is anyone else out there with a 01 xc having lots of electrical problems?

left front blinker works intermittently

lock/unlock keychain doesn't work.

sun roof works intermittently

automatic downshift while in geartronic mode puts the car into first after stopping half the time.

rear winshield wiper goes on by itself...

the list goes on...help

have i bought a lemon?

Have you taken this car back to your dealer where they should be able to repair these problems? They would call the tech hot line, open a case and/or call their rep if they were unable to find a solution by looking through normal repair options.

the car is going to the dealership this week. i'll post how they did.

I am not sure about the electrical problems, have not seen a 2001 XC with all that stuff. But the remotes, ther ehas been a bad batch (unfortunately a sizeable number) on many 2001 V70s, XCs and S60s, they are all on back order until mid-February.

Either one or both remotes do not work, there is no repair, they need to be replaced with new units.

Yannis

How many miles do you have? I took delivery on October 15th, 2000. I started noticing these problems at just over 2000 miles. Currently, I have 4500 miles on mine. Car is at the dealer as I write. I have other posts on BB the last two weeks--under "sensitive panic button" and others--run a search to read up on those--and other comments to my post. They have ordered new remotes, which come in tomorrow---However, I suspect based on other posts to this site, this seems to be an electrical/software problem common to this new Star Trek-like "plasma conduit" system evidently new to the 2001 models. The mechanics at my dealer say my car is the first 2001 XC to exhibit this(but they called me today and said they now have a second customer with similar problems as mine that brought in his new 2001 XC). THe problems with my sunroof, gas filler door, ceiling mounted interior light switches--all disappeared after the mechanic "massaged" the front passenger window switch!

I believe the remotes are my problem with the extremely sensitive panic button. But, the other problems you mention--I also had some of them--but they did not occur all the time. The mechanics at my dealer suspect it may be a fault in the software that controls all these gizmos. They are doing the good ole process of elimination approach. First, we will see how the new remotes do. Then, we will delve into the other problems--when they occur again.

Greetings Planman,

I have a 2001 XC with similar problems concerning all the roof mounted switches. I have posted this "fix" to Brickboard once before but I don't remember if you were the recipient. Try locking and unlocking the drivers door with the key, not the remote. This reboots the upper electronics module located in the rear view mirror (along with other modules, no doubt) that handles the signals from the roof mounted switches. My switches have failed twice now and both times this procedure has succeded to fix the symptom.

Regards,

Ray Dzurney

Ray,

What roof mounted switches are you referring to? The '01 XC is my first Volvo and there certainly is a lot learn (esp. this model year with all the software control that seems to run rampant through the vehicle). Also, I am curious about how many of the Brickboard readers come by their information. So far, Brickboard has saved me trips to the dealer and added a wealth of ownership info on the car.

Fortunately, I have not had the remote problems that others have had. The chassis number is above 8000 and maybe some things were fixed before that.

Thanks

Greetings Jim,

The roof mounted switches I'm referring to are (from left to right) the Homelink cluster, the map lights/indoor light switches, the sunroof and the vanity mirror lights. These are all controlled by the upper electronics module located in the rear-view mirror. Apparently, locking and unlocking the driver's door with the key reboots this module and temporarily solves the problem of these switches going dead. I was told this by my dealer who also told me about a visit to the dealership by two Volvo reps from Sweeden. These people brought a laptop with them and they were able to download new code to XC's and S80's as well as tweaking operating parameters in realtime without connecting any cables to the vehicles. Sounds like Bluetooth. Like to get my hands on this.

Regards,

Ray.

To reboot the UEM (upper electronic Module) (The mirror) is done with the remote, not the key. I'm not sure how you are fixing your intermittent problem just by cycling the key in your door lock. Lots of the cars at the dealer have sunroofs that don't work because of a switch on the battery that opens 30 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition. (saves the battery while sitting on the lot, removed prior to delivery), the only way to get the sunroof working is to use the remote. If you have a 2001 built after week 31 and you are having remote problems or UEM problems, you need to get back to the dealer so they can fix it. If cycling the key is fixing your problem, you still have a problem because thats not the way it's suppose to work.

make sure you still don't have the Switch on the negative termininal of your battery. The battery is in the back, the switch will have a yellow wire going to the Rear Electronic Module (REM) and a red one going to the positive terminal of the battery.

picked up the car in mid nov i have put just over 5500 miles on it.

I have a three month old 2001 XC (<3000 mi.) and have had the following problems:

Engine check warning at 200 mi. with a code indicating a vacuum leak in the fuel vapor recovery system (it is very sensitive with the newer Fed. regs.). They traced the problem to a very small hole in the fuel tank. So, my XC now has a new tank with a different part number than the original. FYI the tank is plastic.

Just recently noticed that the locking pin on the filler door catch does not extend when the car is locked. It stays in the retracted position. I've been able to force it out but once it retracts on unlock it stays there. Car goes in this week for a fix.

I agree that the panic button on the remote is very sensitive. I've set it off working around the car just having the remote in my pocket and putting a little pressure on it. My main complaint with the remote security system is that it has very short range. I can understand that you should be close when you unlock the car but I like the approach lighting system and would really like to activiate it from farther away. I haven't checked to see if the dealer can adjust this but will ask this week.

Other than having to replace the fuel tank (which was a major repair headache), I have had no real problems to complain about. I think the filler door locking pin has been stuck from day one and I just didn't notice until recently.

Try this trick to get a little more range on your remote - hold the remove against the underside of your chin when you push the button - on most remotes this will give you as much as half again or twice the distance (turns your head into a transmit antenna - I dont recommend walking around for long periods of time with the remote under your chin and the button on - but power levels are a lot lower than a cell phone.)

Steve,

I too have been told that trick by the service rep. at the dealer and it really does work. It is not totally consistent from use to use but the range does increase significantly.

Just a note on the fuel door lock. It does not lock right away when the doors are locked. It's programed on a delay. Locks 10 minutes after the doors are locked. I'm told this is so you can lock the doors and still open the fuel door, so someone doesn't sneak into the car while fueling or when you go in to pay. All 2001 models do this. If it does not lock after ten minutes, then you have a problem.

Thanks, Bob for the 10 minute warning. I will check this tonight and post a reply. Hopefully, this was a user error and I can save myself a trip to the dealer.

I think that the problem with the panic button is the fact that the panic mode can be set off by either pushing the red button for at least 3 secs., or by pushing the red button more than once WITHIN 3 secs. I wish that the second mode was eliminated as it would be hard to set off the alarm by pushing the red button for more than 3 secs. in a row...

Yannis