seems the V70 has yet another weak component that is subject to premature failure and costly repair.

Volvo2

Those are very steep prices for an independant ,
I Assume yours is a turbo .
your local dealer is probably cheaper and know what they are doing and obviously you have better protection when things go wrong like this ..

Thanks for your comment. Mine is a 2002 non-turbo, so the ETM is physically very easy to replace. Yes, I was frankly shocked to receive a bill for £550 for just replacing the ETM by an independent. I have been going to this particular garage in the Stroud area since the mid 1980s. In my experience they are very good but the prices seem to have been creeping up and now in some areas at least seem to be more than the main Volvo dealer!

The costs breakdown from the independent is as follows:
- Throttle body: £297.50
- Gasket £5.50
- Software £45
- Software programming £85
- Labour £25
- Vat £91.60
Total ~ £550 inc VAT

My Local Volvo dealer, Johnsons of Gloucester, estimated a total cost of only £353.40, broken down as:
- Labour to fit throttle body and programming is £122.40 inc vat
- Throttle £217.80 inc vat
- Gasket £6.60
- Software £6.60
Total £353.40 inc vat

The independent seems to be claiming that the Volvo estimate is not correct but it does seem similar to other figures I have seen on this forum and elsewhere. Do you have a feel for what total cost including VAT Volvo normally charge for replacing the ETM on an non-turbo these days?

I see, that confirms what i said , the dealer is the place to go, that is a very reasonable figure from Johnsons and what i would expect ..

The independant is ripping you off, his labour looks on the surface very cheap but he's clawing about 7 times what he charged you for labour back from the extortionous cost for software and labour to do it and bumping up the cost of the throttle . He can do this of course and it costs him a LOT of money for the volvo equipment and training to do it, spead over a relativly small number of cars , whereas a dealer uses the equipment much , much more so the same high cost can be absorbed by many more jobs that he puts through it ..

For your interest the volvo time to change your non turbo throttle time is 24 minutes and the software 18 minutes .....

obviously Johnsons are quoting you the retail prices ,
the throttle was £160 but went up about a year ago to near £300 , are those quotes recent? ( the retail price may have gone down again of course )

In my experience in your area The independants are charging more than retail for parts and bumping up the standard times so charging you more labour AND despite claiming they use genuine volvo parts often they don't where they cant be seen , worth checking yourself when you get home if you have a job done .. !

Hi V2

I've just banged off an email to my garage informing them of the possibility of the cracked breather pipe! Thanks for that and I'll post with what they come back with....

G

Rough Idle ? hesitation 3000-4000rpm ? Items to check
Just to post two more items to check if you have the above problem :

*) Inlet Temperature Sensor

*) MAF Sensor

Why ?

Just had a new contact-less ETM fitted, and still had rough idle to the point of it stalling and hesitation 3000-4000rpm.....

Found two faults that my air inlet temperature was reading -40 degree's (was a broken cable to the sensor)

My MAF sensor was faulty, only replacement is the BOSH one, performance is excellent now (better than when I bought it 5 years ago) and its so smooth on tickover and acceleration.....

Hi Garvan,

How did you get on?

As for me - I managed to get a refund from the independent bringing the price in line with the Volvo garage. It seems they were being overcharged by Volvo for the parts and software and have obtained a refund themselves, which they have passed on to me.

Volvo2


Dear Clan,

I wish it were that simple. In the past I have had services and other work at the main dealers and have to say on several occasions I was pretty disappointed with the work. On two occasions Volvo gave me a refund after I complained. That was when Volvo were Volvo and the customer service was, in my experience, very good. I am pretty sure I would not get such refunds now. I am happy to pay for good work and good quality component but unfortunately that has not always been my experience at the main dealer. This is why I have used an independent.

Volvo2

I see your located in Bristol. MRG Volvo in Chippenham seem to get nothing but good things said about them. I do almost all work myself on my cars but i have had a few dealings with MRG and they tend to go above and beyond what they need to. There was a Volvo specialist in Bedminster iirc who had reasonable prices last time i looked.