Question on ETM warrantee

ace28 · Post by **ace28** » 23 May 2011, 13:21

Believe the ETM has bit the dust on my 2002 S60. has been showing the tell tale signs as explained in many other posts. Have seen that in some cases cleaning resolved the problem at least temporarily. So I gave that a shot and it was a failure. Car ran for about 100 miles and then went into limp home mode got check engine light and a critical warning message. Was able to pull over shut down waited about ten minutes while popping the hood to check for something obvious. restarted and was able to drive home normally but lights and warnings still on. I checked with the dealer and have not devulged that I attempted to clean it myself but plan to bring it in for them to check. They verified it is still under warrantee (173k miles) and said they will perform diagnostic check, send results to Volvo who will approve a cleaning or replacement depending on the data. No charge for either. However, my question is does my attempt at cleaning void the warrantee?

Post by **JRL** » 23 May 2011, 15:17

1at of all when a part is under warranty, YOU keep your hands off it
Did you clean it in the car?
2nd mistake, they need to be removed to be cleaned
It's one the failure ETMs so why bother, let Volvo replace it, (they will eventually)

BobbyC · Post by **BobbyC** » 23 May 2011, 20:59

"1at of all when a part is under warranty, YOU keep your hands off it"

My dealer recommended that I remove and clean my ETM, as he also recommended that I replace the coil packs, the plugs, and the MAF first just as a precaution (didn't help).

He admitted that the Volvo software mode (#155 if memory serves) was intended to allow a MIL only if the ETM is SO bad that the car won't run.

I seriously doubt a proper off-the-car cleaning would void a warranty, especially when the extended warranty didn't even EXIST until years after the original warranty ran out.

Now, if it was done improperly, or caused obvious damage, that's another thing, but if this guy's car runs about like it did before cleaning, I'd say no harm, no foul.

Post by **JRL** » 23 May 2011, 21:20

I'm sorry
I can't believe a dealer would say to a customer that THEY should clean their own throttle body
(and it's warrantY)

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 May 2011, 08:35

The repair instructions for ETM warranty requires the new software load, if not already fitted, a check of crankcase pressure to see if the crankcase vent system is functioning properly, and then a commanded software run test of the ETM is performed.

The dealers see cars come in with a number of things wrong that have some bearing on ETM performance and it ends up in a fight when they tell you this list of things that the car needs before they can proceed. Volvo holds them accountable when the old throttle is returned and is not faulty and a couple of chargebacks results in very careful ETM diagnosis.

The dealer you visited probably picked up on something you said like, "I normally do my repairs" and he was being nice and avoiding an extra trip when/if the tech found things that needed to be addressed.

The ETM's and any vehicle using a potentiometer to track throttle, has risk of cleaners leaking into the TPS and destroying it by depositing dirt and throttle gunk into it. Removing it to clean or only using less aggressive cleaners and a wiping the throat and edge of the throttle blade with a cleaner on a rag is the safe way to get the gunk out of bore without stuff getting into electronics.

Post by **priapism** » 24 May 2011, 14:52

JRL wrote:I'm sorry
I can't believe a dealer would say to a customer that THEY should clean their own throttle body
(and it's warrantY)

Ours said the same thing. They said it didn't fail their test and if I cleaned it it could improve things, or they could do it for $$$.

I unbolted the top but left the bottom hose on when I cleaned it. Seemed to fix it.

ace28 · Post by **ace28** » 25 May 2011, 06:43

Thanks for the feedback. left the car at the dealer for testing. Results of test is that the ETM is in fact bad and Volvo has authorized replacement. So all is well, subject of it having been cleaned already was never raised. It is best sometimes to just keep ones mouth shut.

For reference I did the cleaning with it off the car and tried to follow the reccomended procedure and be careful not to get any contaminants into the electronics.

I agree with advice on not messing with a part that is under warrantee. Anyone having this issue should be aware that the cleaning is in fact covered. I made the mistake that it wasn't but it appears I have come out ok. I will know for sure I guess when I pick it up today. There was some problem in getting the software load from the volvo site. Seems that a Volvo server was acting up. Dealer said they confirmed it was a problem on the Volvo side.

ACE28

ace28 · Post by **ace28** » 02 Jun 2011, 09:34

To close out this topic just thought I'd let all know that I have a new ETM compliments of Volvo. Car is running great.

Good luck to others with this problem. The dealer I went to was Century in Huntsville Ala. I am very pleased with the service I got there. Also have purchased parts there with a good experience.

BobbyC · Post by **BobbyC** » 03 Jun 2011, 23:09

JRL wrote:I'm sorry
I can't believe a dealer would say to a customer that THEY should clean their own throttle body
(and it's warrantY)

Either you're saying I am lying, or you are hopelessly naive.

For the sense of civility, I will assume it's the latter.

The ETM cleaning is NOT free UNLESS you are throwing codes that authorize a free ETM cleaning. The warranty is illusory in that to USE the warranty, you must fit through the eye of a needle smaller than the one a wealthy Christian is expected to pass through. I believe the cleaning is 1.3 hours labor if no codes are present.

I appreciated the honesty of my dealer, and just a few days ago I actually GOT a free ETM (because my ETM was mechanically binding, which they found when a code authorized them to clean it, when the binding was discovered). They also did a thorough PCV system cleaning, which I guess is part of the ETM change procedure.

Post by **JRL** » 04 Jun 2011, 06:06

Neither
I'm happy you were a bulldog with Volvo and got your ETM, but with all the 99-01s I've had (when under warranty) and even with my daughter's 02 C70 last year, my dealer always cleaned them first (NO CHARGE), then did their usual testing, scans and readouts.
In the older days (up to 2006 or so) Volvo would just throw a new ETM on these cars with no hesitation, after about that time and after Volvo had spent millions of dollars replacing them, they started to make dealers and owners jump thru hoops before they would authorize another free ETM.
It was not until about 2007 with the help of Don Miller (Don's ETM room) and the govt, that Volvo caved and extended the warranty to 10 years/ 200K miles.
At that time Volvo entered all these new procedures but they still cleaned them for free,
(they were SUPPOSED TO), but many dealers were still charging customers and pocketing the money!