3200 throttle body - lock down project.

[boomerang]

Just to be sure I understood correctly; the Volvo unit works with the VOLVO internal electronic module?

 

[Frog3200]

Hi David,
Having it running without err codes is quite a revolution in the 3200 world ! I wondered many times why these TB wouldn't work on our cars. Congratulations for your great experience. A vaccine for the 3200' TB ? What a headline !
cheers

 

[davy83]

Just to be sure I understood correctly; the Volvo unit works with the VOLVO internal electronic module?

Yes exactly, I have been working with a company that make programmers for Volvo ETM modules and using my OEM Maserati unit we have managed to clone it, it does require a special programmer which i now kind of have, it also requires some modifications to the ETM to get the electronics to behave and also some mods to the choke to make it drive the same. I have some crude mods on the one in my car at the moment, but i am working on tidier ways ot achieve this.

 

[davy83]

Hi David,
Having it running without err codes is quite a revolution in the 3200 world ! I wondered many times why these TB wouldn't work on our cars. Congratulations for your great experience. A vaccine for the 3200' TB ? What a headline !
cheers

Well with all this lock down time it seemed like a problem that has long needed to be simplified!!!

 

[davy83]

very interesting indeed since my throttle body died a week ago.... magnet corrosion got butterfly stuck and now even with magnet repaired throttle body does not work. Might have broken something else..
Lots of Volvos here in Finland so Volvo throttle body is easy to source (at least a LOT easier than Maserati one..). Any advice how to make Volvo one work?

I would not rush off and buy a Volvo ETM as this conversion process is not going to be that simple I dont think. Unless you want to send me it to be changed?

 

[Tamariini]

I would not rush off and buy a Volvo ETM as this conversion process is not going to be that simple I dont think. Unless you want to send me it to be changed?

Volvo ETM's are here easily available as reconditioned versions and reasonably priced so could well be worth a shot. is some Volvo ETM (part number?) better for this use than other?

 

[davy83]

Volvo ETM's are here easily available as reconditioned versions and reasonably priced so could well be worth a shot. is some Volvo ETM (part number?) better for this use than other?

I dont think you are listening! the upgrade requires both mechanical and proramming changes to the ETM as well as a different connector. without the programmer set up to allow the ETM mechanics to be set up to the Maserati spec you won't be able to make it work. So what are you planning to do with it exactly? I have been working with a manufacturer of programmers to get a programmer to work but its not cheap. and to date only one exists hopefully within a week two. i was thinking if i had a programmer i could reconfigure the Volvo ones and then sell them on at cost more or less so other people can use this route too. But i need ot get the mods right first, and i am still testing it. I am working on the choke profile changes to get a tidy solution for that, its hard to get things done quickly at the moment.

 

[Tamariini]

I dont think you are listening! the upgrade requires both mechanical and proramming changes to the ETM as well as a different connector. without the programmer set up to allow the ETM mechanics to be set up to the Maserati spec you won't be able to make it work. So what are you planning to do with it exactly? I have been working with a manufacturer of programmers to get a programmer to work but its not cheap. and to date only one exists hopefully within a week two. i was thinking if i had a programmer i could reconfigure the Volvo ones and then sell them on at cost more or less so other people can use this route too. But i need ot get the mods right first, and i am still testing it. I am working on the choke profile changes to get a tidy solution for that, its hard to get things done quickly at the moment.

Yes, i am listening but maybe not expressing myself clearly enough I have used to that... My ex-wife has told me a lot about that matter...

What i meant was if there is Volvo ETM which suits better to modification needed than others, i could buy that as reconditioned unit and send to you for modification. I would happily be "beta" tester of the unit.

 

[davy83]

Well you need the one with the same body as the Maserati one usually Volvo C60 and the ones with the yellow label are the newer ones, so they are best. However I was planning on getting one or two and updating them and testing them on my car and then when i was happy with that, then offer them to others, but whatever. I have three throttle bodies already, and one offer for beta testing so making progress.

