new software just a cover up! READ!!!!!!!

wolf · Post by **wolf** » 12 Jan 2007, 22:20

okay, i am on my second etm, this time with the new software installed, and i have to say, i think this software makes these volvo's EVEN MORE UNSAFE!!!

a few weeks ago my check engine light came on, and i am getting the etm going to crap codes, so i decided to keep driving some to compare it to my first bad etm. so here is how it is...

Original ETM - no software upgrade

2nd and current ETM - new software installed

The original had the well known rpm hunting problem, which would thrust my car forward, pretty scary stuff. After a while, once it started getting worse, i would get the christmas tree dash light up and i finally decided to get the etm replaced (that was before the semi-recall)

So now, about a year later, i get the check engine light, but no real signs of etm problems, hmm. A few weeks later, i get my first unexpected rpm surge, i brush it off because it didnt seem like anything was going on. Now, about a month or two later, i get my first dash light show, i start my car up, about to back up, and everything goes nuts, half the lights turn on and i know that my car is f-ed. Over the past few weeks, i have been having some rpm hunting problems and car surging forward, but not nearly as bad as the first time, its only about 5% of the original etm without the new software.

So you may say, well isn't that good that even though the etm is going bad, at least it is not as dangerous, since you are not having nearly as much of an rpm hunting and surging problem?

I dont think so. What happens if i keep driving around for a while since the software covers up the problem 95% of the time, yes, it might not be too much of a noticable problem to me, my car pretty much drives fine, but the thing is, THE ETM WILL DIE NO MATTER WHAT! so basically this software is just a cover up for the real problem that exists.

Before people would say "oh crap, my car is doing crazy things, i guess i need to take it in before it goes into limp home mode while i am no the highway and I get in a wreck and die." Now they just say "hey, my car seems to be fine, wait a second, wtf!!!" and they get into a wreck and die.

Volvo needs to step up, this is complete crap. I am taking my car in on Monday for a new p.o.s etm which has a 100% chance of dying again.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 14 Jan 2007, 10:31

Well yeah, there has NEVER been any doubt that this is a coverup.

No amount of software is going to delay the eventual degradation of the thick-film resistor by the mechanical wipers.

It is just another smoke-screen put up by Volvo to lull (deceive) the unsuspecting owner into believing they are doing something about the problem .... they are not.

If anything, as you said, it is inherently more dangerous, as it allows the part to degrade even further before the software shuts the vehicle down for "Safety reasons".

This is just totally unacceptable and I hope no one dies as a result of Volvos' negligence.

There was one death (unconfirmed) that could be attributed to the defective ETM "surging", as you said, and spooking a timid, unsuspecting driver into a canal ditch.

s70 owner · Post by **s70 owner** » 17 Jan 2007, 15:39

After reading in the forums, that the upgraded software installed on my 2nd ETM may not solve the inherent flaw in the MM designed ETM, are many of you selling your cars? I have an 99 S70 with 75K. I love the car but am beginning to feel unsafe in it because of the ongoing possibility of computer malfunctioning causing limp mode or surging of the engine. Safety and reliability were the reasons I purchased this car in 1999.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Jan 2007, 19:09

Sure, it's an inherent risk, however, drivers are suppose to be vigilant. If it surges, stomp on the brakes. If it becomes erratic- same thing- put on the brakes and pull to the side of the road...same thing if it loses power unexpectedly. I agree that the inevitable is still going to happen but most who have had the software upgrade are very pleased.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 18 Jan 2007, 11:11

I respectfully disagree .... I didn't pay $45,000 for a Luxury Sports Coupe that would fail/ stall/ surge unexpectedly due to a KNOWN design flaw. If they had done the right thing, ie, a RECALL to substitute a better, SAFER designed part, they would have salvaged their reputation as a leading manufacturer of high-end, reliable, SAFE vehicles.

As it turned out, they chose to obfuscate the issue by denying, lying, covering up, and falsely blaming the Customer for a defect they knew about before the first vehicle rolled off the assembly line.

To further cover it up, they offer this dubious s/w update, and only when absolutely necessary, AND ONLY FOR A SHORT EXTENDED PERIOD, they replace the known bad part with yet-another bad part.

This is intolerable for a manufacturer of this Caliber. Sadly, my C70 is history.

Post by **JRL** » 18 Jan 2007, 19:07

Your car is now the exception rather than the rule as it used to be.
Do do happens, certain cars are just BAD cars.
Yours seems to be one of them.
I have sorfware upgraded several cars now and to my knowledge not ONE SINGLE customer of mine has had a problem

monte_nick · Post by **monte_nick** » 30 Mar 2007, 23:32

I just recently bought my s80 so I didn't pay as much as alot of you did, but I still paid a good amount of money for mine. But i loved it. it was fast, safe and loaded.
My wife was driving it and she noticed the rough idle, I did'nt beleive her... the next day she was on her way to pick me up for lunch. she arrived with the car in limp mode. I thought she broke the car. I then got on line and to my surprise, it took me all of 60 seconds to find out what my problem was. All of you know, The ETM.
I brought it to volvo. I told them that the etm was faulty. they looked at it and off the bat they wanted $1750. They said that they could fix the ETM but it also need a mass airflow sensor, a coil pack( I drove for 2 days after the repair still know faulty coil or m.a.f. code), timing belt( done by the preivious owner 25k ago), and repair an oil leak( which was the oil drain plug). i declined all of them but the etm reload and software update. they then tried to get me for the computer diagnostic: $78 , I declined that too( it wasn't as easy as the first!) the car was great again. 24 days later all over again but with out the premature limp home. i am going to bring it to another dealer because of the way i was treated at this one. But all of this is in reply to JRL. 24 days.......... come on volvo!!

subdewd · Post by **subdewd** » 02 Jul 2008, 17:49

Volvo = junk, I've got a 2001 same problems mentioned, They did an "upgrade" only to have the DTC light on the trip home, the tech broke a vacuum hose which I fixed and whn they reset the light again it came on after a few miles. Brentwood volvo in St. louis stinks,