Dim Module

[Gorilla7]

My father has a 2002 xc70...he has been told by the dealership that the dim module is bad and needs to replace it. He wants to know what it looks like to make sure he gets the correct part, due to the fact his friend can get him one dirt cheap compared to the dealer. If anyone could send a pic to my email: [email protected] or hit me back with a reply containing a photo of what it looks like so he doesnt spend unnecessary money. thank you in advance.

[carboncow]

The DIM is the gauge cluster one unit, comes out in minutes. The problem that can arise from swapping dims can include:

1. they are not interchangeable for all years. Some may speak from personally experience (such as me) but putting a 2005 into a 2003 will most likely not work. Others have spoke fine of 2003 working in 2002 while others say a used 2003 didn't work in their 2003. Some speculate there could have been subtle system changes early or late in a model year. I personally think those ones may have just needed codes cleared pertaining to DIM to make it work.

2. The vehicle will take the mileage of the higher of the two vehicles, no exceptions, Volvo cannot help with this (buy a new one!). It will record a code in the system saying it has been tampered with. This will not show on your dash and it can be cleared easily by the Vida Dice.

3. We put a 2003 S60 into our 2003 XC70 just fine.

A quick google search produced this line drawing: http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/Barlo ... 708211.jpg

Make sure you get the entire cluster...no reason to just get the circuit only. As stated it takes a normal "joe" 10 minutes to change one of these out but if you run into issues it may take a tech with a Vida Dice to solve any concerns (from mismatched years).

[billr99]

Easiest way to guarantee success on replacing a DIM with a used one is to match up the four numbers that are on a sticker on the back of the DIM. Do a search on this forum and the XC forum and there are a number of threads on the subject. I've authored a few responses with the specifics in regard to the numbers.

Some things to keep in mind is that the mileage will reflect the higher of the two values stored in the DIM and the CEM. Also if you have a trip computer in the old one, you will probably lose it when you make the switch. Also a number of things are stored in the DIM and those settings (like 12 or 24 hour clock) will come with the replacement DIM.

But a $50 to $250 used DIM is better than a $1000+ new replacement if you ask me. There are also options to have the original DIM repaired. Again a search will show what folks have found on that option.

Cheers,

Bill

[IdahoBob]

BillR, the Canadian, is giving you good advice. Match the part number on the paper label on the top of the DIM, and all will work. The same DIM was used on the V70, XC70, S80 and S60, so you should have plenty to choose from at the junk yard. Just matching car model years won't suffice - match the part numbers between the dead one and the one at the junk yard. You can plug the thing in, right there in the parkign lot at the junk yard, and see that it works or not.

The only place my experience differs is that my car did not show the higher mileage. It shows the (lower) mileage on the wrecked car it came from. But...when I went to the dealer to update other software, their computer showed both the wreck's mileage and the true mileage for my car...so anyone reading this shoudln't think they can 'spin' their odometer by swapping DIM's.

Beware the guy who writes in and tells you to buy his rebuild for $750. He responds almost every time someone says their DIM crashed.

Read a few of the other postings, see some of the better write-ups.
This is an easy fix, and relatively cheap. Mine was $65 + tax, and still working several months later.

[Gorilla7]

Thanks al for the great info..so basically if it crashed, its the whole cluster he would have to replace or that's the best suggestion?

[carboncow]

Read a few of the other postings, see some of the better write-ups.
This is an easy fix, and relatively cheap. Mine was $65 + tax, and still working several months later.

Any chance you can be more specific on "better write-ups". I've done a lot of reading on all the guys trying to re-solider chips and boards and very poor follow up on these threads. I've got out of my posts that there have been a lot of "sure theories" on what part to repair and who only to have the OP say, mine has failed again.

What posts or DIY do you recommend?

[billr99]

Yes, there are a fair number of posts out there saying that they were successful re-soldering the leads to the CPU on the DIM board, etc. Here is a thread going down that road (http://www.volvo-forums.com/t13321-dash ... oblems.htm). I tried hitting both of the big ICs with a heat gun and got some success. That is,the DIM came back up but was not entirely reliable and some functions like the high beam indicator never did work one way or another. Its because of this that I recommend finding a used one with the right serial/software numbers as the cheapest and possibly the best option. Other vouch for outfits like Xemodex that can rebuild the boards and in that process retain all your settings and , mileage as a good option. Keep in mind though that their efforts are not 100% but they do stand behind there work.

In any case, I would strongly suggest that going to the dealer is the last thing you want to do.

Good luck,

Bill

[chrism]

I purchase a used DIM for my 2003 V70 from Southern Vo-vo in TN for a fraction of the price that some of the "rebuilders" want.

http://southernvovo.com/index.html (Vovo vs Volvo is correct.)

The guy I talked to there knows his stuff. He asked me for the numbers on the back of the DIM so I started to read it off to him. I got about half way through and he said "Stop there. That's all I need. I'll check my supply and call you back." I thought to myself, "OK, that's the last I'll hear from that guy." Much to my surprise, the phone rang about 20 minutes later and he said he had a match. Total price = $115 including shipping. And it worked perfectly.

In my case, the odometer retained the mileage from the donor car which was much lower than mine (50,000 vs 150,000). I noted the difference in my maintenance log because it's more important to me to keep track of the TRUE mileage rather than BS. OK, so when I sell the car years from now I'll only get $700 vs the $725 I would get with the lower mileage.

I did make a mistake though that you maybe you can avoid. While the DIM was out of the car, I started it up to move it in the driveway. Then when I installed the new DIM and started the car, I got an SRS warning message. Apparently when you turn the key on and all the idiot lights illuminate, the car wants to see a functioning SRS light. If it doesn't see that, it records an SRS fault that I couldn't clear with my cheap code reader. It takes the Volvo Vida, or whatever it's called, to clear it. So my local Volvo independant cleared it for $30 and about 5 minutes work. I'm thinking that if I had not started it without a DIM I may have avoided that - I don't know for sure. Anyway, I'm pleasedwith the results.

Good luck!

[genwheeler]

Looks like I have a bad DIM. I have a series of numbers on the sticker. Can someone tell me which is the part number? I'd guess the VCC number?? Thanks.

[shjam]

I just fixed ours on a 2003 s80. dealer wanted $1400.00, Mechanic said he could get a rebuilt for $900.00. I found http://www.xemodex.com and they gave easy to follow instructions on removal of our DIM, ship to them in Ontario Canada, they fix it the same day they get it and its back on the shipping truck that day. $350.00. Plug & play, so easy even a cave man can do it.