Hi Folks,

It's been a while, but it's good to be back!

Anyway, here's my plight. I'm hoping you can help me out with this.

I recently acquired a 2004 Volvo XC70. Save for the usual XC70 issues (angle gear, only runs in FWD), the car has been pretty reliable...until yesterday.

I drove the car from my home in Princeton Junction (NJ) to my church in Cherry Hill. The car handled the drive just fine. No unusual events, tracked well, no odd noises. After services ended, I get into the car, start it up, and am greeted with an orange triangle, along with a message that read "Engine System Service Required". As the only Volvos I've had were 244-series cars, I grabbed the owner's manual to look things up. While the manual was NOT helpful, it DID indicate that the problem - while not severe - should be looked at upon the car's next service.

Fine. I can deal with that. It's a spare car, so it's not going to be driven every day. I'll get it looked at soon.

I continue with my errands. So far, no issues. Car is still driving fine, save for the stupid illuminated orange triangle. About 40 miles into my drive, and after exiting a roundabout, I feel two "bangs" from the car...almost as though the transmission is slamming into gear.

At this point, the "Brake System Failure - Pull Over" message comes on, the ABS, Traction Control Light, and Check Engine light come on. Before I could figure out what to do next, the entire dashboard - save for the radio - goes blank. Speedo, tach, fuel, temp gauge....all dead. Lights are still working (head and tail - no turn signals, no brake lights), sunroof still works, climate control still works, radio still works, but no power windows, seats, or locks.

Since the car was still able to drive under its own power (and since I stupidly don't have a membership to an auto club), I drove the car home - another 40 miles. Save for the fact that I had to use hand signals out of my open sunroof, I didn't experience any driveability issues...but crikey, was that scary.

Anyway...I get home, park the car, and shut it off. The car makes several clicking noises, similar to that of the doors locking and unlocking. I get out of the car, look around the vehicle, and try to restart it. It started....the dash was still dead, and then it turned off. I waited a few moments, started the car again.

This time, the dash worked...kind of. The same messages ran across the message center, along with "SRS Failure".

I guess my question is this....

From my limited knowledge of FWD Volvos, and my limited knowledge of automotive mechanical issues in general, what happened here?

I'm guessing this is a computer issue, but I'm probably wrong.

Assuming that is, I've found replacement computers online, ranging in price from $50 (an online junkyard) to $320 (re-manufactured). The car has 208K miles on it.

Should I buy the computer and have it installed? Or should I dump the car? And is it even the computer to begin with?

Second question....

Can anyone recommend a fair, reputable independent Volvo mechanic in the Central Jersey area? I really don't want to be gouged by the dealership....

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-Steve

It's been 3 years...was the problem finally resolved? If so, what was it?

This forum would be ever so more valuable if people would take the time to write a short most-mortem saying how problems were finally resolved. Nobody likes a mystery novel without an ending.

"Nobody likes a mystery novel without an ending."

So true. I was hooked by the story. Impressed by the thoughtful responses...then gravely disappointed.

I was hoping it was a once-common-on-this-board ABS resoldering scenario.
Remember those? They'd happen with regularity.
Spurious weirdness would light up warning lights and darken displays.

The car likely got as far as a Phillie or Newark where it was dismantled or thrown in an alutriating shredder.

Sad fate for an "extra car".

Take it to a dealer.

They never charge more than one hour's labor for troubleshooting - Check this with them - My son-in-law is a Subaru tech - that is their policy also.

At my shop, the service dept. will put a car through a check-up for certified cars for one hour's labor - I get a two page report and they can tell you if an ant ever farted in the trunk!

I have done this to several cars including one that I was going to buy from the sales department - the service department would not even share the report with sales, as I had paid for it! The salesman paid for half of the check so that he could look at it! The car had a bad rear main seal that they did not know about.

A couple of months ago, my dealer had a special - one hour's troubleshooting for free with a written estimate of repairs needed!

Throwing parts at your car is a poor plan.

Spend one hour's labor that you should have spent before you bought the car.

You might even like your dealer's people like I do!

Hand signals are required to be shown from the open driver's side window, not the sun roof :>)

You do have a computer problem, the question is which one? The CEM or the DIM. And I don't believe you can just get a junk yard part and throw it in. There might be programming involved.

You do need a Volvo scan tool to get the proper codes and a good diagnostic.

Computers are expensive. It might just be a re-soldering that is required. Or a larger heat shield. I don't wish to be an advertisement, but Xemodex.com/us comes to mind as really good and reasonable for reconditioned parts. They use your computers, so you will need to take them out and ship them, and then reinstall them, but no programming is involved and the codes are wiped.

BTW, is the rear prop shaft still connected? How do you know that the angle gear is bad? You have a Haldex awd system which might have a need of maintenance (oil/filter change).
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Hi Klaus -

How hard is it to remove the computer and send it to these folks?

As for the prop shaft - I don't know :-(. I purchased the car second-hand. The PO told me that the car had a slow steering leak, and that it needed the steering rack replaced, as well as the "lower steering column".

It is not just one computer that can be at fault, that's why you need the codes read at a reputable shop.

Removal of the instrument cluster is fairly easy, check you tube for a 2004 XC70.

The CEM: http://xemodex.com/blog/central-electronic-module-removal-instructions-for-volvo-1999-2004

Note: You cannot drive the car while the CEM or DIM has been removed. The battery must be disconnected for the duration. If you need to lock the car, you will need to manually lock all of the doors and use a key to lock the driver's door.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat