S60 Electrics: Sudden Dashboard failure,New Drvr Information Module Needed?

[ajc11251]

Hi All,

I have been the happy owner of my T5 '52 reg for a little under a year now, and dispite the cost of brakes and tyres, I've been a happy bunny.

Until the other day.

My car has the RTI system fitted which has started to play up. On the odd occaision it seems to get lost, and puts me in the middle of a field. This may or may not be related to my problem, but worth mentioning just in case.

Anyway, the other day after coming to the end of my daily commute of 45 miles to work, the dashboard went dead. The car ran fine, engine okay, all exterior lights were functioning but no speedo, tacho, mileage or information system. Radio, RTI and phone all still worked?!?!

After leaving the car switched off for a little while it seemed to be okay.

I took the car into Volvo in Basingstoke, where, after relieving me the burden of carrying £50.00 in my wallet told me nothing was wrong.

But, now when I drive it lasts about 10 miles before shutting off. As always the car runs fine without any issues. But.. Volvo have quoted £700+ for a new Driver Information Module, which they claim must be the problem.

Help??

Does this sound right? Are their any wiring problems I could be looking into first?

While I'm at it, does anyone know of a good independant in either Basingstoke or Swindon?



p.s. If every part of a car costs this much, how do they make any money when the put them all together and sell them for the prices they do??

[TJMurphy]

When my car was new it had a fairly complete dashboard failure -- but not the tacho -- which turned out to be a faulty ABS sensor. To be honest your symptoms don't sound the same though. RT Mechanics in Liphook are very good if you wanted to give Russell a call and see if he can have a look. It may still be a new module but his labour rates are less than Volvo dealers for fitting it.

Tony

[GMcL]

I would have the car checked out by an electronics place first.
Mk2 Golf GTi's had a similar problem with the MFA.
It was a resistor worth coppers that would burn out. VW wanted £700 for a new computer that would burn out again in time.
I took my car to a place out near Telford (can't remember the exact place or name now) where I paid £150 for the guy to take the dash out, fit a proper resistor that was up to the job and refit the dash.

[S60-MBS]

Maybe frayed network cables as was in my case..these are located under drivers seat close to seat runners...you mention the cars ok after switching off for a while..this was also the case in mine..get volvo to check the wiring and relocate if neccesary...my cabes have now gone under centre console..volvo are aware of this issue on early model S60's.

[ajc11251]

My saga continues, Volvo have now "refined" their quote to £938!

I am starting to wonder if they do that to get you to buy a new car since it's almost the price of a deposit!

Thanks for all your advice thus far, I'm going to get them to investigate the wiring to see if they can't track down some for of issue there.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to find a Electrical specialist near to where I live so I may just have to bite the bullet and pay another visit to Volvo.

[ajc11251]

Well I am delighted to say, after parting with £1000+ I have ....
a nice clean car, 'cos thats all I got for my money.

The new dim was fitted, and the fault is still present!!! Argh!!
On the up side, the indicator sound is ever so slightly different!

Once I've got a refund I will go to an independant electrical specialist I think..

Lucky I asked for the old part, they can just swap them back out again I guess!

[S60-MBS]

bloody hell! main dealer was it?...did they check the network cables under seats or just fob you off with excuses?...

[Clan]

They cant put the old one back as the software has changed and it wont match your car any longer and the new one they have fitted wont work in any other car now so its useless except in your car ... let them have the car for a few days and sort it out and thoroughly test it for a few days before giving it back to you ... The main dealer is really the right way to go , an independent specialist wont have a clue or the test gear necessary .. The main dealer has volvo technical back up to call on ..

By not diagnosing it properly and not testing it for long anough and giving it back to you too soon they have cost themselves a lot of money ..

[John_C]

Bloody hell, a £1000+ bill and they haven't fixed it?! What did they say when you went back to them, what are they going to do about it now, surely not charge you more money after replacing a really expensive part that wasn't the problem? Arrrgh! I admire your restraint in your posts I'd be off the deep end by now.

Cheers,
John

[ajc11251]

My lovely T5 is back in their tender care.

They won't confirm anything until they've had a chance to get a good close look at it.
I have to admit, I was a little suspicious that they were so quick to fit such an expensive unit, but I thought that it may have been a bit of a known fault.

It is a main volvo dealer, which makes me all the more annoyed, but since I am now out of the country for the next 3 weeks, I have simply told them that they can have the car until I return, by which time I expect the fault to be fixed, and I certainly don't expect to be paying any more


I am a little worried that they won't be able to put the old one in, but that said, I do like the updated indicator noise. (Well worth £1000 eh?)

they've promised another call tomorrow to tell me their plan of action, so I should hope to be able to post some good news.
Thanks for all the advice and support so far.

p.s. They did claim to do a complete wiring check on the car, (Impressive in just half a day!)