Hi there. I have a 2000 S70 GLT with just under 50,000 miles (but is out of warranty). The other night (it was about 25 degrees F), after starting my car after it had been sitting in the cold for a few hours, I noticed that the recirculate and A/C electronic climate control (ECC) buttons were simultaneously flashing. This, obviously, caught my attention because it has never occurred before. After about 20 seconds, they stopped flashing. All the while, the fan/heat (which I was using at the time) was working as usual (the best I could tell). Once home, I checked the manual and discovered that it actually called out this sequence of LED flashes. It stated that if these buttons flashed again the next time I started the car, it could be a sign of an ECC malfunction and I should bring the car to a Volvo dealer (which I'd like to avoid since I'd have to pay for this repair out of pocket).

The next morning, I started the car and those 2 buttons/LEDs did not flash as they did the night before (and have not flashed again since...2 days have elapsed since then). Is this the foreshadowing of a common ECC problem to come? Do you have any ideas about what the problem might be and what I should tell any prospective mechanics to look for? How much might this type of repair cost (at a non-Volvo mechanic)? If it occurs again, can a non-Volvo repair facility handle this type of repair?

Thanks, again, for your assistance.

Steve