Login Register

Volvo wiring / electronics not great? [Unpopular opinion/Rant]

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
2001 - 2004 V70 XC (Cross Country)
2004 - 2007 XC70 (Cross Country)
2001 - 2009 S60
2003 - 2007 S60 R
2004 - 2007 V70 R

Post Reply
vtl
Posts: 4724
Joined: 16 August 2012
Year and Model: 2005 XC70
Location: Boston
Has thanked: 114 times
Been thanked: 603 times

Re: Volvo wiring / electronics not great? [Unpopular opinion/Rant]

Post by vtl »

Electronic was/is very reliable for me in my 2005 XC70 w/ 265k miles. The only true electric problem (no moving parts) was DEM, which I can understand: sits on the bottom, just above the exhaust. Top engine wiring harness got dry and cracked, but for under $100 you can buy a new one off ebay, which I did.

I'm anal about cleanliness of electric connectors and their proper torque: every time something is undo, it gets a blast of QD electric cleaner and light sanding. Cracked wiring loom gets replaced as needed.

Compared to more modern cars, P2 is easy to work on. Our Ford XC60 (Volvo Edge) is much more harder, plus VIDA Community Edition can't read anything past MY2015.5. Toyota Tundra, while absolutely ancient by design, seems to be not that easy to work on as well. I can tell alternator job is much easier on B5254T2 than on 3UR-FE.

Can complain about mechanical durability of P2 though. Besides fuel pump I had to replace or repair almost everything.

User avatar
BlackBart
Posts: 6492
Joined: 10 December 2016
Year and Model: 2004 XC70 BlackBetty
Location: Over the far far mountains
Has thanked: 927 times
Been thanked: 884 times

Post by BlackBart »

The Driving Uneducated Module Abscate?

That diagram nonsensical shows is worrisome to me anyway! Electronics are the most invisible and least skill I have. Maybe singing...
ex-1984 245T wagon
1994 850T5 wagon
2004 XC70 wagon BlackBetty

User avatar
BlackBart
Posts: 6492
Joined: 10 December 2016
Year and Model: 2004 XC70 BlackBetty
Location: Over the far far mountains
Has thanked: 927 times
Been thanked: 884 times

Post by BlackBart »

vtl wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 06:09Our Ford XC60 (Volvo Edge) is much more harder, plus VIDA Community Edition can't read anything past MY2015.5.
I was under the impression somehow that the newer (P3) Ford-based electrics were pretty solid. Is that not true? My son has a Land Rover LR3 from the Ford ownership years and it has pretty solid Ford electrics, Volvo knobs and switches, and is a pretty reliable car (except for air springs).
ex-1984 245T wagon
1994 850T5 wagon
2004 XC70 wagon BlackBetty

vtl
Posts: 4724
Joined: 16 August 2012
Year and Model: 2005 XC70
Location: Boston
Has thanked: 114 times
Been thanked: 603 times

Post by vtl »

BlackBart wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 16:00
vtl wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 06:09Our Ford XC60 (Volvo Edge) is much more harder, plus VIDA Community Edition can't read anything past MY2015.5.
I was under the impression somehow that the newer (P3) Ford-based electrics were pretty solid. Is that not true? My son has a Land Rover LR3 from the Ford ownership years and it has pretty solid Ford electrics, Volvo knobs and switches, and is a pretty reliable car (except for air springs).
Can't speak about every model under P3 umbrella, but XC60 assembled in Belgium is POS.

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35267
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1497 times
Been thanked: 3809 times

Post by abscate »

Can't speak about every model under P3 umbrella, but XC60 assembled in Belgium is POS.
They come with great waffles, though.

You can vent about Ghent...
Attachments
B3488B28-33A4-4FCA-90DE-69D4957ED14F.jpeg
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

User avatar
oragex
Posts: 5347
Joined: 24 May 2013
Year and Model: S60 2003
Location: Canada
Has thanked: 102 times
Been thanked: 352 times
Contact:

Post by oragex »

vtl wrote: 25 Mar 2021, 19:17
BlackBart wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 16:00
vtl wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 06:09Our Ford XC60 (Volvo Edge) is much more harder, plus VIDA Community Edition can't read anything past MY2015.5.
I was under the impression somehow that the newer (P3) Ford-based electrics were pretty solid. Is that not true? My son has a Land Rover LR3 from the Ford ownership years and it has pretty solid Ford electrics, Volvo knobs and switches, and is a pretty reliable car (except for air springs).
Can't speak about every model under P3 umbrella, but XC60 assembled in Belgium is POS.


The P3 platform is based on the Ford EUCD platform, indeed basically a luxury Ford car with a Volvo badge . The P2 and P80 platforms were the last real Volvo cars - with a few electronics from Ford but otherwise a majority of Volvo components. The smaller S40 V50 were more Ford cars and had poorer quality https://wiki2.org/en/Ford_EUCD_platform

User avatar
CIK7
Posts: 1551
Joined: 14 January 2019
Year and Model: 95 854T & V70trailer
Location: Antlers, Oklahoma
Has thanked: 318 times
Been thanked: 86 times

Post by CIK7 »

abscate wrote: 26 Mar 2021, 04:01
Can't speak about every model under P3 umbrella, but XC60 assembled in Belgium is POS.
[/quote]

They come with great waffles, though.

You can vent about Ghent...
[/quote]
Y'all can see the crack in the plastic closest to the windshield :P
95 854 Turbo 258K, auto, current
09 Rav4 Ltd3.5Fwd, red, 208K, current
98 V GLE/SE red, 379k (277k), 5sp, trailer in progress...
05 CRV EX AWD, Navy, 170K/184k, sold
03 Accord 2dr V6 silver, 196K/214K, 6sp, t-boned, sold
98 S GT white, 175K, 5sp, sold
96 964 silver, 146K, diff&trans/engine self-destr, crushed 😭
98 XC black, 151K, flooded&bent rod, crushed
01 V Base white, 168k, traded for XC
09 Impala LT1 gray, 196K, sold for 01

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post