Are V/S/C70 DIM units all the same?

[abscate]

I have a 99 DIM lyimg around, is it useful for me to pull numbers and pictures? Let me know before Thursday.

[scot850]

I have looked at the pcb and can not find any identifiers so that I know for sure if the circuit boards are the same throughout on 98-00 or at least MY99-00. Ideally it would be great to confirm all of it. I have asked a parts guy who is an expert on Volvo stuff and getting answers to see if he can help.

99 S70 DIM pcb

Front side of pcb

PCB identifier?

Another possible pcb identifier?

So far I cannot find part numbers for the whole DIM units. Volvo has NA against the whole unit. Don't know if it has always been like that but there are part numbers on the whole unit casing which I cannot find a description for. That may help to identify and confirm if all units or at least some used the same pcb as a base.

2000 V70R DIM

1999 S70 base DIM

I may have got that the wrong way around. I thought a picture I had showed the front of the unit with the number on it but hard to tell if it is 'R' gauges or normal black ones. Sorry!

You can see these have different part numbers but I cannot find any reference for those.

I know US and CA units have different warning lights and symbols but not sure if you can transfer a US to CA or reverse and it may work on an identical spec car.

I am nothing if not stubborn, and will continue to try to get definitive answers!

Neil.

I have tried talking/e-mailing Xemodex on the subject as they seem to claim to re-flash units for 99-2017 V70's but they do not show a picture of the P80 unit which makes me question this. I have e-mailed them for clarification bu after a week have had no reply. Phone calls go to a voicemail but they say it is seldom checked, maybe once a day. Have to say their tech support sucks!

The pcb

[scot850]

Sorry Yagger and Rick. I don't know how I missed your earlier nots on the VIN# info. I have no issue sharing it:

VIN # YV1LV60D2Y2651774

Since I wrote on this subject, the car has done it's usual weird stuff. When I ordered the new pcb, it is on a back-order of at least 4-6 weeks. So I had to make the car mobile again, as it would need to be driven to the dealer for the new unit to be programmed.

I re-installed the original DIM unit and when I turned the ignition key to POS II, the flashing orange arrow of death for the trans started flashing and the Engine check light was bright. But what was also obvious was like the used DIM I had tried, with the key in POSII, all the warning lights were back to what I call 'normal' brightness unlike before. I started the car and all the warning lights went off except the flasshing trans arrow and the engine check light. These are the same lights as were thrown with the used DIM fitted which related to wrong trans info and ECU wiring error. I switched the engine off and turned the codes off with my code reader.

Restarted the car and all warning lights were off and engine ran normally. Tried the headlight switch and all was ok. No random dash lights, turn signals, rough running engine, no issues with lights all was good. Since then we have driven the car several times with the lights on an no issues so far. Is it fixed? Who knows with this car!?

I have had random warning lights come on with this car ever since I have had it. I am now wondering if it was due to a badly fitted DIM connector or corrosion on the connector? I did have difficulty getting one of the connectors to release when I originally removed the DIM. I have never had the dash apart on this car since owning it over the last 9 years or so.

I have cancelled the pcb from Volvo now and will re-order it if the issue re-occurs.

What we do need to understand is/can all P80 DIM units (North American and elsewhere for years 98-00 or 97-99 EU?) be reprogrammed or over written with new information, despite what Volvo says. If we have issues going forward we need to see if there is a work around to allow DIM units to be moved should one fail if no units are available or Volvo can no longer re-programmed.

Really appreciate both of your help on this issue and sorry for the delay.

Neil.

[yagger]

Your car has P80 platform. This module has name us CDM (not DIM). Unfortunately, we do not have solution for online cloning this kind of modules, pretty old module actually ((
We can transfer data to used module only if we get it to our lab, use direct connection to PCB.

[RickHaleParker]

We can transfer data to used module only if we get it to our lab, use direct connection to PCB.

There a possible solution for Scott. You might PM him a quote.

Is the difference between US and Canada, software and data only?

[scot850]

Thanks again Yagger and Rick.

Good to know the correct term is CDM not DIM. I only used that term as it was the one Volvo dealer used but thanks for correction.

Yes, 100% correct it is last year P80 (V70R) CDM. Dealer did say they cannot transfer to a used CDM the original info. They can however clone to a brand new CDM board. This was Volvo's way of stopping mileage 'clocking' by people swapping the CDM for a lower mileage unit. I think you can possibly get one from a same spec car to work, but it will not allow you to access the ECU on your car and it displays the info and VIN from the car it is taken from.

Yagger,

So do you think you can transfer data from my current board to a used one over-writing the original data on the used unit? I understand you are saying you would then need both the original and used CDM units. Do you need the whole units or just the PCB's?

Cost could be deciding factor here. Shipping could be high but it may still be worth it as the price for a new pcb is high. I can get a full CDM from a junkyard for around $40 CDN but not from an 'R' or probably a 5 speed auto P80 easily.

Lastly, do you have any information or data to let me know how to identify a suitable used CDM for you to clone? I tried to find any distinguishing marks or identifiers to ensure I could do this but there was nothing obvious on the pcb.

I know Canadian and US CDM pcb's are different as they have a different part number due to the different warning lights in our 2 countries.

Appreciate both of you and your time.

As you will see above, for now my car has decided to actually work correctly for now so I have cancelled the new Volvo pcb order.

Neil.

[yagger]

I think we can transfer data from your original CDM to used CDM. You can send us PCBs only, but you have to mark each to exclude confusing. Also, if you have soldering experience, you can do it yourself, just transfer couple chips from your original pcb to used one.

[scot850]

In my younger days I would have done the chip swap (used to work in chip then board manufacturing) but hands no longer up to this.

May take a while, but maybe I will see if I can find 2 used boards and see if you can swap info from one to the other. That way we will hopefully find a way around this issue going forward. I will try to find a 5 speed as that should still work in my car with the trans and that way on it's return we could verify info transferred ok.

I really appreciate your help Yagger with this.

I'll let you know when I can find candidates for the experiment!

Neil.

[RickHaleParker]

In my younger days I would have done the chip swap (used to work in chip then board manufacturing) but hands no longer up to this.

Options:

1. Take the two PCBs to a computer repair or a cell phone repair shop and have them swap the chips for you.
2. There are at least five places in Calgary, Alberta that specialize in Automotive electric. One of them might do automotive electronics also.

[scot850]

Good idea. I'll look into that.

Thanks,

Neil.