Volvo TAMD 73/74 and 75 ECU - Cause for concern?

[Norsk]

I've had confirmation from VP this morning that ECU manufacture is now underway and they remain on schedule for 2Q22 availability.

Great?, do you know what this new production ecu will cost?.
Old # of ecu is priced in EU to about 4000 Euro+tax.
Volvo have a very good income when selling this part, so it will be interestig to see if price get the same or maybe lower.
Hmmm?

 

[DavidJ]

I've had confirmation from VP this morning that ECU manufacture is now underway and they remain on schedule for 2Q22 availability.

Excellent news
Only out of interest, does the 73,74 and 75 share the same ECU as the KAD44
I guess what I’m asking is, are all the models above potentially out of the woods now?

 

[petem]

Excellent news
Only out of interest, does the 73,74 and 75 share the same ECU as the KAD44
I guess what I’m asking is, are all the models above potentially out of the woods now?

The official name for this generation of ECU is "EDC I".

The hardware is similar, if not identical, for the TAMD73/74/75 plus KA(M)D44/300.

Volvo program the ECU's for each order that they receive. Note that within engine model there are further variants for example the ECU's are programmed differently for KAD44P-A, KAD44P-B and KAD44P-C so there's at least 11 different variants in total.

Pete

 

[Norsk]

Hello David.
No, they have not same interial components.
Only 72 and 73 ecu have same interials.
They can interchange if programmed by volvo tool ? (72 and 73 ecu)
74, 75, and some Kad 44 are possible to interchange, also kad 300. But need a new software by volvo tool to fit those engines.

 

[petem]

Great?, do you know what this new production ecu will cost?.
Old # of ecu is priced in EU to about 4000 Euro+tax.
Volvo have a very good income when selling this part, so it will be interestig to see if price get the same or maybe lower.
Hmmm?

I don't I'm afraid. I'll ask and report back.

 

[petem]

Hello David.
No, they have not same interial components.
Only 72 and 73 ecu have same interials.
They can interchange if programmed by volvo tool ? (72 and 73 ecu)
74, 75, and some Kad 44 are possible to interchange, also kad 300. But need a new software by volvo tool to fit those engines.

Interestingly, Volvo (and Coastal Rides) have managed to revive some broken ECU's by re-programming them. Volvo only started doing this since they ran out of new ones to supply to customers. It's a shame they didn't offer this service before.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I've had confirmation from VP this morning that ECU manufacture is now underway and they remain on schedule for 2Q22 availability.

Hi Pete, great news I think. When I come to change my boat (?2023) it might open up some options that I've deliberately not considered due to this concern.

 

[Norsk]

I do not understand why a reprogramming should solve a hardware defect.
In my humble oppinion it is very rare a software upgrade or reprogramming a already dead ecu, will wake it up again after have worked 10+years.
74, 75, and most kad ecu's can be reprogrammed to crossfit any of those engines.
Petem. I agree if volvo have reprogrammed a kad 44 ecu to fit a TAMD 74 or 75?

 

[DavidJ]

I do not understand why a reprogramming should solve a hardware defect.
In my humble oppinion it is very rare a software upgrade or reprogramming a already dead ecu, will wake it up again after have worked 10+years.
74, 75, and most kad ecu's can be reprogrammed to crossfit any of those engines.
Petem. I agree if volvo have reprogrammed a kad 44 ecu to fit a TAMD 74 or 75?

You are of course correct in that a software upgrade is unlikely to solve a hardware defect but I wonder how many ECU’s have been replaced when really the software has got itself completely screwed (I mean more than a reboot cure)

 

[Norsk]

Hello Petem.
I agree in some way?

Like told before. Software do not change it's programmed behavor over time.
If it fails, then a error code is set. Or ecu stop working.
I can belive many ecu's have been changed witht no reason to ecu itselves, but because of bad investigation at system around ecu

It is rare ecu is to blame if engine stops.
But I know many 72 an 73 ecu's do stop working. They fail because of hardware problem. That Electronic is very old now, and they where manufactured to give a minimum 15 year limit.
So when they fail after 20+year, it has done the Job.
??

 

[Norsk]

I mean quote to David

 

[vas]

@Norsk , although I'd generally agree, there are cases where stray currents (from a messed up connector or whatnot) or other type of spikes can affect the "heart" of a device and a reflash/reprogram whatever you want to call it, brings it back to life.
Now if "tired" components may compromise the security mechanisms built into the h/w s/w of the ECU after 20yrs it's anybody's guess, not mine. But it's not like sci-fi!

speak from theory and experience, without ever having set my eyes on a VP ecu

V.

