Today my newly purchased 04 S60 had the instrument panel and much of the electrical items either shut down or go into what I can only describe as a power save mode. I did some research, and found this to be something others have experienced, especially in excessively hot conditions. The ECM RElay and the computer modules were both EXTREMELY hot to the touch when I got it home. I took some of the advice here, and was able to reset things by removing the battery cable under hood and re-attaching. Of course now I have the SBS Urgent message, but of course I am not as worried about that as the initial problem.

Could it be as something as the relay? That I can live with, as it's about $20...or am I looking possibly at the whole module, which of course can get pricey.

It was 110 today, so I can imagine the heat was an aggrivating factor. Am I on the right track with the relay, and is this a problem others have seen?

 

The ECM really is way too hot on these cars just like my 03. I don't know if the heat caused ur car to go into limp mode but it's sure absurd to expose the elec'l components to extreme heat. I wonder what the volvo designers were thinking then they put the ecm in the engine bay. Mika in swedespeed suggested that I install a vent for the ecm box w/c I did by punching a hole in front center of the box, force fitted a 1/2 inch rubber hose and routed it down to the bumper area. This vent significntly cooled the ecm box after my test drive. Going back to ur problem, try cleaning the battery and all body ground connections.

 

i have no experience with this particular problem but i would check your battery voltage both with the car off and running. off- you should see no less than 12 volts, running- no less than 13.5 with all your accessories on.