I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. This auto is losing brake fluid, took it to the dealer and he states the abs pump 'appears' to be leaking around the solinoid? Dealer says I will have to replace at a cost of 2200 plus labour. Has anyone had experience with a fix, or could this simply be a loose connection somewhere in the circuit? Unable to find a used part from a wrecker at this time, so if anyone has a source for something used I would appreciate an email as well mbrown@remax.net

I have a spare ABS Pump from a 1996 850R if you need it. It came attached to the ABs/TRAC computer module when I bought it to replace my faulty module. The ABS pump is used but in good condition. Again, if you need it then make me an offer. Let me know the part# so I can double check if what I have will fit.

Peter (bbs at unitedstates dot com)
96 850R
02 Vette Z06

Hi Peter thanks for your response.

I have a number from the control unit as 9128844 and then another number from the pump as 9173973. I'm in Canada, and a jobber in Texas thought US might have different numbers? Not sure, but any help you could provide would be helpful.

Regards

Murray

ABS stopped working w/ ABS + TRACS lights on. my mechanic pulled a code for right rear valve on the pump. I went to a dealer and they run "diagnostics" which cost me $75.00. After that they told me: "It is MOST LIKELY the computer which sends wrong signal" ($600+$200 for labor. When asked WHAT IF it is NOT THE COMPUTER? they said "you will have to change the pump then" ($1200 part, here in New York city).
NEXT I went to a junk yard and tried a computer on the spot - IT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM.
After I tried that computer, I bought whole unit (pump and computer), had it installed by my mechanic - it works!!!

I woul not come back to that dealer again - just find a shop with a good reputation and a knowelegeble staff and ask them to find the problem - DO NOT EVEN MENTION THE ABS PUMP - SEE IF THEY TELL YOU THE SAME AS DEALER.
I personally doubt the pump is leaking...
this junk yard is specializing in volvo parts, located in Long Island, New York (2 hrs from NYC)
ACE (JUNK YARD IN LI) 631-667-3331

Dealerships are high cost operations that must maintain large profit margins in their service departments to pay the bills (equipment, training, benefits, special tools, and of course, the owner's yacht payments). Thought most of the technicians are well trained, they are highly supervised and given little latitude for creativity. They typically follow strict procedures with scripted solutions because it keeps the workflow high.

In this kind of environment, if there's a possibility that the problem could be caused by two or three different problems, and they haven't isolated the problem in the allocated amount of time, the protocol would be to sell you a solution that covers all possibilities rather than spend the time looking for the one problem. (The technician may not agree with this approach, but his supervisor has a board full of cars that have to flow through the shop, so he needs a decision NOW or your car's out of the bay so they can get the next one in.) Of course, you're paying full retail for the parts at most dealerships as well.

If you want a technician to be creative, you probably need to find an indy shop. Typically, they're discounting parts almost to cost (just to get your business) so there's nothing in it for them to sell you extra parts. They'd rather spend the time to find the exact problem because they're selling time and don't have the same volume requirements as a dealership. They also don't have the massive overhead. On the other hand, if your indy is being presented with a late model car with a problem he's never seen before....well, never mind. Your 1994 is a known quantity and almost any indy Volvo specialist has seen it all and can fix it all.
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(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

David, have you ever worked in a repair shop of any kind? I my shop, free thinking is not only encouraged but inforced. Most dealership shops are concerned about the profits,as any business is, but to state that it is the reason is utter bullshi-t! There have been numerous occasions where the answer is not obvious, but for to say that we blanket repairs with un-necessary parts is once again bullsh-t. If I/we cannot find the problem we have Tech support, Field Tech. Specialists plus thousands of techinical literature. I have taken customers cars home at night for intermittant no-start problems. At no cost to the customer. We have given away thousands of dollars in parts and labour, all to please customer. In one example, a single Mom who's kid was in hospital, and husband had died two months previous, had her brakes and service done for no labour and parts at cost. Something she did not ask for I might add. When she picked up the car she also found a card signed by every person in the service department and a bouquet of flowers. I could go on here but there are hundred of examples I could give. I agree that there are unscruplious dealsers out there but I guarantee there are far more indy shops that rips customers off. But the dealers are regulated by the manufacturer and can have the francise revoked. Can the same be said for indy's?
Gazzer

Hello whoever you are!
I work at a Volvo dealer and I am a Volvo Master Technician. I resent your implications that the dealers rip clients off. I/we curtainly do not. This industry is full of people like YOU who have no idea how todays cars operate and how difficult they are diagnose and repair. Do you have nothing better to do than complain when YOUR car fails. If you cannot afford to run a car take transit. It is a luxury to own a vehicle and that costs money. The dealership technician has way more experience on Volvo's than a garage mechanic will and that is how he/she came to the conclusion that the computer could be at fault. Especially if the fault is intermittant. So before you go shooting your mouth off about how bad the dealer is, just remember that these are not dining room chairs we are tring to fix. All the while not trying not to spend too much of your money!!
GAZZER