'01 V70 XC sometimes will not crank when hot

We just got back from a road trip through New England. The first day out I parked in front of the motel and went into register and drop off the bags. When I came out the car would not turn over. The battery was OK. There was something like a relay or immobilizer that was not letting the car turn over. There were no messages, no check engine light, no nothing. When I turned the key something would click like a relay, but nothing happened. It was the same in P and N. It didn't matter if the brake pedal was depressed. It didn't matter if the gas cap was removed. It didn't matter if the steering wheel was moved. It didn't help to jiggle the keys. Finally when it did start, about 10 minutes later, I had the key turned to the start position and was holding it there for several seconds. Finally it started cranking and started immediately.

Here is what I found:

It always turned over and started when we got gas (4 times). I left the key in the ignition and didn't lock the doors. I would start it immediately after finishing pumping gas.

If I shut off the ignition and then immediately restarted it, it would always start immediately.

It usually would restart if was stopped for more than 15 minutes.

It usually would not crank if it was stopped for more than 5 minutes and less than 15 minutes.

It would always start within 10 minutes of failing to turn over.

One time after stopping for 35 minutes with the doors locked, it would not restart until 10 minutes after unlocking the doors and fiddling with it.

Usually if we stopped for more than 15 minutes with the doors locked, we could count on it to turn over and start immediately.

Sometimes when it would not turn over, it would turn over if I left the key turned to the start position for several seconds.

I say the battery is good because no lights dim when it fails to turn over. No relays chatter.

This car has had the software update for the Electronic Throttle Module.

Any ideas?

I have an appointment with my dealer for Oct. 26, but would like an idea of what to look for. It is also getting the 82,500 mile service.

Reply to
Stephen Henning
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Most likely there is a code set & the technician should be able to read the code's out & determine what is faulty my 1st guess would be the antenna ring for the Immobilizer which do go bad but without a code it is hard to try to pinpoint for you Glenn

Reply to
Glenn

I would connect a test light to the solenoid wire on the starter motor to see if it lit when the car doesn't start. It's not uncommon for starters to fail this way. I think your problem is probably with the antenna ring as Glenn says, but this is a cheap ($0) and easy test.

Reply to
Mike F

Not quite the same car but in a '98 UK V70 fwd Auto with 148k miles on the clock.

Identical symptoms, apart from the door lock problem was fixed by installing a new ignition lock barrel.

I was told, by both the recovery driver and the garage that this was not an uncommon problem with V70's. The recovery driver got it started by hitting the end of the key (to get the pins in the barrel to drop), but that was only as an experiment and he wouldn't leave me with a hammer.

Cost 138 ukp for parts + 97.50 ukp for labour + a 3 day wait while they got a barrel to take my old key.

Richard Web pages:

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for caravanning,
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for my personal web site and
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because I love the email address.

Reply to
Richard Cole

It finally would not crank even after waiting 2 hours and after a 45 mile trip to the garage on a roll-back truck. Hopefully the dealer will have an easy time if it continues to not start. The idea of the starter solenoid and antenna ring on the immobilizer were at the top of my list of suggestions, but the service writers are not very much interested in owner supplied suggestions. It is the main problem with this dealership and the one I went to previously. Are they all like this?

While we were in Connecticut we stopped at a dealership there and the service person seemed very knowledgeable and had good ideas but said they would need the car for an extended period to troubleshoot it.

Reply to
Stephen Henning

Steve I've seen several of your emails and saw before that you bring your Volvo to the dealer in Allentown for service. If you're uncomfortable with them, suggest you consider coming to Easton (about 20 more miles further east). I take my '99 V70 to a little independent Volvo shop here called Diversified Auto Services. Guy seems pretty good. He keeps some of the more common parts in stock and has some parts cars out back. I've used him for a mass airflow sensor, radio code, strut bushing & an A-frame, battery hold down clamp and a couple of odd nuts and bolts (for MAF sensor & radio codes he used his dealer connections) . Dealer I bought it from used also had him change a couple of seatbelt retractors (that's how I found out about him). Eric

Reply to
EricL

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