sure. you could r+r throttle unit @ lets say 30K intervals and carefully clean it. then find the vacuum line that goes to the banjo fitting under the intake, disconnect it and blow compessed air through it, if it sounds nice and clear (you will be able to hear it through the hole where the throttle mounts) then it's fine. if it's restricted then time to clean again. not a single internal combustion engine will have zero blowby. some will be better than others but there will always be some. it's just a poor design. turbos will clog more frequently than n/a applications but they too can clog. after 10 years of these things i have seen a thing or two. always something to learn though.

 

thanks for the invite but too far away. i just went by what the factory had found in one. i am sure there are other issues also but when you get info from the horses mouth i tend to listen. instructor at the training center had seen the same thing. not here to get in any pissing contests as to "who's right or wrong or who's seen what" just sharing my experiences over my career as a volvo tech. and yes i am aware that bosch makes the 2002.5 and up throttle units as i had a couple of those cause faults also.

 

so, i am not currently having any issues with mine, but if i were to replace mine in the future, the best option seems to be a Magnetti Marelli ETM with a ?xeMODex? something or the other? (best option besides a junkyared pulled ETM) anyway, how do i come into possession of a Magnetti Marelli ETM? a quick google search did not bring me to any websites to do this.

 

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2000 S70 with 190k on it, but the ETS light is on. In your guys opinion should that prevent me from buying the car? Otherwise everything else is fine and the car seems to idle fine?

 

Worst case scenario, you need to spend at least $600 to replace the ETM. That's in addition to some, or all, of the following standard post-purchase items:

Timing belt/waterpump: $250 DIY, $800 Shop
Shocks/Struts/Mounts/Isolators: $400 DIY, $750 Shop
Pads/Rotors: $300 DIY, $500 Shop
Transmission Flush: $129 Shop
Other Typicals (oil & filter, tires(?), air filter, cabin filter, coolant flush): $200 -$500 DIY---> $1,000 - $1,700 Shop

I also bought my S70 for $2,000. I then promptly spent an additional $2,500, combining my own mechanical skills and labor with those of a trusted independent European auto specialist. I could have easily spent around $4,000 for everything to be put as straight and tight as it is on this vehicle.

I love my GLT like I love my favorite old leather motorcycle jacket. It looks great. It feels great. And I feel cool when I'm in it (regardless of my wife's opinion). But that's because I don't have to dip that deeply into my already strained retirement fund because I keep it tuned perfectly, mostly by myself.

You need to understand that the S70 is a time-tested (don't forget, it lived many of its years as the 850) nearly perfected piece of machinery. But it has 2 distinct weaknesses:

1) If you don't address tiny, annoying issues that could be considered endearing quirks in other vehicles, they will rapidly grow into serious and expensive problems; and

2) The ETS system will inevitably fail, unless you are well-versed in the specific means you must employ in order to prevent that failure from happening.

If this isn't the first car you've worked on yourself in order to keep it "tip-top," you're in for a treat. It's like a set of LEGO's for grown-ups. If you've never replaced your own brake pads on a car, you need to steer clear of this vehicle. Because she'll either bleed you slow and steady with the small stuff, or she'll do something REALLY cool like suffer a catastrophic system failure (like an ETS) 3 days after you pay for a new roof on your house...

 

Hey loudgoldwing thanks for all the info. I have a 2001 V70 and am considering this for my Daughter who is a new driver. I'm thinking it will be a great first car. Thanks again.