Persistent ETS problem

Dnelson · Post by **Dnelson** » 06 Jan 2006, 13:15

I am new to this forum yet I share your many frustration. Please bear with me through a long story that I will attempt to abbreviate.

I purchased a 1999 V70 with 55K miles in May 2003. Our first ETS problem occurred at 60K. The ETM and new software cost $1,200. The car ran fine for 9 months and since then, has been at the Minneapolis dealer eight times for ETS related issues. (Over the past year, the ETS light has gone on almost everyday.) This past December, the dealer had the car for three weeks and replaced the ETM (3rd one??), uploaded software, replaced the thermostat, and installed a new gas accelerometer. The ETS light went on when they delivered the car to my wife. They reset the software and the ETS light went on four blocks later.

The dealer has treated us very well but acknowledges that they have tried everything they can think of over the past two years but cannot fix the car. Besides my $1,200 expense, the dealer has invested $4,300 of their own money. Last summer, the Volvo techician from Chicago looked at the car. He determined that there was a voltage problem and replaced the battery, cables, and wiring harness. The ETS light came on four days later.

The dealer will not look at the car anymore without being compensated, the Volvo tech from Chicago refuses to look at the car again, and Volvo of America supports the dealer's claim that more analysis is needed (my expense). The car now sits in our gargage. My wife is not allowed to drive it and my children are not allowed to ride in it.

I'm convinced the car is terminally ill. I may strip it down and sell its mechanical organs over Ebay. In a sense, I can spread its ashes across the highway and byways of America. However, I did see someone state in another forum that a clogged crankcase ventilation system can create ETS problems. Any merit to that idea? My car is an automatic.

Thank you very much for your patience and interest in my "Nightmare for Life" story. I appreciate it.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 06 Jan 2006, 15:06

Damn! It sounds like the "Lemon" Law was designed specifically for you.

What State are you in? Check out DonW's VEXEDvolvo site, you should register your complaint with the NHSTA and maybe the attorneys.

howardc64 · Post by **howardc64** » 06 Jan 2006, 17:51

If you have this, it would help experts in giving you better guesses. Sounds like the dealer has worked on it quiet a bit. I'm assuming they looked at ECU fault codes for clues to do some of this work. It should be on your repair order paper work. Volvospeed is another good site to ask questions. Lots of experts there with your car.

bohnbon · Post by **bohnbon** » 06 Jan 2006, 22:13

I have also spent alot of money, on this ETS light!!!! Is ETS and ETM the same thing? Sorry if these are silly Q's, but it i am making payments on the car and I have had it for little over a year but I keep having problems with it, what are the Lemon laws in California. Can I do any thing or do I have to keep paying for a car I can't afford to keep up.

Thanx a Chick w/ no more money:(

bohnbon · Post by **bohnbon** » 06 Jan 2006, 22:14

The car is a 99 v70 wagon.

Dnelson · Post by **Dnelson** » 09 Jan 2006, 11:19

That's interesting. My car also is a 99 V70. I would not mind paying for the repair if someone knew what to repair. After two years of effort, I do not want to pay someone to continue to "tinker".

I have filed a complaint with the NHTSA and joined the class action law suit in effort to bring attention to the ETM issue. I had to drive the car Friday night to my son's hockey game. It was more frightening than our local amusement park. You gotta love it when it you lose acceleration on the freeway. Always good for lots of screams. I do acknowledge that the car is a hazard to others on the road and I only drive it if I must.

I just received copies of all my repair work and will be contacting Volvo of America for direction and advice. I'm sure that will get me about as far as my car can get me. It's sobering to realize your car's value is in Volvo's R&D department.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 10 Jan 2006, 10:36

Dnelson wrote: It was more frightening than our local amusement park. You gotta love it when it you lose acceleration on the freeway. Always good for lots of screams. I do acknowledge that the car is a hazard to others on the road and I only drive it if I must.

And yet Volvo insists it is merely an inconvenience, NOT a safety issue.

Volvos' "Legendary Safety" is Lip Service, more like Legendary Apathy.

Post by **JRL** » 11 Jan 2006, 20:26

Bud wrote:Damn! It sounds like the "Lemon" Law was designed specifically for you.

What State are you in? Check out DonW's VEXEDvolvo site, you should register your complaint with the NHSTA and maybe the attorneys.

Gees, gimme a break. You can't lemon law a 99, however, you CAN sue

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 11 Jan 2006, 20:49

So you are saying used vehicles are exempt from the "lemon law"?

Well, then I agree ... lawsuit may be the only recourse.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 29 Jan 2006, 15:06

Bud wrote:So you are saying used vehicles are exempt from the "lemon law"?

Uh, yeah!