14 replies to this topic

[767driver]

Hey,

I've got a 2000 S70 GLT, 147,000 miles, took it to the dealer for an oil leak problem, check engine light w/ various codes that I've been fighting for over a year, and ACC issues. Oil leak is the main seal (big bucks but necessary fix, I don't have time to do this myself), ACC is a bad passenger cabin temp sensor (I can replace that).

As far as the check engine light/codes, dealer said they removed the ECU, let the internal battery drain to reset the unit, then reinstalled it, and all the same codes came back. Dealer says this means the ECU is bad and needs to be replaced (something like $1500 or better).

Car runs fine, occasionally starts a little rough, but I'm not sure I'm getting the best performance out of the engine with all the codes the ECU is tripping. I don't have a boost guage but I feel like the engine doesn't have the oomph that it used to.

From reading the forums it seems that getting a used ECU is not an option for this model, as they are matched to the vehicle, and most dealers won't reprogram a used one . I found a website that will diagnose/repair my ECU, www.ecudoctors.com. Has anyone had an ECU repaired? Has anyone used this particular repair shop or can anyone recommend another one? Is this the best option for me at this point, or do I just suck it up and get a new ECU? Can anyone recommend any other course of action?

Here is what's been done to the vehicle over the last 2 years or so:
New timing belt/tensioners/water pump
New ETM
New CVVT solenoid
New MAF sensor,rear O2 sensor
New PCV Breather/Flame trap
New plugs/Air filter

I'm trying to get everything cleared up so I can do some performance upgrades, as I really love the car and have no interest in getting something else at this point.

Thanks

[Keaton85]

Post your codes first and then go from there...

Why would they pull the ECU and not just clear the codes with a scanner?

Also, you should be able to get a used ECU now that Volvo has released the info to swap ECU. Noted by the topic right down the page from this one.

[Dan A]

On the ECU, contact Lucky from ARD. His username here is ARD - Lucky or contact him via his website at ardideas.com

He can do this. Although I'm skeptical thatit needs replacing. Either way contact Lucky.

[Keldawwg]

Rockauto.com has a rebuilt ECM for this car for $308 plus core charge... Maybe give that a try.

[Dan A]

It would still need programming.

[Keaton85]

its probably not the ECU....

[767driver]

Hi,

The dealer read the codes and did some testing before deciding to try to fully reset the ECU. I think that decision was based on the fact that codes were present that shouldn't have been, based on testing of some components. I'll post the codes when I get the car back tomorrow. Thanks for the replys. Does Lucky repair ECU's or just do performance upgrades? I imagine that if I were to swap my ECU for a used one, I would need to have mine reset/cleared while it's still in my car, based on what I saw on the thread about the Volvo ECU software release. I don't live on the west coast, I'm in Texas......

[Keaton85]

Why does it matter where you live?

[767driver]

Sorry, I was getting ahead of myself. If, in fact, I had to swap ECU's out, and IF mine needs to be reset (cleared?) in the car prior to removal, I don't have a shop here that can do it, and the Volvo dealer is a 2.5 hour drive from where I live.
ARD-Lucky is on the west coast, I'm not. That's all I was getting at.

[nyc1dxo]

Please read this good news from Volvo.

http://volvospeed.co...-to-clear-ecms/

[Dan A]

Hi,

The dealer read the codes and did some testing before deciding to try to fully reset the ECU. I think that decision was based on the fact that codes were present that shouldn't have been, based on testing of some components. I'll post the codes when I get the car back tomorrow. Thanks for the replys. Does Lucky repair ECU's or just do performance upgrades? I imagine that if I were to swap my ECU for a used one, I would need to have mine reset/cleared while it's still in my car, based on what I saw on the thread about the Volvo ECU software release. I don't live on the west coast, I'm in Texas......

Just talk to Lucky.

[wizzard_al]

Lucky can take your ECU, and clone it to another ECU, or, if you think your ECU is bad, he has access to spare ECU's and he simply needs to get your immobilizer code. Forget if the 2000 code is like the later P2 cars, where it is on a chip on the motherboard. If so, I have 2 2000-2001 ECU's that came from an S70, and supposedly an S80 that would probably work, for example. All Lucky would have to do is have your ECU, and the spare, and he could clone it. The ECU's I have are for LPT turbos, with automatic trans, which is probably what you have, unless you have an NA engine, and then the ECU's were different.

Dramatically cheaper. I've alredy told Lucky he can get one of these ECU's if he needs one, and this is exactly what I figured he might be able to use them for, either that or clone an ECU for someone to use as a performance ECU, and then put the OEM ECU in to go to the dealer for any diagnostic work. (After driving it for a while for the DTC codes to show up)

[767driver]

In touch with ardideas.com, and I plan on sending in my bad ECU to have it cloned to a known good one. Thanks for the assistance, and I'll update as soon as I get the cloned one back in my car.

[767driver]

Update -

Just got the cloned ECU back from ARD. Mine was apparently in pretty bad shape, as the data they were reading from it was somewhat corrupt, and they had to remove the chip from the board to read my car's data for the clone. There was a risk that the chip would fail once removed, but the only other option available is to get a new ECU from the dealer ($1600+). Anyways, the clone went well and I'll be installing it Thurs when I get back in town. Fingers crossed! Car's been down for two weeks....

[767driver]

OK, here's the latest. Installed the new cloned ECU in the car, started up just fine. Drove it for about ten minutes, and sure enough, check engine light comes back on. Had the codes read out and they are all the same codes I had before swapping the ECU, so it seems to me that maybe my ECU wasn't bad after all. I won't know for sure until I can get these codes permanently cleared and then try to reinstall the old ECU and see if it works.

Here are the codes I've got:

P0031 Front heated O2 sensor preheating, permanent fault
P0037 Heated O2 sensor bank, signal too low 1, preheating
P0136 Rear heated O2 Sensor, signal missing, permanent fault
P0245 Turo control valve signal too low, permanent fault
P0445 EVAP emission sys valve, signal too low, permanent fault
P0448 leak diagnostic unit, valve, signal too low
P1655 TCM/PCM communication line malfunction
P1332 CVVT solenoid

So, I guess I will try to replace the front O2 sensor, check the connections for the rear O2 sensor (I replaced it about a year ago), replace the TCV (just got the new HD one from IPD). As far as the CVVT solenoid, I replaced that about a year ago, but I used the connector provided, rather than soldering the wires directly to the unit as had been suggested on other forums. I'll give that a try...

Does anyone have any suggestions for the EVAP system and the rest of the codes 445, 448, and 1655?

Thanks.