Repairing a CEM - false economy?

Acer · Dec 8th, 2015, 10:14

Does anyone have experience getting a CEM repaired by VolvoDiagnostics or a similar outfit? What exactly do they change and can the repair be relied upon long term?

I assume most of the CEM remains the original part, so there is still a danger of age getting the better of some components even if the area of damage is fixed. Is it a false economy?

The price difference is around £600, which is a significant block of cash, but clearly if the unit has to come out again six months to a year down the line, then that is just a pain and not worth doing. I wouldn't hesitate to get the ICM in the sound system repaired but the CEM is essential to the car's ability to function, which makes me a bit more cautious.

Also even if you get it repaired, presumably you still need to order the enhanced housing and plenum cover to ensure water damage does not happen again? That is unless you want to silicone the existing lid down and hope it doesn't need to come up again in a hurry

.

Interestingly, while I am all too aware of the 2005 and 2006 XC90 design fault!, I see that people also had CEM problems with early Volvo XC70s. Was this the same design fault or were the CEMs in that model just not up to it?

How exactly does the water get into the CEM? Is it from the bonnet area? I already had the problem with blocked sunroof drains when I bought it and sorted that a year ago. I am presuming water hitting the CEM comes from a different route?

rsymes2k · Dec 9th, 2015, 14:27

I had one go on my 2008 D5 V70, car was completely dead, had to be dragged kicking and screaming onto a flatbed as the electronic handbrake was stuck on and I had left the car with almost full lock on in a parking bay! Absolute nightmare!!

When volvo got it out they said it was due to water damage interestingly enough they said people who regularly park facing uphill get the issue more than others? And my home parking bay is on a slight incline?

I would go with new as from my experience... new lasts longer!

Acer · Dec 9th, 2015, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsymes2k

I had one go on my 2008 D5 V70, car was completely dead, had to be dragged kicking and screaming onto a flatbed as the electronic handbrake was stuck on and I had left the car with almost full lock on in a parking bay! Absolute nightmare!!

When volvo got it out they said it was due to water damage interestingly enough they said people who regularly park facing uphill get the issue more than others? And my home parking bay is on a slight incline?

I would go with new as from my experience... new lasts longer!

I didn't realise it was an issue on 2008 + models. I thought they rectified the design so that is pretty shocking. I had the new one installed and configured today. My fuel economy improved 8mpg on the way home! Clearly the CEM had given up communicating with the MAF. At the moment it seems back to normal and I can only hope it stays that way.

It has received the enhanced housing that should prevent it happening again and of course I have a Volvo warranty on the new part.

xco · Dec 9th, 2015, 19:53

I had one go on my 2004 V70 and it took out my BCM with it.

Had a nice little bill for £1600 from Volvo, basically to plug in 2 new modules and apply software!

In spite of this I would advise to go the new route not repaired as this is the brain of the car and a very important piece of hardware.

I investigated the CEM repair route but was told by Volvo main stealer that that was not possible as it had to have new fitted and be "reborn" again so to speak with-in the car....(a full history software download I guess).

I am disgusted to hear that knowing about this defect Volvo did not issue a recall for this now commonly reported fault ,and lets be honest it is a fault if water can get in and damage such an important piece of equipment...I guess somebody has to die first before they will consider it serious enough for recall.

Rooster · Dec 9th, 2015, 21:44

I had my ICM repaired by volvodiagnostics and it hasn't missed a beat since,

Its not the main brain of car but it actually costs more to replace than a CEM,

There is lots of places that repair stuff for differant cars these days and costs alot less than a new unit

Acer · Dec 9th, 2015, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

I had my ICM repaired by volvodiagnostics and it hasn't missed a beat since,

Its not the main brain of car but it actually costs more to replace than a CEM,

There is lots of places that repair stuff for differant cars these days and costs alot less than a new unit

Oh yeah I wouldn't hesitate to have the ICM repaired but the CEM is a step too far IMO. I asked Volvo diagnostics and they said some CEMs cannot be repaired. I couldn't really wait another week to get the car back so I went with a new Volvo unit. Also there was the nagging fear that a patched up unit may still fail down the line. The new one I received had different wiring, and took them a long time to fit. It is outrageous how much stuff goes wrong on these cars - CEMs, ICMs, spline sleeves, blocked sunroof drains. The engineers should be lined up and shot.

rsymes2k · Dec 10th, 2015, 18:34

to be fair, it depends if it's an aftermarket "upgrade" CEM i.e the alleviate the issues originally found with the CEM.

to be fair if it's water ingress, that water ingress could've affected anything in the CEM and caused god know what. Not sure I would trust it ever again.

The Volvo guys said it was rare but not unheard of for the 2008+ to fail, they definitely found it worse for people in slightly damper areas and parking uphill!!

Acer · Dec 10th, 2015, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsymes2k

to be fair, it depends if it's an aftermarket "upgrade" CEM i.e the alleviate the issues originally found with the CEM.

to be fair if it's water ingress, that water ingress could've affected anything in the CEM and caused god know what. Not sure I would trust it ever again.

