Finally a Non-Contacting ETM Solution?

[MadeInJapan]

If only Volvo would listen...I think they could save money on their warranty coverage as well by offering your product rather than dishing out all of the expenses to:
1. Have the new, but still defective ETM shipped to a dealer from Sweden
2. Have the dealer take out the old and install the new
3. Have the new software loaded.
I know it's expensive for the customer out of warranty, but I'm thinking, it's costing Volvo a pretty penny as well- probably more than what it would cost to just buy yours from you and put it in.
Another scenario is to allow owners who purchase your ETM under warranty to be reimbursed.
It's really a shame that Volvo won't listen....and in the meantime, the ETM issue is adding to their financial troubles.

[JRL]

.
The ETM fiasco is not over for Volvo and will not be over after warranty expires in two years. For them to continue with the old design is a recipe for disaster.

I agree to a point.
If the current throttle bodies use the same technology it doesn't matter.
The Bosch units from 2002 to current have a good reliability record, very few fail.
It's the Magnetti/Mirelli (sp?) ETM that's the problem unit.
While it would be nice to have an all electronic unit, the failure rate of the current TB is so small, it's insignificant!

[ChrisatXeMODeX]

Perhaps I should clarify. What I meant was that if Volvo continues to replace their faulty Marelli’s ETMs with the same prone to fail design, the problem will really never go away. In fact it is postponed and nothing will be done, until someone dies. That is a recipe for disaster.

[gshadow325]

my etm kinda failed today. i say kinda because i just put a new(er) engine in recently and did not plug the harness in until it clicked. in 3 months it worked its way loose and i experience a etm failure type limp mode. i was at a traffic light and almost got rear ended because another motorist did not notice me going so slow. to add more insult to injury, i almost got t-bone trying to get across traffic to a safe area to stop! now my ETS light is on and car drives fine but boy do i know that feeling of a near catastrophe, i hope volvo fixes with a real fix soon.

[chuckcintron]

There's an assumption here that ongoing R&R of the defective ETM on Volvo's part is a continued hit to their P&L. Maybe there's an accountant here who knows for sure, but I thought that in these cases the company is required to take a one-time charge when a settlement is reached as part of a class-action (?)

Also, even if that's not true, since the problem was limited to 1999-2002 models the bulk of their extended warranty events have probably already been taken care of. Even if they are replacing Marelli with Marelli time is on their side...once the warranty period is over they are finished with this expense (which is probably around $5 worth of parts for the thin-film resistor, by the way).

Not trying to knock the new offering mentioned here...innovation is always good to see...but keep in mind you are introducing an active device at the throttle now (as well as your own D/A circuit?). Have you documented environmental testing and published MTBF data for this $600 part? Or are you depending on feedback from the field?

I would feel a lot better about a solution like this if it were put through the manufacturer's qualification process (not that Volvo's track record here is admirable )

-Chuck

[ChrisatXeMODeX]

I would feel a lot better about a solution like this if it were put through the manufacturer's qualification process (not that Volvo's track record here is admirable )

This is precisely our point. A manufacture will not listen or consider this product for its internal qualification process.

[MadeInJapan]

If not Volvo, how about Bosch?

[JRL]

Why Bosch?
Bosch were not the bad ones

[MadeInJapan]

I really don't think that anyone is going to trust Magnetta Meritti (or whatever their name was) to take this new design under their wings after their first fiasco, but Bosch- that would be another story. If Volvo doesn't go for it and Bosch does, there is plenty of name recognition and good reputation to boot.
However, that said, Chuck added earlier his input about reliability testing and other concerns. I suppose there are still hurdles to be overcome before this can be a viable option. Anyway, who knows, Bosch might already have their own design in the works.

[ChrisatXeMODeX]

Bosch has its hands full with their own ABS modules. http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showt ... le+failure