 

[Norsk]

Hello Vas.
Flash memory on TAMD 72 and 73 ecu is AM 29F010 chip.
I belive same chip are used on all other edc1 units.
Why I know, is because when looking trought epoxy resin i can read several components. Not all are possible to see, but the one ecu I had here, the epoxy was very clear. The Micro controller was also visible with part number. This AM29F010 flash chip is very "long living" and this flash memory is used in many other
Configurations....like in your own computer as bios memory. Also in many other car/boat ecu's.
So in my oppinion those memory is very stable. Just Google AM29F010 and read datasheet?
If it for some reason fail, ecu is Stone dead.

 

[DavidJ]

I’m finding this discussion interesting
Don’t ECU‘s ever have small problems which need a reboot to sort them, so not completely robust. Then it’s possible surely that bigger problems may occur which need a complete reflash/reprogram

 

[Norsk]

I’m finding this discussion interesting
Don’t ECU‘s ever have small problems which need a reboot to sort them, so not completely robust. Then it’s possible surely that bigger problems may occur which need a complete reflash/reprogram

To your answer...yes ecu's in all conditions need updates IF manufacture say they need...then we talk of ecu made after year 2000.
But here we talk about 20 years old hardware. Volvo and rest of wourld did not think that it would be a issue.
Now in 2022 all is completely different.
Maybe next New ecu hybrid to 72 and 73 engines have that.
???

 

[westernman]

Hello Vas.
Flash memory on TAMD 72 and 73 ecu is AM 29F010 chip.
I belive same chip are used on all other edc1 units.
Why I know, is because when looking trought epoxy resin i can read several components. Not all are possible to see, but the one ecu I had here, the epoxy was very clear. The Micro controller was also visible with part number. This AM29F010 flash chip is very "long living" and this flash memory is used in many other
Configurations....like in your own computer as bios memory. Also in many other car/boat ecu's.
So in my oppinion those memory is very stable. Just Google AM29F010 and read datasheet?
If it for some reason fail, ecu is Stone dead.

Very common chip with multiple compatible manufacturers.
It has been around for a very very long time.
I think my Atari Mega ST (30 years ago and before we had PCs with 32 bit processors) had those in it.

 

[oldgit]

Interestingly, Volvo (and Coastal Rides) have managed to revive some broken ECU's by re-programming them. Volvo only started doing this since they ran out of new ones to supply to customers. It's a shame they didn't offer this service before.

A while ago an ECU was returned from a boat in Majorca to CR in Dover for "reprogramming" which at the time appeared to solve the problem, the boat was then sold on..
Some time later the problem on the boat reappeared and at the time remained unresolved.

 

[Cruiser4450]

Nobody that I'm aware of here or on the various VP Facebook Groups is waiting for one. Have you tried asking VP if they can attempt to re-program yours? Might also be worth asking on FB if anyone has a used one that they're willing to sell.

What serial number of ECU do you need?

Coastal Rides occasionally have used ones for sale.

I just received my ECU for my TAMD 73P. I got it thru stewart and stevens in houston texas.
55 Waugh Drive, Suite 803
Houston, Texas 77007. 713-884-4170
I have been waiting 2 years for it.
Make sure you have a volvo service center install and program the controls. I didn't because my volvo dealer wont work on my boat and now i cant get the calibration to be accepted. Can anybody help me calibrate my controls i have the manual but apparently Im doing something wrong

 

[Portofino]

I just received my ECU for my TAMD 73P. I got it thru stewart and stevens in houston texas.
55 Waugh Drive, Suite 803
Houston, Texas 77007. 713-884-4170
I have been waiting 2 years for it.
Make sure you have a volvo service center install and program the controls. I didn't because my volvo dealer wont work on my boat and now i cant get the calibration to be accepted. Can anybody help me calibrate my controls i have the manual but apparently Im doing something wrong

Welcome to the forum .
Sorry to here your woes .
Was the boat out of action for the 2 yrs during the wait ?
Why won’t the official VP dealer now work on your boat ? …..Because he didn’t fit the part ?
Sounds a nightmare experience from VP ownership.

Thx for sharing a real life experience.Will help others make informed future choices hopefully , hope you get a resolution soon .

 

[Cruiser4450]

Welcome to the forum .
Sorry to here your woes .
Was the boat out of action for the 2 yrs during the wait ?
Why won’t the official VP dealer now work on your boat ? …..Because he didn’t fit the part ?
Sounds a nightmare experience from VP ownership.

Thx for sharing a real life experience.Will help others make informed future choices hopefully , hope you get a resolution soon .

I switched my ECU from one engine to the other to run it. I took off my dead engines prop and ran one prop for two years (I have bow thruster).
Me and my local dealer had a disagreement about a “repair” on my boat and they are the only volvo penta service center that does extensive engine work. So now I am trying to find someone to help me with programming my controls as when I start up the port motor it runs 2k in neutral. I followed the manual but I do not get a response as far as accepting the cali ration. ECU was 4600.00 out the door.