Hi,

We bought a 2007 C70 2.4i in 2012 for my wife.

We've been very happy but about 3 weeks ago on starting the engine my wife got a message (in French as we live in Switzerland) that basically said something about the accelerator and urgent repair required.

The error message showed up within a week or so of some work that had been done to repair an air conditioning leak, which did result in a good number of tubes being replaced. This may or may not be relevant to the error message, I just add it in terms of context.

To make a long story short, my wife has had her car in and out of the garage 4 times over the last 3 weeks. The last "fix" involved replacing the actual accelerator pedal and that was preceded with some other repairs although I confess I don't know exactly what was done.

The bottom line is she is still getting the same error message and states that the car periodically slows or speeds up without her accelerating or decelerating. I've finally decided to look into this myself today as it seems clear that the garage folks (who have been very good up until now) are a bit in the dark. I have uncovered the issues affecting the ETM but that seems to have stopped after 2002 for the C70.

Any ideas on what we should be directing the garage to look at?

Thanks for all thoughts - we'd obviously like to get the issue resolved once and for all.

Best wishes,

Dave M

 

post 2000 Volvos have a drive-by-wire mechanism where there is a pedal position sensor that feeds a signal to control the electronic throttle mechanism as well as a brake pedal position sensor. If you had the dash assembly opened to replace your evaporator, it seems plausible that the connectors were removed or the wiring was nicked. The technician will read the diagnostic codes (google "Volvo C70 P2131" for some background) to start work. Most of the time this is an ETM issue (dirty throttle body, wiring issues within the ETM or software updates etc), once in a greater while its the pedal assembly. I think your feedback to the garage should include 1) when the pedal assembly work was done 2) what was done to the AC (ie under the dash work) and 3) your driveability symptoms.

 

Thanks very much. Just off the phone with the garage who tell me that they have always been getting the same code: ECM-950C.

They also tell me that they've cleaned the throttle module, replaced a potentiometer, checked all of the cabling and double checked the work they did on the AC. So the car is back with them and they will keep plugging away.

D

 

Are you working with a Volvo dealer or an independent? You may need to have a dealer research any bulletins on software updates and inspect wiring/terminals for any corrosion.

 

Replace all female connectors at the Throttle Position sensor and the corresponding connectors at the Central Electronic Module(CEM)

 

Sorry for the delay. We are dealing with a Volvo dealer, not an independent.

Will pass along the suggestion regarding the female connectors. Car is in the garage now and we have a loaner.

Best,

Dave M