Finally a Non-Contacting ETM Solution?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Dec 2008, 20:06

Here is the newly designed ETM: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Non-Cont ... 240%3A1318

Here is the company: http://www.xemodex.com/
I have contacted them and they seem like the real deal. They have also been in contact with Don Willson of http://www.vexedvolvo.org

Apparently when you send your ETM to them for a rebuild, the original software is retained so it does not take the dealer's software download for it to work!

I am curious how all of this will play out.
-MIJ

Post by **matthew1** » 19 Dec 2008, 21:43

Interesting info, Dave.

Related: I traded some emails with Scott at IPD two days ago regarding 3rd-party aftermarket ETM replacements. He said IPD looked into it several years ago but found the cost/benefit to not be there.

He said they're looking at it again. I'll keep the forum updated if I hear anything.

ChrisatXeMODeX · Post by **ChrisatXeMODeX** » 19 Dec 2008, 21:46

We have contacted one of the largest aftermarket distributors in the world with this product. Sure enough they were very interested in it. But our intentions are to present this directly to Volvo and get their attention. Unfortunately they did not respond to any of our e-mails. Don Willson got it right, if Volvo talks to us it will equal to admitting that there is a problem with the original design. The reason why we made our innovation public is that we are hoping that Volvo will cut thru some of it’s "red tape" and at least listen.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Dec 2008, 21:52

XeMODeX,
Thanks for posting. This is certainly an exciting development!

Gimpster · Post by **Gimpster** » 19 Dec 2008, 22:58

This is WAY exciting, as my ETM is ready to go again. This is the only reason I've even considered getting rid of my beloved S70.

The only bummer is, its winter and this is my winter/DD vehicle. So kinda hard for me to have it down for however long you need my TB?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Dec 2008, 05:59

The ad on eBay says 1 day turn around...I would suppose you would be without for 3 days if you overnight it to him and he does the same back to you.

Post by **JRL** » 20 Dec 2008, 07:13

XeMODeX wrote:We have contacted one of the largest aftermarket distributors in the world with this product. Sure enough they were very interested in it. But our intentions are to present this directly to Volvo and get their attention. Unfortunately they did not respond to any of our e-mails. Don Willson got it right, if Volvo talks to us it will equal to admitting that there is a problem with the original design. The reason why we made our innovation public is that we are hoping that Volvo will cut thru some of it’s "red tape" and at least listen.

You will never get an offical response from Volvo. After a while you may get one of the engineers at Rockliegh to talk with you with conditions of annonimity as the offical line is "nothing is wrong". Volvo knew of this problem BEFORE the 99's were even released but played ostrich, so now they're paying and paying big time!

ChrisatXeMODeX · Post by **ChrisatXeMODeX** » 20 Dec 2008, 08:41

The question is not if, but when someone at Volvo will listen. It will be simply irresponsible on their part to pass on this opportunity. After all they do have 2 million dollars ETM tester at VCA, where all warranty returned throttles are tested. What’s wrong with them asking us for a sample? Once they do the chips should fall in the right place.

Gimpster · Post by **Gimpster** » 20 Dec 2008, 09:39

JRL wrote:Volvo knew of this problem BEFORE the 99's were even released but played ostrich, so now they're paying and paying big time!

I'm no mechanical engineer by any means, but I totally buy that. Any sane person can see that metallic finger rubbing against a mylar strip for millions of cycles isn't a recipe for longevity.

I wouldn't also be shocked to learn the engineers had retrofitted the Magneti housings as XeMODeX has for internal testing, but like you guys said- would be an admission of guilt. Assuming an avg cost of $800/per vehicle and say 200-300k vehicles (I forget the production #'s) ... I'm sure that would put the hurtin' on Volvo if not outright put them out of business. Especially in the current economic climate.

All that said, I'm going to try to limp along till spring. We just got dumped on again here in Iowa, and this week the highs are going to be single digits. Not the kind of weather I like to work in my small detached garage.

So please XeMODeX, don't stop selling these until spring

You have a buyer right here! The simple fact I don't have to rely on Volvo for a simple throttle body swap sells me.

Out of curiousity, have you reached out to any of the "sane" Volvo dealers and larger independant shops? I'd also be curious if you're willing to share any testing data with your retrofitted TB. IE: How many cycles you subjected them to and such. It might seem kinda silly, but I'm into data like that. I also realize that with the components I suspect you used, its essentially now a lifetime part ... assuming the motor itself doesnt go south anyway.

ChrisatXeMODeX · Post by **ChrisatXeMODeX** » 21 Dec 2008, 07:56

You are absolutely right Gimpster, a current economic climate is not favorable for Volvo. My source tells me that the Swedish government is looking at a possibility of buying Volvo out right. All the restructuring that’s going on at Volvo right now is aimed at making the company leaner and more efficient on the other hand it’s making our job harder as the communication lines are being forwarded or cut.
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.
With out Volvo on board we will not be able to produce this product in significant quantities. Limited core availability is the major factor.
This is one of the reasons why we went public with this product. We have decided to offer it on e-bay as a service to create public awareness that this technology actually exists. Also discussing it this on the forum like this one will provide us with valuable feedback necessary in our future decisions.