Joel,

As the owner of a 96 850 GLT I have first hand experience with the items you described. I would recommend the following:
1. Replace the ignition switch. Should cost about $50 at the dealer, and this is a Do It Your Self project. Takes twenty minutes tops if you have the torx screwdrivers required. Go to Bay 13 at Volvospeed.com for directions. This should solve most of your electrical gremlins.

2. The turn signal issue may be the flasher unit. Test the emergency flashers and see if they work correctly. If not replace the flasher unit.

3. If the ABS light continues to come on after the ignition switch is replaced, check the wiring from the control unit to the ABS pump. Found the insulation on mine was defective and coming off resulting in a short to the control module. If the wiring is bad, replace the ABS pump unit. Dealer will not sell or replace just the pump, but if you loosen up the whole ABS unit just a little, you can replace just the pump. If the wiring is fine, then have the dealer check the ABS control module. If bad look up Vic Rocha on an Internet search. He will rebuild your ABS control unit for way less than the dealer can replace. Excellent service by the way. Vic's web site gives great directions for taking off the ABS control unit.


Hope this helps you out.


Oliver

64 122S
66 1800S
86 245DL
96 GLT

Hi Jm,

My handbook says that you have to use the shiftlock to move from P to L. The only time you don't need to use the shiftlock is between N and D.
Blinkers fail to operate is cause by the switch, switchback slightly after start..
ABS stays on.. means $$$ to replace ABS.

Or, you could have several problems. The shift lock override could be a PNP switch failure pending. The ABS module could be failing. And the relay for the turn signals could need replacing. Unless, of course, these things all work occasionally.
The next time you have to use the override, turn off the car and row the gear selector about 20 times from P to L - that tends to clear some dirt from the PNP contacts.
Try the emergency flasher button to see if the relay is working for the turn signals.
The ABS light should turn out after the car starts, if it doesn't, move the key a hair back or forth. If the light goes out and the car is still runing, get a new switch. Listen for the clicks the ABS goes through at about 18mph, if there are no clicks, the module may need replacement.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Faulty ignition switch:

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/ignit_switch.php