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My wife and I have recently encountered a quirky intermittent problem with a 2001 V70 wagon where the car ocassionally will not start, will not crank.
The only pattern we believe is emerging is that if we get out of the car, lock it, wait about 5 to 10 minutes, then, unlock/reenter the car, it usually starts--but we could be imagining things. The problem has always occured once the car has been operating for a while. It has never occured when starting a cold engine.
We can't figure out what condition might be causing the problem. But it usually occurs when I have to drop my boss off at the airport, or my wife is running late to day care. Dealer can not reproduce the problem after a full week of diagnosing--no error codes present, no hard failure.
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
For Life?
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posted by
someone claiming to be johnB
on
Wed Nov 27 08:21 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Reporting back after my visit to the dealer today. They judged that the symptoms suggested a possible problem with the starter or the solenoid. Neither of these would show up on a diagnostic test as they are not part of the computerised monitoring system. They did, quite rightly, point out that intermittant faults like this are the most difficult to solve.
However, they did spend time checking and improving the electrical connections to the starter/solenoid and also the engine earth connections. They offered to take further action if the fault could be seen first hand by them.
Not a complete result, and I fear I will worry now every time I turn the key.
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johnB
Today the problem was the worst it's ever been. It started fine in the morning, however, I let the engine idle for 20 to 30 minutes while I cleared 2 inches of snow from the car and driveway. 10 Minutes later and 2 miles across town my wife encountered the no-start problem. It took a good hour before the car would start again.
Speaking with Volvo each time a no-start occurs, we've been able to rule out some things such as bad keys/imoblizer system. The latest thinking is that the starter relay might be the cause. I've given the dealer my car to try and reproduce the problem condition. I've also received a Volvo loaner car which eases the situation considerably.
This definitely sounds engine tempature releated. That is: it always starts first thing in the morning, the problem occurs when the engine is warm/hot, recovery time varies.
As someone claiming to be Paul Miller on this board suggested, get the local Volvo tech rep involved. You could also let them know I've encountered the same problem, perhaps the two dealers could compare notes--if you want I can e-mail you my dealer's location.
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This problem has been resolved. I'm told the immobilizer antenna ring (which checks for valid key in ignition) was replaced.
This was an extremely tough problem to reproduce (no stored error codes). I believe interior tempature had an impact on failure mode (problem would occur when interior was warm/hot).
I'm not so irate anymore (perhaps I should change my ID). However, now I need start a new thread regarding an pronounced (and very annoying) knocking sound when encountering slight bumps.
Many thanks to those who have provided useful information and insight on this board.
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posted by
someone claiming to be johnB
on
Sun Nov 24 02:24 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Hi irate_driver (not Ed, sorry) I'd be interested to know what particular vehicle you have to see how it compares with mine. My symptoms sound very similar to yours. Intermittent faults can be very frustrating.
Lines of thought to date include sticking starter/solenoid, poor main earth connection and failing battery.
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johnB
So you encounter the same intermittent no-start/no-crank problem? How long has this condition existed for you?
My car is a 2001 V70 wagon, 2.4, no turbo, manual 5-speed. I've had the car about 2 years (25k miles).
There is no apparent pattern to when this problem occurs. It can happen unpredictably using either remote/key pair.
Volvo tells me no "error" codes were logged. If every variable necessary to start the car is properly monitored, I don't understand why computer diagnostics can't find this.
This seems to me a specific system is returning a false OK status (a system bug), or, a specific system component is simply not monitored (poor engineering).
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posted by
someone claiming to be johnB
on
Sun Nov 24 22:51 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Irate driver, I am the second owner of a 2.4 140bhp non turbo 5 speed auto 43K. I have had the car just over 12 months. The problem (click and lights dimming, no crank)has occured 3 times over several months. In the first two instances the car started normally after 2 or 3 attempts with the same key. The recent 3rd occasion I was stuck for some time and about to call out a breakdown service. After about 20 mins reading hand book poking around under bonnet, many attempts with the key etc it just started normally and has operated completely normally since. I haven't tried a different key (I didn't have one anyway on the last occasion) I do feel the problem is connected to engine temperature. As far as I can remember the car had been used shortly before the problem - not hot or completely cold. On the last occasion I had done about 70 miles and parked for 2 hours. It doesn't sound as if my diagnostic test later this week will reveal anything from what you say.
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johnB,
Let's hope your visit to the service department is productive. Your no-start symptoms do sound very similar to mine.
* Turn the key, you hear a click, the lights dim.
* Starter does not crank (total silence)
* Each time the problem occured, the car had recently been running.
* After waiting 5 to 10 minutes, the car will start.
* The problem disappears for several subsequent restarts/days of use.
I originally thought it was a malfunction of the security system (which, according to the manual, does have an ignition time-out if the car is tampered with). However, your idea of it being tempature related does make sense--something for me to think about.
Thanks.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Paul Miller
on
Mon Nov 25 05:26 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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I experienced the same problem but with a different sequence leading up to it.
Cold start.
Turn key, no click, lights on but no dimming, no turn-over.
This happened once when the weather suddenly turned cold (from 70 to 55 degrees).
Two immediate repeated attempts resulted in the same results. key off, key on -nothing.
It's been two months and have never experienced it again.
Dealer service writer never heard of this before.
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posted by
someone claiming to be johnB
on
Sun Nov 24 01:56 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Hi Ed, Check out posting lower down - 'Non starter' My fault sounds similar to your's. The dealer is doing a diagnostic check on Wednesday, they think the fault will show up in the logged history. I am not so sure but we will see. I will reply again after Wednesday.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Ed
on
Sat Nov 23 16:29 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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If you mean that it cranks (starter turns engine over) yet doesn't start until you remove the key from the ignition, then re-insert the key and it then starts.....I'd say the problem is a bad immobilizer antenna ring. It's a simple part to replace, it's the lighted ring that goes around the ignition switch. That won't cause a "no crank" condition however.
When this happens, are there other newer cars keys on the same keyring? Believe it or not, there's been reports where another car brands key near the ignition switch caused intermittant "no starts" on newer Volvos.
There's other possible causes if it's a "no crank", could be a sticking or "slow" starter relay. There's a TSB about checking the battery B+ cable in the front, engine fusebox for corrosion but I'd assume your dealer knows that and checked it?
If nothing else, see if someone at that dealership can try duplication the problem by driving it home if need be. I have to do that on occasion for troublesome cars and it usually helps as once duplicated, the tech should be able to locate the cause. Have they tryed contacting the tech hot line? Might take a bit more persistance on your behalf.
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Ed,
Wouldn't a slow starter relay show up in the error codes?
Wouldn't a condition resulting from corrosion in the engine fusebox (affecting supplied voltage) show up as an error code?
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posted by
someone claiming to be johnB
on
Sun Nov 24 11:27 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Hi Ed, Is the TSB that you mention 3370015 Dec 01. If so do you have access to the contents and if so could you pass them on?
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