V70: Electrical Climate console not working

[Matty71]

Hi everyone, my Climate Control console has given up the ghost. No climate, stereo control, heated seats everything. Been intermittent the last few weeks and after buying a new battery yesterday it’s given up completely. Looking like a main dealer job but thought any advice would be very much appreciated before going down that route. Volvo V70 SE D5 2008

[Oak]

Could be the CEM? These can get wet/damp and cause all sorts of strange results with the cars electronics?

[Matty71]

Just checked out the general CEM area and dry as a bone, no damp in the car or footwell area. Worked for a time yesterday, started her this morning and panel is completely dead. Looking like a main dealer job and mega bucks I expect. I appreciate the car is 12 years old but surely a major component like this shouldn’t fail?

[reggit]

It’s not that hard to take the panel out and check for corroded connections, if I remember there’s a couple of screws on the rear of the unit that are a bit fiddly to get to.
I had to swap my climate unit out, matched the part numbers and a used one from eBay just worked without an issue. Possibly an idea if yours is expiring

[Brucat]

Hi, try looking in the traders section, there’s a company repairing CEM’s whom members seem to think highly of.
Also if you’ve got the original screen check out the leaking windscreen thread. I’ve got the same issues, had the screen replaced due to damage (Volvo will reseal free) & leaving mine to dry out to see if it helps with faults.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=42

[Matty71]

The car went to Volvo yesterday and low and behold the window screen bonding has perished and caused the CEM Console to fail. £900 including fitting and vat! Also not sure if the insurance company will cover the cost of a new window screen and looking at paying for that as well! Absolute f##king nightmare and can’t be done until 21st December. Both of us are key workers and really need the car and very unimpressed if this is common thing. I expect maybe a 20+ year old car to rubber perishing problems not a 12 year old car that cost £30k new!

[Tatsfield]

At that price and without any Volvo contribution, I'd look at a second hand CEM for under £100 on ebay, fit it at an independent Volvo specialist and have the screen fixed by a windscreen specialist. While I agree with you that you should expect better from a car which is only 12 years old, it is 12 years old and its on-the-road value doesn't justify new car repair and maintenance costs at that sort of level.

The generally high standard of build of Volvos does lead you to expect better reliability than you would with lesser cars of the same age but eventually we all have to accept the deterioration of all things with the passage of time and may be 12 years is the portal for Volvos to become "old cars" and be treated accordingly. For 15 years I specialised in Peugeot 406 Coupes by Pininfarina which have a very high build standard but you soon get used to adjusting your expectations and modifying your maintenance and repair strategies. Ultimately parts cease to be available and then there are really hard choices to be made!

[Matty71]

Bit of a update, I had the windscreen resealed yesterday. Really helpful chap managed to get the screen out without breaking it! The top part of the screen had hardly any bonding around it and that came out of the factory like it! He’s literally done dozens of Volvo’s at various ages and even ones a year old. Looks like Volvo’s windscreen bonding robot needs recalibrating! Car goes in tomorrow for a new CEM and I’m going to ask if they’ll meet on the windscreen refit as a good will gesture.
P.s I can’t rate Autoglaze windscreens highly enough 👍

[V8XCV]

Sorry to hear about this,

My V70 had the windscreen bond fail, and my dads (chassis number about 40k higher) had the same issue also! Seems they just did a terrible job at the time.

I pretty much expect every V70 Mk3 windscreen has failed and most people haven't noticed. I mine in the garage for a week and the dehumidifier pulled over 5litres out of it before the carpets felt dry.

Volvo should routinely check for this when servicing V70s and advise the owners. It should have been a recall.

[Matty71]

Took the car into Volvo yesterday, on the initial start up absolutely everything came on and work fine. Climate, heated seats, stereo you name it it worked! Still took it into Volvo for an inspection and see what they advised. They had the car all day and not once did the CEM fail 🤷*♂️. Brought the car home this morning and all works fine. Going to leave it and see what happens and appreciate the comments and advice. Seems like re-bonding the windscreen has done the trick and whatever was getting wet/damp has dried and sorted itself. Saved me nearly a grand so happy days 👍