2000 S80 poor running So.....Is it an ETM, or is it MAF?

mbreitba · Post by **mbreitba** » 13 May 2014, 22:45

My symptoms line up pretty close to ETM and to MAF. I bought my 2000 S80 in 2008, after the recall started. I have no idea if my ETM has been replaced.

I've since put about 50,000 miles on my Volvo with little issue (ABS module, alternator, nothing major). It's a 2.9 NA motor.

I'm at a loss today as to what's going on. I took it to a repair shop and they said it had problems with the CEM, and it was going to need to be replaced at a cost of ~700. I told them to go ahead with the repair.

Three days later, I go pick up the car, and they say "good news, it wasn't the CEM, it was the ABS Module". Lucky me, instead of $700, it was only 365. Only problem was that I had already replaced the ABS module and it was still under warranty from the previous re-manufacture. Still had the annoying "Engine system service required" light on. They couldn't get rid of it. Supposedly the best independent Volvo shop in Des Moines. Anyway, it drove ok, so I let it go. It's just a warning light, right?

Fast forward to today, and it's Engine System Service Soon, and Engine System Service Urgent flashing on my dash. Rev's won't reliably go above 2200 RPM, hunts at idle, runs rough overall.

If I disconnect the MAF while it's still running, it'll die straight out, and it'll usually run right for a few minutes after it starts back up, but then it starts hunting and running like crap again.

I'm wondering if there's any way to tell if the TPS/ETM is good or if it's been replaced by visual inspection? Removing the TPS modules? I'm fairly wrench-savvy, but I don't have VIDA/VADIS nor do I have a compatible code scanner. Should I start with the TPS/ETM, the MAF? I'd hate to rebuild the TPS/ETM if it's already been replaced under warranty before I bought it. Likewise I'd rather not replace the MAF if it's not actually bad.

Videos of said misbehavior by my S80 can be found here :

Post by **precopster** » 14 May 2014, 07:57

I always thought you can read off the actual Volvo fault codes on an S80 by using the message display without the need for a scanner.

Can anyone confirm or otherwise?

matt5112 · Post by **matt5112** » 14 May 2014, 12:26

The s80 will tell you which modules have codes presently stored in them. But not the codes themselves.

If the car doesn't idle well with the maf unplugged, its not the problem. To be clear, unplug the MAF while the car is off, then start the car. If it still misbehaves, it is likely the ETM. If you had Vida you could watch the throttle angle, or better yet the throttle body test that they added to the software a while back to help diagnose these issues. The indie shop or Volvo could do the ETM test for you.

Vacuum leak can cause issues, but so can a bad ETM. The white label units were the first version, yellow being the second. Both are prone to failure though. The xemodex units are quite nice.

mbreitba · Post by **mbreitba** » 14 May 2014, 13:23

Mine is a yellow label unit, but based on your response I'm going to say ETM is the problem. It does idle rough after disconnecting the MAF and starting the engine. Thanks for the info.

Post by **precopster** » 14 May 2014, 13:48

Firt thing first check power to ETM loom. The green thick wire is 12V+ and the brown thick wire is ground.

If 12V is present move on to listening for the ETM noise upon ignition on. Have someone turn on the ignition while you listen for the clicking noise then you'll hear a high pitch whine then 6 seconds after this it should click again and turn off.

If no noise suspect and measure engine fuse no 6 in the engine fuse compartment. Let us know how you went.

mbreitba · Post by **mbreitba** » 14 May 2014, 21:51

12V on the thick green wire - check
ETM Noise on re-inserting the fuse - none
12V on fuse 6 (and fuse 7)

jbkeene · Post by **jbkeene** » 15 May 2014, 05:11

maybe get a cheap code reader at the auto parts store
when my ETM went, I was throwing throttle position sensor code...also going into limp home mode
Xemodex solved that problem concisely

neworion · Post by **neworion** » 24 Jun 2014, 08:56

Here is a good write-up on trouble-shooting ETM and MAF issues.