98 XC non-turbo?

ylstaffer · Post by **ylstaffer** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:22

Looking at a 98 XC online and the owner tells me that it's a non-turbo model. I was quite surprised to hear that and he told me that there were a few of them made in 98. He also told me that the transmission ECU is shot and needs to be replaced. So if all this is correct, then will the replacement transmission ECU need to be one for a non-turbo AWD? How ridiculously rare would that unit be??

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:25

Tell him to send you a picture of the engine bay, and make sure it's the right car. All the Gen 1 XCs are turbo.

Do you have a link to the sale?

ylstaffer · Post by **ylstaffer** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:31

Yeah I'm gonna ask him to send a pic of the engine bay to me for sure. The car is on Craigslist... http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/1843522221.html

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:34

Well it's definitely an XC, but yeah... some pics under the hood would be good. I have a hunch the guy may not know too much about the car. If you do decide to get it, people here may be able to better diagnose the transmission issue. It's possible the problem isn't as bad as he says. Haven't seen too much around here about the transmission ECUs going dead.

ylstaffer · Post by **ylstaffer** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:36

Seems odd... isn't a transmission ECU pretty easy to replace in that car with a used one from a pick and pull for 30 bucks?

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:45

Yes, but you would likely need to go to the dealer still, to have it mated to the new car.

ylstaffer · Post by **ylstaffer** » 17 Jul 2010, 23:51

My 98 NA V70 (manual trans) had AC issues (no power to the compressor) and my indie shop told me it was the engine ECU so I got another one from a pick and pull (same set-up as mine of course, NA manual) and I swapped it in and the AC worked, no dealership intervention needed. Are the transmission ECU's different?

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 18 Jul 2010, 07:16

I'm not really sure, maybe the 98s were before dealer intervention was required. Someone with more experience may be able to help you. The period of 98-2000 was when a lot of things changed, so maybe you're right!

ylstaffer · Post by **ylstaffer** » 18 Jul 2010, 07:55

That has been my experience. I owned a 2000 V70 a couple years ago and even tho it looked just like my 98, very few things related to electronics and engine/transmission components were compatible. (For example, a gauge cluster from a 99/00 will not work in a 98.) The 98's are actually more closely related to 850's but are clearly different as well, making them a one-year-only interchange for many electronic parts.

Post by **JRL** » 18 Jul 2010, 08:49

If in fact it really does need a TCU, (doubtful) it's plug and play, no "mating" to the car