Cleaning the ETM
 

Has anyone cleaned their own ETM? I recall seeing a Volvo leaflet on this. I wonder if anyone has had a go themselves and what fluid (if any) they used to clean it.

I hope to do my own servicing, which seems pretty straightforward apart from what to do with the ETM. Since Volvo have offered a free clean and software upgrade (which I had 12k miles ago), I assume the unit will need regular cleaning. I note by the way that my idle is often uneven but as I have posted here before, it was uneven from new (car now covered 60K miles).

Can I simply take the ETM unit apart to some degree, clean it and reassemble without need for a dreaded software download of some sort?

If it turns out that we cannot clean these damn things then unless Volvo will offer unlimited free cleaning, it seems to me that the days of DIY servicing are over.

Melvyn

I’ll answer my own question.

The ETM can be easily cleaned without disconnecting the wiring. I got the cleaner fluid from Volvo (smells like trichloroethylene and at £12 a small bottle quite a rip off). At first I thought I could get away with just disconnecting the rubber pipe and cleaning the unit in place but in fact found it easy enough to simply unbolt the ETM and clean from both sides. Whole job takes about 20 mins.

Melvyn

In case anyone is interested (I guess this may apply to others who self-service), cleaning the ETM has given a remarkable improvement in idle control, both during warm up (where I have most noticed hesitant behaviour) and generally. This is a little strange as the device was not particularly dirty, though I did notice a greasy residue which may have tended to cause a sticking near the closed position, particularly if the operating motor is not so powerful.

The other thing I wanted to mention about self-servicing per se relates to the potential for saving money. Unless there is a fault, it seem to me that servicing a modern car is actually simpler than the older equivalent, which had points, timing and dwell, etc to be adjusted. This 60k service will have cost me about £100 in parts. That compares to more than £300 at a Volvo garage!

Melvyn

Here's mine : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaaNCaSvRZs

4 10mm bolts if I believe . . . easier without the nosy neighbour, lol.

YT

Interesting, how were you driving it?

Incidentally, after about 200 miles my ETM has returned to its normal erratic behaviour, just as it did when Volvo cleaned the thing.

Melvyn

Hi,
You'll be due a "new" one then...
Expect to fork out about £200 notes...
Don't forget to sue the dealer and Volvo to get your £200 notes back.. :)

Des. . . ;)

Hi Des,

I am not sure that I do - yet. It has been like this right from new (now 60k miles).

Melvyn.

The greasy residue just blocks the airflow when the throttle is shut causing the slow and varying idle speed , it doesnt stick , the motor is extremely powerful so keep your hands out !

Throttle cleaning
 

You can have a look at my pictures on how to clean the throttle, and everybody else's comments and advice on the S80 forum on this subject, it is really easy to do and takes only a few minutes.
Here's the link...

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=44744

hope it helps

It's different on the T5's... and made more different by the change from ETM to ETA on the 2001/02 changeover.

Article at http://forums.t5d5.org/index.php?showtopic=1234 in the library which shows the correct procedure to clean the ETM/ETA's on MY01 onwards for V70/S60/XC70 vehicles.