 

[davy83]

Sorry wrong type the one you are looking for is good for
C70 S60 S70 S80 V70
And get the newest one you can find.

 

[Mancserati]

The company I work for has an account with Sacer who produce(d) the contactless throttle position sensor for the Volvo and Maserati throttle bodies. I’ve got a few buried in my garage somewhere.

 

[alfatwo]

The company I work for has an account with Sacer who produce(d) the contactless throttle position sensor for the Volvo and Maserati throttle bodies. I’ve got a few buried in my garage somewhere.

Trouble is Its not the Sacer part that gives trouble, Its the motor magnet that usually fails and partially jams the throttle

Its the same with all Volvo type units, and they've made hundred's of thousands of these things and they still give trouble!

Dave

 

[davy83]

Trouble is Its not the Sacer part that gives trouble, Its the motor magnet that usually fails and partially jams the throttle

Its the same with all Volvo type units, and they've made hundred's of thousands of these things and they still give trouble!

Dave

Which is why being able to use newer units appealed to me in the first place!!

 

[safrane]

Bizarre that the 3200 has so many issues with the TB as my volvo C70 and V70 did 175k and 190k respectively with no hint of issues. Both cars being 2003 versions and stayed with me to 2013.

 

[davy83]

Bizarre that the 3200 has so many issues with the TB as my volvo C70 and V70 did 175k and 190k respectively with no hint of issues. Both cars being 2003 versions and stayed with me to 2013.

Yes it does seem a bit odd, I can only assume that Maserati took the same insane approach to safety that they did with the pedal sensor and made the system totally intolerant to any change in the ETM during its life making it extremely prone to throwing an error when there is actually nothing wrong with the part. Its certainly why the pedal sensor is so prone to failure its just a crazy tight spec on whats regarded as a fault. I can only assume though that the Volvo parts must also eventually have problems with the magnet and debris and all that? Its also probably pertinent that the 3200's are now all between 18 and 24 years old so getting to be pretty long in the tooth, and all the parts are getting old. I wonder how many Volvos are still being cared for at 24 years old?

 

[Rex B]

Didn’t Volvo change to Bosch throttle bodies around 2003

 

[davy83]

They did, just as Maserati did, however you get these old style ones for Volvos with manufacture dates up to 2018 so some one kept making them? Perhaps Volvo took a more enlightened approach to supporting their customers than Maserati?

Didn’t Volvo change to Bosch throttle bodies around 2003

 

[Rex B]

I will look around to see if l can find a later one for possible use in the future if you end up offering a rebuild service. I fitted a new one 2 years ago so should be ok for a while, but with your modifications you may also be able to increase the boost to release some more power, but that is perhaps hoping to much. Anyway keep up the good work the pedal pot lpurchased from you is now 7 or 8 years and 40k miles old and still going strong so thanks for that.
Regards
Rex B

 

[davy83]

i wouldn't bother i will likely get some newer ones and get them rebuilt and tested and just sell them. I may put them on e-bay too, for any non-forum owners. I am still workign on a tidy fix for the choke profile, give me a week I will have it sorted out.

 

[davy83]

For anyone who is wondering how I am getting on. I have nailed the programming of the electronics and now have 3 ETM's that work on my car, so I am pretty happy with that. The choke profile makes it not feel right when driving, and quite noticeable on back to back driving tests. I have worked out by detailed mesasurement and a number of driving trials what the problem with the choke profile is. I have made a crude rework tro one of them which mimics the exact choke profile of the original one and it works ok, but it is messy and would be a hard change to make simply. I have modifyed one ETM by removing some of the metal in the choke area to try and get it closer to the right profile albeit still at a larger choke diameter and this drives quite well, but its going to be hard to get consistent behaviour without stripping the whole ETM and machining it properly, which will impact the reliability of the unit and cost a lot of money i suspect. So I have a couple of schemes that will potentially allow me to correct the choke profile, in a tidy and repeatable way, and I hope over the course of next week to test these out and fingers crossed get to an acceptable solution. Its a great excuse to do lots of runs in the car!!!