On call service required - worth the diagnosis charge?

[falter]

I have now been told that they already performed the software download, which they called a 'VCM Reload' and that the same errors were appearing so nothing more can be done.

It needs a new VCM module, £2,056.44

[Alben]

Response from Volvo UK on this matter:

Please see below a response from our technical support team:

This has not been a large scale issue nor is there any service bulletins or recalls for this.
There is software for a particular code should it arise. This is only to be installed if the code appears and not as a preventative measure

And

We cannot comment on different jurisdictions on what actions care to be taken.

My colleague from our technical support team was commenting on actions in the UK.

There was only one recall which was regarding a fuse, and that has been no other recall.

Whilst we appreciate your frustration however, as stated earlier, other jurisdictions may not influence what happens in the UK.

[Carabind]

Originally Posted by Alben

Response from Volvo UK on this matter:

Please see below a response from our technical support team:

This has not been a large scale issue nor is there any service bulletins or recalls for this.
There is software for a particular code should it arise. This is only to be installed if the code appears and not as a preventative measure

And

We cannot comment on different jurisdictions on what actions care to be taken.

My colleague from our technical support team was commenting on actions in the UK.

There was only one recall which was regarding a fuse, and that has been no other recall.

Whilst we appreciate your frustration however, as stated earlier, other jurisdictions may not influence what happens in the UK.

Not very helpful

[apersson850]

Speaking about various internal communication structures in the car with the local tech specialist at the Volvo dealer here in Sweden, I learned that the first few years they were replacing VCM units a lot. They even had them in store locally to handle it fast. Then improved software came around which would fix the problem most of the time. Now it's no big issue, he said.

The backup battery has an expected lifetime of about ten years, so the older cars in this series are coming close now. I replaced it in the XC70 from 2012 I had before.
If the backup battery is low everything still works normally. It's just a warning.
If the backup battery is dead everything still works normally. It's only in the case you experience a violent crash, powerful enough to destroy the normal 12 V supply of the VCM that it needs the backup battery to do the emergency call.

If the backup battery is dead then the call can't be made.
This is the only time you'll notice the difference, unless you are dead too after the crash...