Scary experience

The S80 D5 auto has the same problem and I have been fighting with Volvo UK since July 2003 when I picked up the car brand new off the floor. Basically you get bounced between the dealer and Volvo UK. I do not blame the dealer as the dealer has no control over the software design in the car however they could shout a bit louder as they have more clout than us peasants!

Here is part of a reply that I recevied for the following question;
Question;
"I have been informed that a third party software upgrade called Rica ECU Upgrade removes a lot of the hesitation and stays within emissions parameters. Why is a third party able to design software that eliminates the problem but the manufacturer is not able to do this although complaints started with the 2002.5 S80 Volvos? I would like to know why this software is not offered to owners of S80s with the automatic gearbox free of charge by Volvo. I would also like to know if we are going to be re-imburse for buying a car with inadequate software."

The answer;

"Volvo are unable to use the third party software you have been made aware of as this has not been tested and approved by Volvo or passed the relevant homologation standards.

Any enhancements added to the vehicle will be covered under the 3 year / 60,000 mile manufactures warranty. Once the warranty expires customers have the option to purchase extended warranty. The cost of any repairs or enhancements carried out on the vehicle outside of the warranty period will be the responsibility of the owner."

not sure but there was a recall on xc90's by dealers because the abs was activating on its own.

dealers replaced the front sensors with modded ones, has this been done to yours???

double check this as i don't own a xc90 and i am trying to remember what i read somewhere.

Well guess what, it just happened again.

After the March incident we got absolutely nowhere with Volvo. They did a download of the ECU - no error codes. We asked them repeatedly to do further testing, they refused. We had no use of the car for 3 months. Eventually we had to accept a personal assurance from Rob Thomas, Director of Customer Service, that the car was not faulty.

The car was repaired by a Volvo dealer and the ECU upgrades were done at the same time. Pick up did improve afterwards.

We drove the car around France in the summer, and it has behaved itself thus far.

On Sunday evening, while exiting the motorway on a slip road, so off the gas, doing about 40 - the emergency brake assist came on again - the pedal hit the floor without me pushing it - and we stopped abruptly. Luckily this time there was no-one behind us. Stiil scary though.

The factors that were the same were these:
Had been going at 70 ish for a while
Slowed to 40
Was not braking
At the moment the EBA came on, my husband was making a call on a mobile.

We have called Volvo and are waiting for a return call - watch this space....

[foggyjames]

I hope no-one in this thread was driving the silver XC90 which overtook me on the A27 just short of the M27 on Sunday night - breaking the speed limit in a 40, then held me up in the following 60! Charming!

I was under the impression that this was a problem with the turbo failing to spool quickly enough, causing sluggish pick-up from low revs? Is there a separate problem with one of the braking assist systems kicking in when it shouldn't?! That's mad!

I'm not sure what's wrong with normal brakes...ABS is useful for a daily drive, but anything else is just compensating for lack of driving ability. The manufacturers would be better off teaching people how to drive properly than making overcomplicated braking systems! Rant over... :)

Reading this again I feel really old...I'm 20 BTW...

cheers

James

[Andy]

> my husband was making a call on
>a mobile.


Interference with car electronics? Was he on the phone last time it happened?

[Peter Milnes]

Excellent point Andy. Too few people realise that mobile phones used inside cars can cause grave problems for the large amount of electronics inside the modern car. The wiring loom acts as an aerial and passes the signals all round the car, which is why you should pull over and switch off whenever you wish to have a mobile used in the car, even by a passenger. Remember the problems with fuel pumps and mobiles?

All the best, Peter.

[foggyjames]

Electro-magnetic compatibility! I'm studying that at university at the moment. Very important, but also a great way to send yourself to sleep...

cheers

James

What an improvement... the more I read, the less convinced I get about modern cars.

George

[link:www.ttsservices.co.uk/my%20volvos.htm|http://www.ttsservices.co.uk/Signature.JPG]

'95 Volvo 945 Polar LPT
'87 Volvo 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'86 Jaguar Sovereign 4.2

[Wentworth Man]

Just a thought, what Mobile service Provider was your husband using. I know BMW had an issue with Orange and wouldnt fit Ornage glass mounts as they wouldnt warrant interference with the airbag system. Electronic interference is always a possibility depending on the frequency, installation and shielding of the cables.

[foggyjames]

I've got to write a 2500 word essay about this very subject for Tuesday (Electromagnetic Compatibility in automobiles). Well...about interference with engine management systems, but near enough. Happy days...

cheers

James