THE LONG STORY: Took my 2000 V70 with an immaculate service record to dealer because of hesitating/surging. I new there was a recall on the throttle but they said they had to clean it first since there were no codes. They cleaned it and it did the same thing and actually broke down on my wife. Took it back and they performed throttle recall. When installing the new ETM the computer locked up and they blew the cars ECM. Volvo paid to replace the ECM. Went to pick up car and Service engine light was on. Left it in the lot and was called the next day and was told the O2 sensor was bad. They told me it was unrelated and just a coincidence. I paid for the O2 sensor. Dealer told me that they drove the car for 14 miles after the O2 sensor was replaced and that no Service Engine light came on. They also advised that the transmission seemed to be slipping a little intermittently. The transmission never slipped before I took it to them. I picked the car up and got 2 miles from the dealership when the car couldn't find the right gear and the trans was shifting all over the place. The car was completely undrivable and unsafe. The overdrive arrow started to blink and the service engine light came on. I took it immediately back and was told that a TCM lock code came up. I was assured that they would do the right thing and to call the service manager on Monday. The service manager stated that the TCM locked up and the car would need a new transmission. He stated that it was not related to the ECM they blew up and that he smelled burnt transmission fluid on the dipstick. He said he drove the car again even thought the service engine light was on and that he thought we could get the car home and was drivable. He also stated that he noticed the trans (slipping) after he replaced the O2 sensor and checked the trans fluid and it was full. They are washing their hands of the entire thing. THE QUESTION: How long does it take for trans fluid to smell burnt? Service Manager said it takes a while. Could the ECM blowing out have effected the TCM, would that start burning the fluid and could that have done this to my transmission? They said they don't diagnose the trans, they just replace them so there is a good chance that the TCM is the only problem. I can buy the O2 sensor since they can really go anytime, but the transmission is hard to swallow. The car has a perfect service history with every service stamped in the book. It was exibiting no signs of a trans problem at all, just the surging and stumbling which was related to the throttle recall. Unfortunately, I don't trust this dealer. I have caught them in a few lies already by being alert and I am at a loss on what to do. Please, anybody, help if you can. I am also going to try Volvo to see if I can get anywhere with them.
As of this time, the service manager is stating that the car isn't that bad and we can take it home even though the service engine light is on, the overdrive arrow is blinking and the car won't shift into gear.

I don't want to seem trite but isn't this kind of situation best solved in a court of law? Small Claims court in California goes up to $5000.

Almost impossible...Dealer sounds like the BLEW it and now trying to cover for THEIR MISTAKE. I don't think you will find burnt fluid but I do think you have a problem they may have caused. The rep (if you can get him/her to listen and agree) Get it in writing and make them take care of the problem. Then NEVER go to that dealership again. Good luck kepp us informed.

big Har. Thanks for the info. We have been unsuccessful with Volvo. Not only did they refuse to come out to the dealership, they pretty much told us to go pound sand. The Volvo lady called the dealership and "heard their end of the story and said she sided with them". That was it. The dealership is refusing any fault and we are stuck paying for the transmission. They have had the car for almost a month now and we need it back. I think we are out of options. I just hope this car lasts since we are in it deeeeep now. Thank you and everyone for your thoughts. Didn't work out this time. Lost the fight. Oh, Volvo did send us a 30% off coupon for the transmission. Only thing is, its capped at 200.00. The trans was somewhere around 3000.00. Thanks Volvo.

Pure and simple ineptitude! Before I go any farther, the Check Engine light and Service light are 2 separate things, the first indicates trouble and the second is just a friendly reminder to bring the car in for an oil change. So I am assuming your meant to write CEL, not service light.

Blowing and ECU and not destroying the TCU is hard to do. Usually, sending too much electricity to the ECU will fry the TCU also.

