Uh oh - I need ECC Help please

**DBLD** · 09-23-2006, 02:54 PM

Hi,

I think I screwed up good this time. I took all the great information from this site and tried to replace the bulbs in my climate control unit myself. Disconnected the battery, took out the unit, disconnected its wires, replaced bulbs. So far, so good. Reconnected the unit's wires, put it back in place, reconnected battery, turned on car - no power to climate control unit. No lights, no air flow, nothing. So, I pulled it apart again thinking that I must not have connected one of the climate control unit wires properly. But foolishly, I did not disconnect the battery that second time. Sure enough, I got the air bag error message - but still no power to the climate control unit.

I am cooked on this one or what? The dealer wanted $45 for the bulbs, and another $45 to install them - I figured, "ah, I'll save the $45 installation and just do it myself." So I bought the bulbs for $45, and now I am really worried that the remainder is not something I am going to be able to fix - either myself or for less than $45 at the dealer.

What do I do? 1) Is there anything I can do to get power back to my climate control unit? I've searched this site and tried disconnecting the battery again, holding wires together, locking and locking with the key only, the key fob - you name it. I've also checked all fuses and they look OK. Any thought?
2) Is the dealer the only one who can reset the air bag error code? How much is that? Does the air bag still work even with the code out there?

Thanks for your help.

**Steely** · 09-23-2006, 04:22 PM

Dealer is the only place to get your SRS reset. BTDT.

Power to your ECC: Try replacing the fuse anyway. Cheapest and fastest way to find out that's not the problem. Get out your voltmeter and start checking the power supply plugs. Any juice to the 12 volt outlet? I think there's a total of three green plugs that serve the back of the unit. Got 'em all accounted for? Don't give up. If it was working when you unplugged it it oughta be revivable.

Giood Luck!

**DBLD** · 09-24-2006, 03:53 AM

Hi,
I tested the 12 volt plug, and yes, it's working. But the unit itself is not yet. I pulled the fuse and replaced it anyway, still nothing.

I've read some threads about this indicating that the unit could be damaged -how does that happen? It was working fine before this, and the only thing I did was unplug it, to put the lights in, and then plug it back in. How can I troubleshoot this to know if I need a new unit or not? If I don't need a new unit, how can I get this one going again - is it a software download or something like that? I just don't know an awful lot about how this works - but I'm not ready to give up just yet.

Finally, do you know if the airbag will still work even with that error message out there? It might be a little while before I can get to the dealer to get that cleared, and I don't want to take any chances.

Thanks!

**howardc64** · 09-24-2006, 08:07 PM

I also took out my ECC awhile back to clean the jammed fan behind the temperature sensing wire (heater wouldn't work except on max, seen it occur to a couple of other people too)

Lucky, my ECC didn't have any problems when I plugged everything back in. However, I did learn that damage or at least a software reload maybe necessary. Apprently, the key must be in position II when reconnecting the battery to allow proper start/initialization of the electrical subsystems. You can read this thread

http://www.vvspy.com/w-agora4/view.p...t=&last=&hb=-2

Good luck.

**DBLD** · 09-25-2006, 04:31 PM

Thanks for your reply and input. I've tired disconnecting and reconnecting everything, but still nothing - even with the key in position II. Looks like I'll have to call the dealer to see what's going on. I just hope I don't need a new ECC - can't imagine that would be too cheap. Ah well, chalk it up to a learning experience.

Thanks.

**DBLD** · 09-27-2006, 08:04 AM

Hi,

I've been losing the battle to get my ECC back into working order since removing it to replace the bulbs. So, today I broke down and called the dealer to see what he thought and what it would take to fix it.

1) He said you cannot unplug these units once they are installed - true or false? I didn't know that, and it sounds like many of you have unplugged them and been OK if re-installed properly. I think it would be pretty tough to get the bulbs out of the back without unplugging the unit, but i thought I'd check on that with you all.

2) He said he could try a software download, but if it didn't work, then I'd need a new unit. I asked if I could replace it with a used unit taken from a salvage yard, for instance. He said no - for the same reason noted above - that once the unit is unplugged, it's basically no good. Is that true or false? A new unit was quoted at about $800! Yikes!

If I have to go this route, I guess I will, but I wanted to get as much info as possible before doing anything. If there is anything else I can do to get this thing going before bringing it in, please let me know (though I know I'll still need to go in to get the SRS message cleared).

Thanks everyone!

**howardc64** · 09-27-2006, 08:56 AM

When I cleaned the temperature fan spindle.

But there seems to be other people that have encountered the same exact problem you have. I wander if it just chance.

I have a recently burnt out light bulb in my ECC as well. Now I'm afraid to touch it.

So perhaps you can ask the dealer a simple question, what would they do to replace a burnt out light bulb in the ECC? Do they replace the whole unit + reload SW at $1000 for a light bulb? I doubt it. There has to be a sequence that works.

The vvspy thread showed a simple battery disconnect can cause this. The ECC doesn't even need to be taken out. I'm assuming there are variety of reasons why a 01+ Volvo's battery might be disconnected through out its life. So there must be a "correct" bullet proof way of reconnecting the battery without damaging any of the electronics or loaded software. Perhaps the key in position II power reconnect sequence is this.

Several Volvo techs hangs out at

http://www.volvoforums.com/forumid_11/tt.htm

They can probably confirm. But maybe too late for your car. Sorry.

**JsR** · 09-27-2006, 10:59 AM

FWIW - on my '03 XC90 I needed to charge the battery. I spoke to the dealer about disconnecting it and they said 'no problem' so I went ahead. I reconnected, charged it, and reconnected and all was fine - everything re-initialized properly - didn't have to put ignition in position II.

NEVERTHELESS - the attached pdf recommends a particular procedure (XC70 & XC90)...

HOWEVER - the XC70 (MY07) handbook makes no mention of Ignition Position II so make of that what you may. Possibly, in position II the air-bag is temporarily disabled so would not fire on reconnection.

Hope this helps

John R