I thought I'd share my ETS replacement story so that others can avoid getting ripped off by the Volvo dealers. My ETS starting failing about two or three months ago. The first warning was s slight, but persistent hestitation that I only noticed at highway speeds. This was followed soon thereafter by the ETS warning light in the dash. My first stop was right here to the S70 board to get some advice from you all. Thanks for the great information - it really helped me. I'll have to say that I initially ignored the advice that a thorough cleaning of the throttle body might solve the problem. It did, for three whole days! Since the car basically ran OK, I wasn't in any great hurry to part with the big bucks that I'd read some folks paid to have their throttle body replaced. But I also didn't want to reach that point where the throttle body totally failed and I limited to the "limp home" mode. So last week I check the internet to price a replacement throttle body. My aim was to but one off the internet and save the markup charged by either the dealer or my local mechanic. The best price that I found was at FCP Groton (web address below) for $485, plus an extra couple of bucks for a gasket. I picked the car up today and my mechanic charged me only $215 to install the throttle body. I wanted to share the experience since this is a common failure with the S70 (1999 and 2000) and typically a pricey repair. $700 in total is clearly a good bit less than the $1,100 to $1,400 that I'd read the dealers charge for this repair. Also, I received the part from via UPS ground in only three days from FCP Groton. Good luck to those with similar ETS issues - I hope this might help someone out there!

http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo.htm

My dealer in Oklahoma did it for $850 drive out price.

Sounds like you managed to get a pretty good deal on your ETS repair. It may be hard on the wallet but at least you are free from the worry of an untimely ETS failure. Its a shame that there are limited options for Volvo owners with the same problem. Replacing the unit is not that hard if only there wasn't the need for the %##&*! software download. Enjoy your car, it will last longer than the pain of the repair cost.

You did save your self some money. I just checked the forum today to check for ETS failures. I was driving from LA to Pheonix last week when the ETS light came on in the middle of the desert. I lost most of my power and limped across the desert at about 50 mph. I had to get it fixed, because I was coming back in a few days. I was quoted from $900 to $1200 from the two Pheonix dealerships. I ended up paying $844. The throttle module was $551 and the labor was $250. I only have 47k miles on the vehicle and was upset that a major part would fail at such a low mileage. But there is a happy ending to the story. When I returned to LA, re-read my warranty and discovered that CA requires Volvo to warranty emmision control parts for 7 yrs or 70k miles. I took my repair invoice into my local Volvo dealer and they refunded me the total repair cost. The throttle modul is listed as an emmision control part. The same warranty appplies in MA also. It does not matter where the failure occurrs. If the car is purchased and registered in CA or MA you have 7 yrs/70k on the throttle module.

I am planning to buy an S70, is the ETS something I should be checking? What is it?

No real warning for failure other high milage or the ETS light coming on in the dash.

Oh I was just told on another board that the 1998 S70 does not have the ETS it has the old mechanical one like the 850... that's good I guess!

Tina,

I believe that's correct. I think that 1999 was the first year with the problematic throttle body. You should be in good shape with a 1998 - at least as far as the throttle body is concerned.

wow, your mechanic has access to VADIS to download the ETM software ?

Electronic Throttle system, 99's on now use "fly by wire". No cable from gas
peddle. All wires, computers and such. Oh joy. ETS also refered as Throttle
Body, throttle body module at times.
Turns out no extended warranty companies covr this no matter who makes the vehicle. Its an exclusion, more joy---