It does take a while to burn 8 quarts of tranny fluid and the fluid would be almost black. Pull the tranny dipstick yourself and wipe it witth a fresh paper towel. The dipstick is behind the driver's headlight, under the air intake, about 6 inches behind the radiator. It has a yellow handle.

It is possible that the tranny had problems, but that is too much of a coincedence. If you can afford it, leave the car at the dealer - do not drive it off the lot! And call for a Volvo regional rep to look at the mess. Ask to be there when the rep arrives and get EVERYTHING in writing. The spoken work will not work at all.

"I" think that they broke it. I also think they charged you for an O2 sensor when you really didn't need one. The vacuum lines tend to crack and cause the same symptom.

Hopefully there are some reputable Volvo indys around your area, or another dealer. Once your car is "fixed", never go back!
Klaus

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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Klaus, Thank you so much for your quick reply. I was beginnning to think I was crazy. It was the Check Engine Light that was on. Also, the car went from no trans issues to undrivable without ever leaving their lot. We have not taken the car home and have no plan on doing so until this is resolved. I had a feeling he was trying to get us to take it off the lot so he could place blame elsewhere. The service manager stated the trans fluid smelled burnt but was not discolored. He said you check that its burnt by smelling it not by the color. Anyway, my wife is going to the dealer tomorrow to pull the dipstick and take pictures of the color and of the car. We will call Volvo and try and get a rep assigned. I've seen your name all over brickboard helping everybody and you seem extremely knowledgeable. Are you a Volvo mechanic? Again, thank you so much for the info., you given reason to continue fighting. Chris

This story brings back nightmares. Financial, physical, and emotional. I have lived it twice. I learned a lot the first time and the results of the second event were completely different from the first.
Started with a 99 V70 wagon bought used from a Volvo dealer with an extened 100k warranty by Volvo. Twenty-three trips to the dealer for maintenance in twenty four months made the decision to get rid of it very easy. This was before the throttle recall and Volvo had abandoned it customers. I had owned five previous, and still own a 96 850, so I knew what quality was built into the car. If they can't fix it then it is the wrong car for me. Sold it. Quickly. Never looked back. Bought a new Subaru in 2004. Started having problems the dealer could not resolve. Very long story shortened, I settled with Subura and they provided me with a new 2006. No attorneys involved.
Lessons learned. Quit dealing with the service manager as soon as there is a conflict. Ask to see the manager of the dealer. Make it very clear to him you going to spend your most unhappy moments in his customer lounge while he diddles around wiht your problem car. If you look at the business card of everyone at the dealer you can see who pays their salary. You are showing up at a gunfight with a penknife. Get someone to represent you or do it your self, but for goodness sake do not, do not, do not expect them to represent your best interest. Took me several months of "talking" to Subura to finally figure out the Customer Rep. was representing them, not me. They know they have you by the short and curlies and there is a very high probability you will get tired and give up. You have to get a big handful of their balls and jerk for all you are worth to get their attention. Then, and only then, will they be willing to seriously listen to you. Get a parade permit for the sidewalk in front of the dealership, show it to them. They will soon get the idea this is gonna get ugly real quick and its gonna be in their front door. Right where new wallets are coming in to buy more cars.
Collect paperwork. Have the service manager write down everything he says on a piece of paper, date and sign it. They get very cautious about what they have to put on paper. Write down everything you say to them. Have them sign it.
Stay calm and collected in the dealership. Do your venting at home or away from where the problem exist. Develope a look of total disinterest in your eyes, dealers are looking for that point defeat look in your face so they can wrap it up and move on to the next wallet.
But first, before you spend any more time of your precious life on an automobiles care, take a very realistic look at what the benefits of this encounter are going to be for you. Is it worth the fight to end up with a car that you have doubts about that is going to go back to a dealer you have even less confidence in to fix. Probably not. It will be an expensive, unpleasant, and unrewarding experience no matter how it turns out. Shortening the time frame is about all you can do to minimize the damage to you and your wallet.
Good luck.