The Volvo guys said it was rare but not unheard of for the 2008+ to fail, they definitely found it worse for people in slightly damper areas and parking uphill!!

Agreed. I went for the upgrade you mention so it can't die from water ingress again.

Horton · Dec 10th, 2015, 21:15

Don't forget that a good Volvo Indy with Vida can programme a CEM and keys just like Volvo main dealers - they will be cheaper too!

Acer · Dec 10th, 2015, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horton

Don't forget that a good Volvo Indy with Vida can programme a CEM and keys just like Volvo main dealers - they will be cheaper too!

Indeed but I think it is better they are programming a new one

Dec 8th, 2015, 10:14	#1
Acer Master Member Last Online: Feb 12th, 2020 13:24 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Bromley	Repairing a CEM - false economy? Does anyone have experience getting a CEM repaired by VolvoDiagnostics or a similar outfit? What exactly do they change and can the repair be relied upon long term? I assume most of the CEM remains the original part, so there is still a danger of age getting the better of some components even if the area of damage is fixed. Is it a false economy? The price difference is around £600, which is a significant block of cash, but clearly if the unit has to come out again six months to a year down the line, then that is just a pain and not worth doing. I wouldn't hesitate to get the ICM in the sound system repaired but the CEM is essential to the car's ability to function, which makes me a bit more cautious. Also even if you get it repaired, presumably you still need to order the enhanced housing and plenum cover to ensure water damage does not happen again? That is unless you want to silicone the existing lid down and hope it doesn't need to come up again in a hurry . Interestingly, while I am all too aware of the 2005 and 2006 XC90 design fault!, I see that people also had CEM problems with early Volvo XC70s. Was this the same design fault or were the CEMs in that model just not up to it? How exactly does the water get into the CEM? Is it from the bonnet area? I already had the problem with blocked sunroof drains when I bought it and sorted that a year ago. I am presuming water hitting the CEM comes from a different route? Last edited by Acer; Dec 8th, 2015 at 11:31.

Dec 9th, 2015, 19:53	#4
xco Premier Member Last Online: Today 04:35 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Near Plymouth	I had one go on my 2004 V70 and it took out my BCM with it. Had a nice little bill for £1600 from Volvo, basically to plug in 2 new modules and apply software! In spite of this I would advise to go the new route not repaired as this is the brain of the car and a very important piece of hardware. I investigated the CEM repair route but was told by Volvo main stealer that that was not possible as it had to have new fitted and be "reborn" again so to speak with-in the car....(a full history software download I guess). I am disgusted to hear that knowing about this defect Volvo did not issue a recall for this now commonly reported fault ,and lets be honest it is a fault if water can get in and damage such an important piece of equipment...I guess somebody has to die first before they will consider it serious enough for recall. __________________ MY14 XF S V6 3.0 Sportbrake Portfolio in Ultimate Black Metallic and black 20"alloys MY08 Xc90 D5 185 Se Lux Satnav Geartronic. Much loved gone now but not forgotten. Wherever you go............There you are!!!

Dec 9th, 2015, 21:44	#5
Rooster Speed freak Last Online: Apr 3rd, 2020 22:04 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yorkshire	I had my ICM repaired by volvodiagnostics and it hasn't missed a beat since, Its not the main brain of car but it actually costs more to replace than a CEM, There is lots of places that repair stuff for differant cars these days and costs alot less than a new unit __________________ 04 XC90 D5 --- Big bus 00 pug 306HDi --- Run about 88 pug 309GTi --- Project track car 07 CB600 Hornet --- 2 wheel fun

Dec 9th, 2015, 14:27	#2
rsymes2k Member Last Online: Jan 11th, 2024 16:32 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Devon	I had one go on my 2008 D5 V70, car was completely dead, had to be dragged kicking and screaming onto a flatbed as the electronic handbrake was stuck on and I had left the car with almost full lock on in a parking bay! Absolute nightmare!! When volvo got it out they said it was due to water damage interestingly enough they said people who regularly park facing uphill get the issue more than others? And my home parking bay is on a slight incline? I would go with new as from my experience... new lasts longer!

Dec 10th, 2015, 18:34	#7
rsymes2k Member Last Online: Jan 11th, 2024 16:32 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Devon	to be fair, it depends if it's an aftermarket "upgrade" CEM i.e the alleviate the issues originally found with the CEM. to be fair if it's water ingress, that water ingress could've affected anything in the CEM and caused god know what. Not sure I would trust it ever again. The Volvo guys said it was rare but not unheard of for the 2008+ to fail, they definitely found it worse for people in slightly damper areas and parking uphill!!

Dec 10th, 2015, 21:15	#9
Horton Senior Member Last Online: Mar 29th, 2023 13:50 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oxford	Don't forget that a good Volvo Indy with Vida can programme a CEM and keys just like Volvo main dealers - they will be cheaper too!

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