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Weird problem with not starting when recently locked or something like that...

We recently got a 1993 Volvo 850 Turbo. Every once in a while, the car begins to start (all of the lights on the dashboard turn on), but the engine never tries to start. The circumstances around this are weird, and imply some weird security feature.

For example, if we leave the car unlocked, the first time we try to start the car in the morning, it always starts. However, if we turn off the car, go to the ATM or whatever for a few minutes, and then try to start it again, it won't start. If we wait about 10 minutes, it will always start.

If we lock the car at night, we frequently have the problem in the morning after unlocking it. Again, after about 10 minutes, it starts right away.

So, it seems that this is some weird security feature (it doesn't behave like something is "broken"), but I couldn't find out anything about it in the manual. The person we bought the car from claims to have never run into this problem, but I suspect that they had some routine that just avoided the problem or something like that.

The car also comes with a special valet key, which only allows it to be driven a short distance according to the previous owner, but again, the manual wasn't clear about how the key was actually different. If this is true (and it's not just a glove-compartment thing), then that also implies something security-related about the starting problem.

Can anyone give us some clues as to what might be going on?

Reply to
Taed Wynnell
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Does your car have a security system, with an immobilizer installed?

Just from the one thing about the ATM, I would say your starter is getting too hot from the engine, common problem on old Jetta's actually (I have a few friends with Jetta's), I haven't heard of this as a problem on Volvo's. But you also mention cold start problems, if the car is locked... I would say something is wrong with the engine immobilizer.

We have a 1993 960, which is a step up from the 850 supposedly, but it only got the new technology that the 850 introduced in 92/93 in 1994/1995... We have all the old 760s fabulous technology in ours. IE - no alarm, no immobilizer, no wipers on the headlamps... and other little niceties.

Reply to
Rob Guenther

As far as we know, it does NOT have an alarm system. We were given nothing relating to an alarm system, and we've never heard an alarm go off.

Reply to
Taed Wynnell

Wow, that is very weird then... Perhaps there is a starter motor issue, or something with the ignition.

Reply to
Rob Guenther

see my thread no starting problem 1/12/03 - poss solenoid on the starter motor - alth yours sounds more complicated ;-((

Reply to
Ivor Problem

I have a 1994 850 Turbo with a factory fitted alarm of sorts which is really just a basic intrusion alarm system. There is not much documentation about it and it is very basic but if you miss how it works at times it can be a problem. The little remote just has open and close buttons and when the battery gets low you have to be almost standing by the car for it to work. The problems start when you get the system out of synch. For example - if I lock the door with the control with my daughter inside the car and she then uses the door handle to open the door from the inside I get an alarm and also the engine is isolated and the system has to be reset. The same thing when some mornings if I get into the car and all the lights come on but the starter doesn't turn over. To reset the system I have to get out of the car and then lock and unlock the door using the key on the drivers side. Once the system is reset with the key everything works fine.

Michael Bird

Reply to
Michael Bird

Assuming from this description the starter motor doesn't turn, as opposed to the starter motor working and the engine not starting.

First of all, this is not a security feature, something is wrong. Secondly, the valet key will allow you to drive the car as long as you want, it just won't go into the locks for the trunk lid and glove box. (The trunk lid can be disconnected from the power locks.)

Since the problem is repeatable, any decent garage should be able to figure this out. Next time, try shifting to neutral, this will check the gear position switch. It could also be the ignition switch (electrical part) or the starter motor itself.

Reply to
Mike F

This was the problem -- it's an oddly-documented security feature. It turns out that my car (and Michael Bird's below) have a built-in alarm system. Unlike Michaels, the horn did not sound when mine was activated (otherwise, it would have been much more obvious what was going on), but it turns out that there was a red LED on the top of the dash that I hadn't noticed before. And once I knew what to look for, I found this documented in the manual. As Michael and the manual point out, if the alarm gets confused as to the state of the car, it can be reset by locking and unlocking the car with the key in the driver's side door.

Reply to
Taed Wynnell

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