1999 V70xc - start,idle, ETS - ongoing May 2015

hubble_xm · Post by **hubble_xm** » 19 Apr 2015, 09:25

Hi,

Just joined this forum as recently purchased a 99 v70xc - my kids getting too big for the 1970 1800e!

Car has 170k km but had very little in the way of documented history, beyond regular oil/filter changes and stamps in handbook. I had the thermostat and cooling temp sensor replaced after purchase as the fan was running on. Not long after purchase I noticed intermittent hard starting, usually when hot. Car hasn't ever failed to start, but takes multiple attempts some times or long cranking. Also on a couple of occasions the ETS light has come on, but if you switch off and restart it disappears. I've noticed no issues when driving.

In an effort to narrow this down I started logging with OBD2 scanner. This morning the car started cold first time, but with ETS light on. It seemed to idle OK at first, but after 2-3 minutes became very rough. I checked the codes at this point and had a P1606, P1608 and P0650. After I shutdown and restarted, the car seemed to idle 'normally' and no codes registered with my (albeit cheap) OBD2 device.

I was logging RPM and MAF air flow during this and so charted it up and would be interested if anyone here has any advice to offer? Hopefully I can attach a picture of my results. I kind of suspect MAF related as it appears the ETM is quite new (manufacture year 2011 based on the Yellow sticker) and reconciling that to the service history would suggest only 15k km on that unit. But these 'new' cars are quite foreign to me after the 1800! Any advice appreciated.

Post by **precopster** » 19 Apr 2015, 15:31

The codes are affecting the throttle so best to replace MAF first.

If g/s changes erratically it may be a stuck throttle flap. Try to operate throttle flap by hand over its full travel to test. You'll need to remove the intercooler pipe to ETM then snake your hand up there or do it from underneath.

Bosch part number 0280 218 108 will do the trick for you. Search Amazon.com there's a seller letting them go for $95.32 plus delivery. Unfortunately no post to Oz but try another seller in the right hand of screen once the listing comes up.

Use Bosch part only.

If that doesn't sort it out send the ETM to me for testing but I highly doubt a 2011 build yellow label will cause problems.

hubble_xm · Post by **hubble_xm** » 20 Apr 2015, 08:02

Well today it was really hard to start. Took to my Volvo specialist as he had a used (but ok) MAF to change out. That didn't help. Nor did fuel pump relay or antenna ring! Nor cleaning the ECU contacts. Vida Dice was indicating possible immobiliser issue at that stage, so next step is a new key programmed. Car only had a single key when I bought it. Will see what transpires....

Post by **precopster** » 20 Apr 2015, 15:30

I use my car (2000 V70 non turbo) as a test car for customer's ETM repairs. I have possible antenna ring contact issues as half the time I scan car with Vida I get the immobiliser codes. Symptoms of immobilser contact issues are a successful start followed by engine dying.

Never has this resulted in a false ETS light. That's a lot of part swapping for a set of ETM codes.

Your codes are ALL ETM related. The flap operation test is a good place to begin. If there's binding in the armature it can be caught early before circuit board damage occurs.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 20 Apr 2015, 20:37

I almost always trip the immobilizer while scanning with the driver's door open for any amount of time over a minute or two. No other time.

hubble_xm · Post by **hubble_xm** » 20 Apr 2015, 20:43

Firstly, thanks for your quick replies. They are much appreciated.

I probably should of added that we could not duplicate the P codes that I got on my OBD2 scanner when the car was hooked up to Vida and there was no ETS light showing then. I have had the car 4 weeks and I think in that time I have had the ETS on only three times. Each time it disappears on a restart. So it seems hard to replicate at the workshop, though the car repeatedly failed to start and threw immobilizer related codes then (also a lean fuel trim(?) and MIL failure). It may be the case that we have multiple issues at play. We did swap a lot of parts out, but probably just because we had them at hand and it was easier and quicker to swap and try to start then running re-scans on Vida, which seemed to take a while. Of the parts we swapped, the only one we replaced was the fuel pump relay as it still had the original and my mechanic said it would inevitably cause a problem down the line. I'm pretty confident in the mechanic. He is a specialist Volvo shop, in business for 30+ years and has looked after my 1800 for probably 15! But I will certainly pass on your comments as they are clearly from someone with significant experience with these cars. Will let you know how we go....

Matty Moo - that is interesting. Is that a design feature on these cars? That you can't start after the door open for that long? Because we did have the drivers door open with the Vida sitting on the drivers seat when we ran the diagnostics.

Post by **precopster** » 21 Apr 2015, 04:30

I get immobilser issues after scanning with ANY device as well as Autel scanners, Vida Dice and ELM327. Haven't even noticed if door was open at the time. Well spotted Matty. Will check that next time.

hubble_xm · Post by **hubble_xm** » 22 Apr 2015, 07:20

Just an update. Mechanic replaced a broken crank sensor and found a bunch of vacuum leaks and early indications are that may have fixed the hard starting. But the car still idles a bit rough on a cold start for a minute or two before settling down. I'm thinking I might change out the MAF for a new bosch unit and see if that improves. Seeing as it will be some time till that gets delivered I was wondering if there were any metrics I can log with the OBD2 in the meantime to baseline any change once a new MAF is in?

Wsteyskal · Post by **Wsteyskal** » 22 Apr 2015, 12:59

For what it's worth, I had/have the same hard starting issue accompanied with rough and surging idle with an inconsistent ETS light. I replaced the MAS, to no success. I replaced the ETM (Xemodex part) and had to at the same time update the software at Volvo. No more rough and surging idle. Runs smooth and quiet. ETM was $500 from Xemodex and Volvo charged me $125 for the update even though it probably should have been free due to a recall on the software. Long story.

However, I still have the hard start issue. It reveals itself after a few good starts and when the engine and ambient temp is warm (living in Arizona doesn't help). I have a replaced spark plugs, fuel filter and fuel pump. Nothing. There is a lot of talk about the antenna ring (I have one on order from Volvo on the way). Keeping fingers crossed. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Post by **shiloh51933** » 23 Apr 2015, 09:41

I'm glad I have a 98 v70xc. & supposedly thee etm issues were sorted out by the time our 2004 xc70was made.