ETM issue with 2006 xc 70 model

mbekce · Post by **mbekce** » 28 Jul 2011, 18:20

I just bought a 2006 model xc 70. I love the car...rides great, lots of room, etc. My main problem has been it going into lymph mode giving me a code for ETM and the sensor. Took it to a reputable mechanic that has years experience with these cars. He found the codes and sent me to the VOLVO dealership at University of Charlotte, NC. They ran diagnostics and told me they got the same two codes and that they thought the sensor was bad. After the dealership receiving a bad sensor and not realizing it until I drove an hr to get there and having to go back the next day they replaced the sensor. The following week I had my car go back into lymph mode. I turned the car off waited a little while (per the volvo dealership instructions) and it reset itself. I then went about three weeks and it was fine. Then all of the sudden it has gave me reduced engine performance message twice and went into lymph mode each time. The first of these times I turned off the car waited over night and this morning when I got in the car it was fine, however, this afternoon it did it a second time and I drove it very carefully to the mechanic here in town and he said it is giving the same two codes it was doing when I replaced the throttle sensor. I called the Volvo dealership and they were less than helpful and told me that they weren't sure what it could be they thought the throttle module was fine. It could be a wiring problem and that it could take 1-5 hrs to find (like looking for a needle in a hay stack). I am female and I know from working in medicine that you go by symptoms and test results but my mechanic says he feels sure that the throttle module needs replaced that it is not receiving
info from sensor so it just shuts down. He has seen this before and but he can't do this service for me b/c when you replace the module it has to be reprogrammed at the dealership. I am frustrated b/c I thought I had this fixed only to still be having a problem and the volvo place was so non-schaluant about me paying to replace the sensor and now haVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN DISCUSS THE ETM. SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY WIRING. Has anyone else had problems with the newer models of ETM??? don't want to pay for the Volvo place to search for wiring and pay 400- 500 dollars labor to still have the problem. I read of lots of problems with older Volvo models and the ETM but not sure of this year model.

Post by **JRL** » 28 Jul 2011, 20:32

Lymph Nodes are what grow in your body
Your car may be going into LIMP mode

That being said, insist that the dealer's servive manager call the Volvo hot line.
and have them also call the local factory rep to get his ass over there ASAP
That gets them in touch with the enginners. Do not let them screw around with this anymore until they do this

Post by **jimmy57** » 28 Jul 2011, 22:11

OK, the way this throttle system works is a sensor (APM) knows where you have depressed the pedal to. That pedal position information is delivered to the engine management computer (ECM) and the ECM coordinates other parts of the engineand fuel system and also directly controls the throttle (electric throttle actuator, ETA). SO the ECM knows how to accurately control the ETA, the ETA delivers a signal back to the ECM of how far open the throttle is.
The ETA part has been VERY reliable but when it fails there are specific codes and the dealer must not be seeing codes that condemn the part. I would like to know the specific codes myself to speak more with more specificity about your car's problem.
Absent the code(s) condemning the ETA and given the APM has been changed, the dealer must feel like they need to thoroughly inspect the wiring. If the dealer calls volvo tech info hotline to start a case (necessary these days to get a tech person to show up at dealer) the first thing they are going to ask is what are the reading between point a and b, c and d, e and f, and the volt reading at d when throttle is half way open. The dealer will have to do some investigation before he can call and get help from volvo but may likely find the problem with no need to call them.
This is not unlike presenting yourself to a physician with certain symptoms and he prescribes some routine therapy with some normal drugs and does not at first order MRI, CAT scan, and complete blood and urine labs. Your car likely got the normal indicated repair for the codes but that has not resolved problem. You could go to dealer and request more diagnosis but request that the repairs made be refunded as there was resolution to problem.
The local mechanic, from what you say, is talking about your car as though he thinks it has an ETM system instead of the ETA. These two throttle systems have HUGE differences and the ETA one has been almost bulletproof.
The local mechanic could inspect wiring connections and computer connections and see if he discovers any corrosion or loose connections before you return to dealer on the chance the problem is not too hard to find. The local mechanic can find wiring diagrams on this site if he has no access to them otherwise.

mbekce · Post by **mbekce** » 29 Jul 2011, 08:05

Jimmy,
Thanks for the info...the codes found are 941D and 970B. These codes were the same two codes that originally showed when I had the sensor replaced 6 wks ago at the dealship and I am still getting same problem. Its is not consistant when it goes into limp mode.... could do it today but may not do it for another week. My family is going on vacation in two week and I don't want car trouble out on the road I would like to get this issue resolved and behind me.

mbekce · Post by **mbekce** » 29 Jul 2011, 08:17

Jimmy,
p.s. Any info you have on these codes I would greatly appreciate. Sounds like you are very informed on this and you've probably helped me just with this info and how to handle the dealership etc. as any. The dealership was so frustrating to me yesterday they didn't seem real concerned. They said they didn't know what the problem could be they did what they thought would fix the problem.
If I wanted them to look at it again they would but it'd be middle of next week and still not sure they'd find anything different....I do feel that this is a safety issue in that the car will just lose power when you least expect it and I don't want my kids in the car with me while I'm like a sitting duck to an eighteen wheeler.
Thanks again for your knowledge and guidance on this.I really appreciate it.
Kim

Post by **jimmy57** » 29 Jul 2011, 09:05

Those two codes would point directly to the circuit between the APM and the ECM (pedal sensor and the engine management computer be hind RH head light). I will get more info on the pin numbers and specifications for signals.

volvodoc · Post by **volvodoc** » 29 Jul 2011, 09:15

jimmy does she have the actual codes the dealer pulled this might help track this problem e
we have had minimal problems with this new style etm sounds like the high side can line is going down with the volvo codes i might be able to help thanks clay

mbekce · Post by **mbekce** » 29 Jul 2011, 11:59

Thanks Jimmy. That is what the mechanic here inmy town said he felt sure it was a communication problem btwn the sensor and computer module on the throttle itself. Clay, these are the exact same two code the dealership founbd "i called to make sure of this. These are the only two codes that would come up at the dealership. Thanks a lot for both of ya'lls help.

Post by **jimmy57** » 29 Jul 2011, 12:08

The codes are ECM 941D and ECM 970B. Low digital APM signal and missing APM digital signal.

I would hope the dealer would have done different repairs if they saw codes in CEM, or any of the high speed nodes for network down. THere are no mid connectors between APM and ECM so pins at ECM and APM need to be inspected.

mbekce · Post by **mbekce** » 29 Jul 2011, 12:15

Well they replaced the APM sensor and reprogrammed my computer system and said that should fix the problem but it didn't I'm out almost 300.00 and still have the codes. I definitely think they owe it to me to look at it again at no charge and try to properly diagnose it. I don't want to have to pay them 4-500 dollars of labor on top of the 300.00 I've already paid and still have no answers if they don't find fault with the wiring. What do you think?