Help! S80 ABS Pump motor control - £1200 to £1500?!
 

Had my "ABS/DSTC Service Required" fault codes read today. (It's a 2008 S80 D5 Auto).

The fault is:
BCM-C00201C ABS Pump Motor Control - General Electrical Failures - Curcuit voltage out of range.

Independent Volvo specialist tells me that they have to replace the entire ABS Unit, at the following cost:
New ABS Unit (from Volvo) around (at least) £1000 + VAT
Approx 2 hours labour £110 + VAT
Software Approx £45 + VAT

I don't remember if the entire ABS Unit needs replacing or the Entire ABS Pump Unit, but I think it was the former. Forgive my forgetfulness, I was in shock.

Independent claims he might be able to source a used one through a breakers yard at less cost, but that would only offer 3 months warranty, and of course the risk that it could pack up at any time.

Apparently for this car the entire unit must be replaced, unlike V50's and S40's he tells me.

Help please, am I being fleeced? Any help at all gratefully appreciated.

i would try and take the electronic unit off the hydraulic unit and apply 12 volts to the pump motor and see if it runs , if it does you Will need the whole unit , if it does not run you might get away with fitting your good electronic unit onto a used hydraulic unit .
There are 4 different ABS units though depending on chassis number . which complicates things .

I have had to deal with 4 of these type of ABS pump fails, but on Ph2/Gen 2 cars.
One has my wifes, another was a Q from my indie, and two member cars.
In all cases the problem was resolved by fitting a secondhand unit, for about £100 for the entire part assembly (yes with 3 month warranty) and about £40 fitting cost. It is much easier and less labour to replace the entire lump.

I'm guessing that your car as a 2008 is a Gen 3 model.

I sourced the parts for the above from Salvo Group (Google them) very knowledgable chaps and could tell from reg/vin and vin plate info etc which type was correct for the car, and supplied mail order.

Neither of them ever failed again while I still had knowledge of the cars.

Your car being much more valuable than a 2001 - 2006 car may well warrant a new genuine Volvo one, it would have been an un-economic repair on the older ones.

Also, if you are thinking of a new genuine one, why not give Rufe (AKA Simon ) @ FRF Volvo a call? Rufe is an approved VOC supplier/trader and has his own thread here under the parts section.
He offers very substantial discounts on genuine new parts.

Thanks Clan, but I won't be the person doing any of the work myself.

Thanks Nick. I know Salvogroup, as I've previously bought Volvo spares from them, so thanks, that's a good suggestion.

It occurred to me yesterday to check the fuses first, wishful thinking I know, but it does feel very much like all mechanics do nowadays is "plug it into a computer", and see what the computer says. I know I sound like a grumpy old man!

Anyway, I was able to check the ABS Fuse, which was fine. The ABS Pump fuse however is not easy to reach on this car. It is concealed under a module that holds a bunch of other fuses. The owners handbook says that these fuses hidden under the upper fuse module are not to be replaced except by qualified Volvo service personnel. Fair enough, but I was hoping to remove the upper fuse module myself just to check that the ABS Pump fuse was not the fault. Can anyone tell me how to remove the upper fuse module/housing please?

here is a general ABD fult find for your car. The book ( as you say) insists you should not go anywhere near the big fuses.

I shopped around today and received confirmation that in the case of my car (S80) the hydraulic unit is "stuck to" the control unit, unlike on the V50 and S40, where they are separate bits. So unfortunately I have no choice but to replace the entire unit. I've had it costed at just shy of £1450.

At this point, I cannot afford the repairs, so I'm considering continuing to drive with the fault, even into the winter, until I can find the cash. My last hope would be to remove the upper fuses, just so I can at least satisfy myself that the ABS Pump fuse is not blown. Surely someone has done that - it's the same engine as the V70 D5 anyway isn't it, and there are many owners of those.

Have you tried getting it repaired by someone like BBA Remanufacturing?

Thanks Clan, but they are in Kent, and I'm in Stockport!

I looked up Rufe (Simon), but I can't imagine the part I need from him will be any cheaper than the £999.99 + VAT that I've be quoted today. I'll contact him next week anyway - leave no stone unturned.

Its worth giving BBA a ring for a price as even with postage they are a fraction of the new price , turn around is quick and they give a 3 year warranty . I had my DIM done by them cost £175 Volvo wanted £LOAAAAAADs more .

PS . let us know how you get on.

Thanks very much Nick44, I called FRF Volvo in Swansea, and they were very good. They can supply and ship the unit to me, at 15% less than I have been quoted by 3 local independent Volvo specialists. We're talking £150 here that I wouldn't have to fork out.

My missus believes though, that the local independents (whoever I may nominate) to carry out the repairs, probably won't allow me to supply it, as they'll be losing their 15% markup. I hadn't thought of that.