End 10 year ETM extended warranty approaching... advice?

[Warren561]

I don't mean fail in a malicious intent.

But, is there a particular style of "normal" driving that can cause my ETM to fail quicker? I suspect stop and go driving which would cause lots of movement in the ETM "fingers" across the mylar.

I have a 2000 (purchased in August 1999) S70. I've got 101,000 miles. I got the ETM software patch a few months ago. I'd brought the car in for surging and stalling (but there was no ETS light or OBD error codes). All they could do was install the updated software.

So, in August 2009 I will have reached the 10 year "extension" on the ETM warranty.

In the ideal situation, my ETM would fail while under warranty, and thus saving me from the pain of the repair bill. From my gathering on the forum the repair costs are in the $800 to $1000 range (all in with labor and part).

Also, is the new replacement ETM a different design from the original? There's a posting that I ran into that the new ETM is made by Bosch (the original was made by Fiat). Is there a less pessimistic outlook on the new ETM design?

I am half contemplating just going to the dealer and shelling out the cash to replace the ETM before it fails.

[EDIT] I ran into this on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0276849884

Looks like an upgrade to make this solid-state (ie no more fingers rubbing on the thin-film). Any one tried this?

[MadeInJapan]

... is there a particular style of "normal" driving that can cause my ETM to fail quicker? I suspect stop and go driving which would cause lots of movement in the ETM "fingers" across the mylar.

Also, is the new replacement ETM a different design from the original? There's a posting that I ran into that the new ETM is made by Bosch (the original was made by Fiat). Is there a less pessimistic outlook on the new ETM design?

Well, maybe...but actually more than lots of movement (as in large movements) it's the same amount of movement across the same spot on the mylar, over and over. In other words, maintaining the same speed over and over. As an example, it seems that the same spot gets carved out of the mylar when people travel a lot on the interstate and set their cruise control to the same speed all the time.

The Bosch ETM is not a new design...these fail as well.

I have never seen that new ETM design. If it works, this would be an answer to this issue. I wonder if Don knows about this? I'm going to email him about it.

Thanks for posting!
-MIJ

[Gimpster]

Mine was replaced about 2 yrs ago (for the 2nd time), and it was still a Magneti sourced unit. I'd be suprised if the design has changed, even if Bosch is the OEM of the part. Who knows though, and I'll await a response from Don.

I would do a backflip if someone fixed this issue once and for all. Most ETM/ETS systems are quite reliable.

[DonWillson]

[quote="Warren561"]I don't mean fail in a malicious intent.


Also, is the new replacement ETM a different design from the original? There's a posting that I ran into that the new ETM is made by Bosch (the original was made by Fiat). Is there a less pessimistic outlook on the new ETM design?
[end of quote]

Warren,
The only company that makes the Magneti Marelli ETM. As of early December 2008 the MM units are on backlog and the only repairs are for vehicles that are dead and totally unusable.
The new units are no different from the original except slight differences in carbon film material and possibly tension on the wipers.