2004 Volvo XC70 Logo
Posted on Oct 17, 2008

Volvo xc70 2004 flashing dashboard and srs airbag service urgent

Hi, I got a 2004 XC70 and the message SRS-AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT appears on the left side of the dashboard. 2 months ago the dealer change the ABS module because it was still cover under the guarantee however the message is out again. They cleared the code however they do not seem to understand what is causing the problem. They told me they would make a software update on the ABS module and see if it fixes the problem. Then they told me that if it does not work they would change the DIM module and charge me for it ($1100). They do not seem to be very professional in their approach to find the problem and do not know what to think of them. The message seems to be reappearing at the same time the dashboard lights go off and on again while the car is on. Could it be link to the battery or something else? Thanks. Nicolas.

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  • spm37 Oct 24, 2008


    I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2002 VOLVO V70 -
    IT SEEMS LIKE A LOOSE CONNECTION BUT WHEN I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY AUTO ELECTRICIANS THEY CAN ONLY SUGGEST THAT IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT SITS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD.

    IF I PRESS THE ODOMETER (MILEAGE COUNTER) I GET THE DASHBOARD TO LIGHT UP - SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE BUT USUALLY IT GOES STRAIGHT OUT AGAIN)

    I SAW SOME COMMENTS ON A VOLVO FORUM WEBSITE (SEE COMMENTS BELOW) -

    IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VOLVO MODELS AS WELL.

    MY DASHBOARD IS USUALLY LIGHTED AND ALIVE IN THE MORNINGS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES DEAD!!

    VOLVO SHOULD BE TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BUT THEY SEEM ONLY INTERESTED IN REPALCING EXPENSIVE PARTS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CUSTOMER!

    I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD - APPROXIMATELY £800!!!!!!!!!


    1). What year V70? Are you having any other problems or just the dash? If it is a later model, it kind of sounds like you are having either a power/ground problem, or a communication problem between the vehicle's computers. Both could be caused by internal faults in the DIM (driver information module, what Volvo calls the instrument cluster). Have you had the DIM replaced to determine if that was the cause? Did the dealer say they couldn't verify the problem, or did they tell you the just can't fix it? Have them check the DIM for faults, and consider having it replaced to eliminate that as a cause. Hope this helps.


    2). Just had one in our shop with that exact problem. We ended

  • Joeflynn3rd Oct 31, 2008

    I had the same problem with my new model S40. I was getting warnings for the airbag, ABS brakes and power steering. My window would stop working also. When i brought it to the Volvo garage they put it down to the turbo charger, so at a big cost i got that replaced, fair enough i had been down power. But 4 months on the lights have started to come back on but this time i have full power from the turbo. I dont know what i am going to do with it, cause these repairs are costing me a fortune.

  • nuf58 Dec 30, 2008

    I have the same problem.. sometimes the lights on the dash will come on and the gages will work for awhile and then other times it will stay off. I have drove the car on long drives with out any problem. As well I seem to have a problem with the car stalling out even after it is fully warmed up. It seems to be choking for gas..... could they be related.

  • mitchelle Jan 14, 2009

    On my volvo XC70 I got the airbag urgent sign up and ignored it for months (possibly around 85,000 miles when it 1st appeared). Now the DIM (Drivers Information Module) unit has started to just die(car now at just over 100,000 miles). I can drive for 2-3 minutes with it all working then everything shuts down. Some journeys it is fine. I had a diagnostic done (costing £40.00!) and they told me that the DIM unit needs replacing at the cost of £750! I am trying to find a cheaper unit (they are quoting £627.50 for the unit) and an independant volvo mechanic. Any thoughts out there?   

  • spm37 Jan 26, 2009

    Hi,

    I have the exact same problem with my V70 - it started last summer and is still the same.

    The SRS airbag sign is always illuminated when the dashboard is lit - but I have had the airbags checked and they are fine (it's some sort of default warning.)

    When I start the car in a morning the dashboard seems to work perfectly for abot 3 - 5 minutes and then goes dead - no dials or lights with the exception of the blue 'full beam' light if full beam is engaged!



    on lomg journeys the dashboard often woks fine - it's as though power is getting to it via a resistor or something which builds up on long journeys!!



    If I press the Odometer button on the dash - the dashboard usually lights up temporarily so I can see my speed and fuel gauge etc!!



    I have seen similar problems on a Volvo dedicated forum website - with no-one really having the answers - except full dash replacement (DIM) - but one guy had this done at nearly a grand - and it still didn't work - so beware spending big money - if you do go down this route I would suggest using a Volvo main dealer - but makiing them gautantee that the work/quote you receive will solve the problem and not put yourself in a weak position if the dash isn't operating correctly after spending all that hard earned cash!!



    Some peoples experience was frayed wires that run under the passenger seat area to the dashboard area - someone else said the problem started after they had an engine component replaced - so no real clear answers I'm afraid -





    I paid £70 for an auto electrician to investigate the problem and he soldered a few joints on the circuit board (which is located just behind the dials). the dashboard worked for a few days then reverted back to its original position of only working for a few minutes each morning and then going off again.





    I'm still wondering what to do with mine !!



    let me know if you find any answers.



    cheers,



    Simon.

