ETS idiot lamp comes on once in a while, and recently most of the time in wife´s car (V70 1999 NA 5cyl 180HP, auto transm). She is pretty frustrated because recently paid corresp to 2300 USD for repairs, including changing radiator.

She called Volvo shop and they say most likely needs exchange of whole throttle module, at approx 1200 USD.

Coukd this be bad connector after coolant leak from radiator leak? If it is throttle module, is it sufficient to exchange throttle position sensor, which is available for 120 USD. Can any error codes tell me if that is what to do, or if we need to replace whole throttle module?

Is trying to get a throttle module from pick-n-pull really an alternative for these now rather old cars?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Two things to check. The plug at the throttle module can come loose, make sure it is tight by bending the spring clip.

If the ETM has a yellow sticker on it, it is the new version and should be OK. If the sticker is white, the ETM will probably need to be replaced. There is a Canadian company that repairs them: www.xemodex.com

You cannot go to a junk yard and get another ETM, they must be computer matched to your car and only a dealer can do that. Dealers will only put in new and charge you a lot of money.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

Thanks,

Label is silver white. Item number is 9186793 interpreting the label according to a Swedish site I found (http://www.atech2.com/produkter/spjallhus.html) They seem to suggest that for all of these ETM´s, except the one where the item number ends by 345 it should be possible to use the ETMs relatively interchangeably. Is there a problem with the different CAN-bus versions? Mine is 17380.001.08, will this work with a unit with AH.0012381.C or is it necessary to have exactly the corresponding CAN-bus version?

The white label ETMs are known to wear a groove in the plastic plate and will eventually fail completely, making the car undriveable. If you could find a yellow label ETM in a junk yard, that would be cheap - but, the main computer has to be notified of the change and the ETM also has to have the car's info written into its memory. I do not know of any software on the market that will do this sort of programming.

www.xemodex.com can do this for you. You send them your unit and they send you a pre-programmed unit that will never fail. Much cheaper and more reliable than anything a Volvo dealer could install.

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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

re: "...You send them your unit and they send you a pre-programmed unit that will never fail. Much cheaper and more reliable than anything a Volvo dealer could install...."

Does that "pre-programmed" mean that you don't need a Volvo dealership to install it? That nothing has to be done to the car's onboard computer, and you just bolt in the new part and go?

Sorry, but it's not clear, given what you wrote before (and in many other messages on this board about needing to "handshake" the car's computer with a new part).

Correct! No dealer intervention, just plug and play. Xemodex uses your VIN and plugs the new/refurbished unit, so all you have to do is install and drive.

The 'no hand shake' is xemodex's trademark for all of it's products.
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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

Klaus,
Many thanks for info. The atech site (www.atech2.com/produkter/spjallhus.html) seems to do what you suggest Xemodex does. Will look further into this and will post back if I learn anything more. The atech site seems to have an asking price of corresponding to about 500 USD for the refurbished unit.

I found a Swedish forum where one of the posts suggested he had been able to drive his Volvo with a PICK-N-PULL replacement unit (I guess in limp-home mode) to Volvo shop where they did the programming. Dunno if I want to bet on the same gentle reception.

Still, if I find exactly a similar unit (same parts number and same CAN-bus identifier number) at a pick-n-pull, do you think it is worth while trying that replacement, or do you think that even in this case reprogramming is necessary? The pick-n-pull units I can find for about 150-200 USD, so maybe not worth the hassle of finding out there is still trouble.

Gustaf

I love Pick&pull yards, but getting another white label ETM is asking for trouble. ALL of the white units will fail sooner rather than later, that is why Volvo extended the warranty to 10 years/200K miles in the USA. The white label was replaced with a different supplier (yellow label).

I have found xemodex quite helpful. Just email them and ask about the Swedish company and their product reliability. Let them know where you live, not in the USA or Canada and that you have discussed this on the Brickboard!
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My name is Klaus and I am a V♂lv♂holic

Advised by mechanic to find a working throttle unit from exactly same model year and engine type, then there should be no problem for ECU to control it. I found one with yellow label, which should be the updated type from a car with 200 k miles. Part and CAN-bus number totally different, but works perfect. No stumbling in idle or any hesitations in acceleration. Took 40 min to replace, would have taken 10 was it not for the (with my hands) difficult to pull apart connector. Finally found a suitable screwdriver to both push on locking mechanism in and hold the (seen from front) right-hand connector half, while pulling with left hand on the other. Was for me impossible to stick in both hands at the same time and get a grip on the connector locking mechanism.

Thanks for all advice

Gustaf

Pulled the following error codes from ECU:
P1033
P1027
P1026
P1081

GustafKalle