ECU or Harness? Not ready to give up yet!

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 11 Jan 2013, 13:55

Hello Volvo brothers!

I'm back to the forum again! with the same issues and same car! Just a different approach to resolve my problem!

And the same old story goes like this:

So I've replaced many parts. I've done a PcV job with new vacuum hoses and all that. Replaced oxygen sensors, catalytic converter, Pressure boost sensor, boost valve, purge valve, throttle body, checked all cylinders compression and that's all I can remember for now. So today I went to see a Volvo specialist and as he was hooking my s80 with his software we were talking about the parts I've replaced so far. Then he wanted to test the boost valve and the purge valve because they were throwing codes. He could not get them to "click" (car was off) he said that's the way he checks them with VIDA. So he was also checking the connectors to see if they were getting any power. So from what I saw they were both reading 3.66 I dont know what. I'm not an electric kind of person so I have no idea about the measurements. So he was talking about something going on either with the harness or the computer(ECU). He also recommended me to check if everything was plugged in the right place. He told me to check the color of the wires for both purge and boost valve so I know exactly where they go and I don't mixed them.

So here are my questions:
How can I nail the problem?
How can I check if there's a short on the harness?
How can I tell if the ECU is acting up and something fried in there?
Do you know any threads that could help me double check purge and boost valve connectors?

I have until March to take care of this car before the registration is due. I need to pass the smog check. I live in California and let me tell you this state is a pain in the ass for emissions.

Any help or guidance is very much appreciated.

I don't wanna give up on this car yet!

I'm adding some pics with the codes and the valves with connectors.

I tried looking the wiring diagrams but it's just too confusing for me. I'm gonna have to study them and do a whole lot more research untill I finally nail the problem.

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 12 Jan 2013, 12:40

Nobody? Come on people.. Don't be shy.. Any thoughts? Anybody has gone through the same thing? Non stop check engine light? Bad communication between vida and ecu? Not able to test boost solenoid and purge Valve with Vida? (I'm talking about software from a laptop)
What happens if there's a short in the harness? Just no voltage flowing? Or something else? It could be either the software sucks or ECU fried at some point of its life?

What are the reasons why ECU goes bad? Water coming in and messing up the joints with corrosion?

I want to get the tool to remove my ECU and just try to open it and check for any corrosion. Is it a good idea? Bad idea? Just call the yunk yard? Lol

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 17 Jan 2013, 11:59

I guess nobody has any idea... I'll try to send my ECU for repair. I found a website that does the job. Well, if anybody comes up with any other suggestions please let me know.

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 22 Jan 2013, 14:32

Well, here are a few pictures of my ECU ... it looks good to me but I'm not an expert so... oh well...

www.ecmoutlet.com is charging me $ 385 (remanufactured ECU) + $ 100 (reprogramming)
This is my model: BOSCH 0261206272
I'm going to have to send both, ECU and key, so they can reprogram my unique VIN to the remanufacted ECU.

I was told harness is not common for failure so my last guess and bet would be the ECU.

Oh please God help me solve this... I feel like I want to and I don't want to send the unit for repair.. lol

Well, I'll keep everybody following my post updated.

If I get to solve it, consider ECU repair as an option to solve the stupid check engine light on and the millions of codes stored in the ECU.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 26 Jan 2013, 22:46

Don't do it. Absolutely do not do it. Do a google search on that outfit and their phone number.

Actually, let me do it for you. https://www.google.com/search?q=ecm+out ... afe=active

Lots of very, very bad reviews, and the only good ones appear to be fabricated by the outfit themselves in the form of forum spam. I read up on them awhile back, their mailing address is a ups store in downtown detroit and it's just all around bad news.

If you already sent it, have it stopped. You'll be out an ECM that there's likely nothing wrong with and a load of cash.

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 27 Jan 2013, 06:26

Are you fucking serious? I sent it already! Package was received on Friday! WTF???
What am I supposed to do now??
I can't afford this to happen... Geez..

Somebody help me please. I'm going through hard times right now. I don't need this...

Post by **Matty Moo** » 27 Jan 2013, 17:40

Tell him to send it back and not touch it.

Also, if he tricked you into paying with a check put a stop order on it.

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 27 Jan 2013, 18:31

I will do that first thing in the morning tomorrow. I left 2 voicemails saying to return my package. I pray for this not to happen to any of us again. These people should be punished for taking advantage of our money. We have kids and a family that depend on our decisions.

Will keep you posted

Post by **Matty Moo** » 28 Jan 2013, 00:59

Next time, any time for that matter...Google who it is. If their name isn't familiar on the forums or in the community you have to. Not everybody is willing to offer up some transparency, so you have to look for yourself.

renzo86 · Post by **renzo86** » 28 Jan 2013, 08:44

I spoke to him this morning. So he's mailing it back this afternoon. Thank God he didn't charge me no more than the shipping.

Thanks for the advice. I learned my lesson.