  • mitchelle Jan 26, 2009

    It sounds very similar to my problem. I ignored the SBS sign as Volvo in Barnstaple England stated that it was a switch problem and nothing to do with the actual airbags. However, 6 months later the whole DIM unit is now failing and I have been advised to replace it at the cost of £750.00. The cynic in me suggests this may well be an inbuilt faliure to this model to ensure volvo make money on fixing such problems. 
    I have had independant advice and they have advised not to buy a second hand unit, or try and save money to get any old mechanic to fit it as the whole car will lock down (thinking that sometone is fiddling with the milage). So, you chioce is to spend the money, or just keep driving the car as it doesn't seem to interfere with its function other than that, as is the case with me, after a couple of minutes the whole dash just dies and I have no information; sometimes it doesn't die at all.  

  • spm37 May 11, 2010

    Thanks Gazzer & Rockton for the info' - definitely some good input there!

    Has either of you any idea why the dashboard comes to life when I press hard on the odometer button. My mechanic says it's because it bends the circuit board and connects something - could this be connecting an open circuit?



    Cheers,



    Simon.

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Hello Posters,

What you are experiencing in one way or another is a low (all functions inside the passenger cabin) or high speed (engine compartment) network failure. But before I get to far into it you need to understand how the Volvo works and don't worry I will keep this as lamen as I can.

The 1999 and new Volvo's work on a network, (CAN network) think it of a a bunch of computers in an office that share a printer. Well, depending on the year of your Volvo you could have up to 20 plus computers or ECU's. The reason that such technology is on your car is siimple: The average car today carries over 400LBs of wiring that runs to and fro through out the car. This weight is no longer acceptable and if not stopped could easily make up over half the weight of the car to give us the comfort features we want.

Don't panic yet, Volvo didn't just stuff that many ECU's in a car without a diagnostic solution just in case something went wrong. Now, since these ECU's have information that needs to be shared over the car there needs to be a boss of that information. Think of 20 people in one room all talking at once, everyone is talking but no one can hear. With me so far?

So, Volvo put what is called a CEM which stands for Central Electronic Module to 'run' things. It's job is to monitor and regulate all communication on board the vehicle, with out it there would be anarchy!!

How to they talk to each other?

Two wires are run between each ECU (LAN Cables if you wish) which pulse voltage up and down to give it's ECU's information package when it's that particular ECU's time to 'speak'. The CEM controls who speaks and when. If one ECU speaks out of turn then the ECU who's turn it was to speak is silenced. If this happens to the next ECU on the list and so on here is the anarchy I spoke of. (If you and 20 of your friends were sitting around a room and you each had to say a number higher (1.2.3.4.5.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6) than the person to you left and the one person just kept shouting their number the cycle would break down.

The CEM would then instruct all ECU's to shut down since there is no point to speak with the loud mouth in the room. This is example is a babbling node (ECU). Since the on board's information is transmitted using voltages then any disruption or damage to the signal will cause the network failure. Short circuits, either to power or ground, would stop that electrical signal although shorts to ground is the most common.

If the dash is going dead, you should see the SRS light/message come on first then the gauges drop off then the total death of the display.

High speed failures will show as the ABS/TRACS failure message then RPM and engine temp fail but the rest of the DIM will stay on.

You really need to take this to the dealer and the dealer ONLY!! They have computer (VIDA) that can run the necessary diagnostics to determine where the problem may lie. If the fault is permanent then it is relative easy to find and fix. If it happens every now and then it is quite difficult to find. But, if your technician says it's a computer right off the start then he is guessing and you should get a guarantee that if the computer replaced does not fix the problem then you will not pay for it.

Let me know if this helps.

Gazzer

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Hi, I got a 2004 XC70 and the message SRS-AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT appears on the left side of the dashboard. 2 months ago the dealer change the ABS module because it was still cover under the guarantee however the message is out again. They cleared the code however they do not seem

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This can be caused by a few issues.. My Volvo dealer told me I needed a new DIm after a 30 minute inspection... I ofcourse said no to the 1500.00 procedure but I got the error codes from Volve..

SRS-00D5
SRS-E003

They said the DIM was faulty.. But after doing some digging i found out the following.

DTC- SRS-0D5 If the SRS control module does not receive a control area network ( CAN) signal with the status of the SRS warning lamp from the DIM

Possible Cause: 1.Open Circuit in the CAN Cable. 2. Faulty DIM
Symptom: Airbag Urgent message

DTC- SRS- E003
Possible Cause: Open circuit in the CAN wiring between the control module and the central electrical Module ( CEM )

My Problems are becuase of some open connections,, Have to trace the wiring to see if theres any obvious damage.. II also told VOLVO to just reset the warning and it hasnt come back since.

The service girl and mechanic just decided that the DIM was bad.. Guess I shouldnt have worn my expensive coat into the shop.

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Srs light hello i have a 2001 v70 i payed for *** to dealership, and also on line Thanks to the different responses from average people and i fixed the problem It was a weak battery. I replaced the battery the srs light went off. Also i fixed the sun roof by locking and unlocking the door by using the key

  • Dawn Houston
    Dawn Houston Oct 14, 2014

    The sunroof now works now gonna try battery for srs light

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Just clear the code and every thing will be well

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  • Posted on Oct 23, 2009

SOURCE: in a 2001 Volvo XC70 the wrong fuse was removed

remove the batter cable for a while and replace it back ( negtive cable)

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