Troubleshooting the ETM/ETS

Volvo now publishes instruction to dealers via Tech-Net Notes with the statement “Fixed Right – First Time” in the title box. I had received many comments from owners that while the car was running rough, surging and leaving the driver with the ‘am I going to get home with this -------, the dealer’s service department could not ‘find any codes’ or ‘it is running fine for us. This left the owner still driving a dangerous car. Others report, including an independent garage that has VADIS, that the service organization must do many tests and operations before replacing the ETM. Some of these are cleaning the PCV, cleaning the ETM, downloading new software, all of this being driven by the fault tracing procedures detailed in TNN 25-149A. All in all, this document is very interesting in explaining how the whole system works.  

In March a new set of Service Managers Bulletins were distributed that again give the troubleshooting procedures but also tell the how and why of the software upgrade and the extended warranty.

definitions:

• CAN >> Controller Area Network the communication link between all computer systems within the car.
• DTC >> Diagnostic Trouble Codes commonly referred to as 'codes'
• ECM >> Engine Control Module
• ETM >> Electronic Throttle Module
• ETS >> Electronic Throttle System
• MAF >> Mass Air Flow sensor
• SMB >> Service Manager Bulletin details procedures for charges, paperwork and warranty.
• TNN >> Technical Net Notes are the instructions to the service department
• VADIS >>  CD version of the instructions and software disk. It has been discontinued and replaced by VIDA..
• VCC >> Volvo Car Company (the manufacturer in Sweden)
• VCNA >> Volvo Cars North America
• VIDA >> Vehicle Information and Diagnostics for Aftersales is an online subscription service to dealers. It provides instant access to updated literature and software. (This almost completely denies independent garages to access to procedures and software.
• VIN >> Vehicle Identification Number that tells: year, model, engine, transmission and serial number.
• VRC >> This is apparently the computer network within Volvo

Documents:

There are several documents related to these faults: The primary one is TNN25-149A-2006-04—3 Troubleshooting Electronic Throttle System (ETS) (31 pages)
          If you want to get copies of the same documents that the dealer has you can follow the procedure below.
To get, for pay, the Service Manager Bulletins and Tech-NET Notes. These are each $6.00 and can be downloaded in PDF format.:

The three in bold are what you might want in hand. If you need to discuss the software upgrade or the extended warranty you might want the two SMB documents.

1. Go to http://volvotechinfo.com/
2. Store >> click on Service/Parts Literature
3. Click on Model and Year ( I used V70 2000 )
4. Click on Tech-NET Notes
5. Click on Engine (about 24 for a V70 2000), the most relevant TNNs are near the end of the list. They are available for a price, most or all at $6.00 each and you can download them as PDF files.
6. Scroll through and look at titles.
7. TNN25-149B-2006-02-20 Checking the Crankcase Ventilation (3 pages)
8. TNN25-140C-2006-02-20 Cleaning the Crankcase Ventilation (13 pages)
9. TNN25-149D-2006-02-20 Cleaning the Crankcare (sic) Ventilation and Electronic Throttle Module (31 pages)
10. TNN25-149E-2006-03-03 Electronic Throttle Module (ETM) Replacement (23 Pages)
11. TNN25-149F-2006-03-16 Electronic Throttle System Software – Upgrade (3 pages)
12. TNN25-149A-2006-04—3 Troubleshooting Electronic Throttle System (ETS) (31 pages)
13. Now go back to category and click on Service Manager Bulletins
14. Click on Engine.
15. SMB25-155-2006-03-20 Electronic Throttle System Software Upgrade (3 pages)
16. SMB25-149-2006-03-16 Electronic Throttle Module (ETM) Extended Warranty (4 pages)

To order any of these click on whether you want the printed or PDF copy. Add them to your cart. At checkout they want your credit card data then will send you an e-mail which has the items you ordered and a (click here to download). You then download the PDF file, save it and print it.            

           TNN 12-149 – B through E are pretty straight forward procedures with pictures, part numbers and tools required which most DIY owners could follow with little trouble. I would have no problem doing any of the procedures. They might be equated to changing a carburetor or water pump.

            However, TNN 25-149-A is another matter. It starts with using VIDA for reading out the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
            Note: VIDA stands for ‘Vehicle Information and Diagnostics for Aftersales’ and replaces VADIS, iVADIS and the Web Software Download Application (WSDA).
           Then it lists procedures that must be followed in order which finally get to the ETM, these are:
                    If cleaning the crankcase breather is require, the crankcase pressure must be measured.
                    If the pressure indicates it then the PCV must be cleaned.
                    If required clean the PCV and ETM
                    If required replace the ETM and download software reload and ECM software upgrade.

I will leave it up to you to read the total document. Of particular interest are the tables of the "Combined Fault codes. Some have reported multiple fault codes which left much to be desired. This tables shows various combinations of codes and fault tracing to follow. This document gives us a much greater insight into the operation of the ETM and what to check in the Electronic Throttle System.

Last modified Friday, June 23, 2006

Top of page   Back to VEXED Contents