GREAT - the minute I join and post my first Brickboard message I have to look like a knucklehead. The problem was two fold - so only half a knucklehead. Indeed my original control board went bad (since it still does not work). When it fried - it clearly pulled too much amperage through the "automatic fuses". These are accessible by removing 4 #20 torx screws around the main fuses. in the number 39 terminal for a 1998 V70 is a larger 20 amp fuse. this was blown.

the rabbit hole of testing terminals and swapping out controls and control boards was a waste of time. I hope that someone else out there with a similar problem might avoid the same mistake - moral: if its "automatic" check both the standard fuses and the "automatic fuses".

Oh - BY THE WAY - the control board under the seat - I'm using one off a 1995 850. The guts are a bit different but all connectors and functions are the same. So don't get suckered into a brand new part - the boards cost $10 at Pick and Pull.

good luck!