2000 V70XC ETS light on: in "limp home" mode

sorenmail · Post by **sorenmail** » 10 Jun 2009, 11:14

I have a 2000 V70xc with 151.000 miles, Aug.'99 in service date. Seven days ago the car went into limp home mode with the ETS light on. I called my independent Volvo mechanic and he thought it could be the ETM and that I should have it towed to a dealer for the 10/200,000 warranty repair. I have the original white label ETM. Took it to the dealer for a $140 diagnostic with the following results:

Verified customers concern with loss of power, connect vehicle to vida, found stored DTC’s , CCM-903F, 904D, 91A7, 91F0, ECM-720A, IMM-521, performed sweep test on ETM (ETM Passed Test), Fault trace and found excessive voltage drop in positive battery cables. Recommend replace all 3 positive battery cables. 3 battery cables @$100 ea. + $440= $740

A previous post said a Volvo corporate tech suggested battery cable replacement and it didn't solve the problem so I held off and figured I'd do it myself if needed.

I drove the car home and it ran fine. The battery had been getting weak over the last few months so I replaced it yesterday morning hoping this might help the car out. Got in the car to drive home last night and the ETS light was on at start up but the car ran fine for the 10 miles to my house. I plugged my scanner in and it didn't show anything. I started car this morning and ETS light was still on and car was in limp home mode again. I plugged my scanner back in and got a P0121 reading with a Throttle Position Sensor error. I tried to erase the code hoping it would reset the computer and make it driveable again but my scanner won't erase it.

I can do lube, brakes, etc. and the ETM replacement doesn't look to be that tough. Anyone out there have any suggestions on a plan of action? Do I replace the battery cables and see what happens or do I just go ahead and buy a rebuilt ETM? I've been burned by misdiagnosis of problems by the dealer before and feel if left to them I'd have a $1,000+ invested with them before I'd get my "free" ETM replacement under warranty. Will be making a 250 mile trip through the desert in a week and want a reliable car.

Thanks in advance.

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 10 Jun 2009, 11:21

Look over this web page http://www.etmsettlementdocuments.com/2008/faq.html and call this number: 1-800-283-0117

Tell them you want a new ETM under warranty and see what they will do for you.

sorenmail · Post by **sorenmail** » 25 Jul 2009, 22:52

Update: The dealers said they couldn't replace the ETM under warranty unless certain codes came up and they got approval from corporate. I bit the bullet and went ahead with the battery cable replacement. $700 later I still had the same problem. The dealer said they would have to clean the ETM next and that would run $550; If that didn't work they would have to replace the PCV valve at another $600 or so. At that point they could give me my "free" ETM. I couldn't afford my "free" ETM and endure the hassle with the back and forth with the dealer so I went ahead and bought the XmodeX unit and the car runs fine now.

The R & R wasn't that bad using some of the instructional links on this site. Make sure you have a small mirror so you can view some of the components that are blocked and tough to see.