Just got in from Orlando, my parents own a V70 which is somewhat nice to them when it wants to be. Last I heard, they dished out like $1k to the stealership to change the timing belt and something else before that which led the techs to convince them to get the new timing belt.

Now, I'm quite knowledgable with Nissans and most Japanese imports, I've done several engine rebuilds and so on, my current project is a Sentra SE-L with a 3.5L V6 stuffed into it. They don't really seem to think these repairs are worth my time to come down and fix, so they end up going down to Volvo and getting charged out the ***.

Here's the problem as it was described to me. Engine won't start without a jump. Battery is fine, alternator is fine, what that tells me is the car (particularly the instrument cluster..which is how most charging systems work) isn't telling the Alternator to charge the car. The instrument cluster is also dead, no gauges, no lights, once the car is running, still nothing.

Well, they took it in earlier this week, first autozone and a couple shops I know to trust and who know me. None of them could diagnose the Volvo's UB3R 1337 special computer and they would have no choice but to go into Volvo. So they get there, the repair department is packed (go figure), they just called back with the results. $100 just to plug in the OBD2 sensor is a given. Another $900 because some "motherboard" is bad. I asked them to be more specific. They said it wasn't the ECU, it's some circuit board behind the instrument cluster.

I was wondering if this is something I can bypass the dealership and repair on my own. I know electrical, but I hate messing with all the crap they stuff into cars these days. The only computers I like to mess with is my Viper alarm and my AEM standalone. Someone give me some input on this problem.

Thanks

 

Sorry but no luck on that.
Most likely it is the DIM (drivers information module).
Which the Dealer has to use the Hand held scanner to program it.\
You might be able to find a used one and install. But the milage will be off.