I have a 1999 Volvo fwd V70, my family has owned it since 1999 & I have had it for a few years now.

I have a blinking arrow and check engine light issue that I cannot seem to fix...

so far we have replaced the engine speed sensor (which is what the original error code said was the issue), and the ABS module.

The check engine light and blinking arrow unfortunately still persist. My dad has been fixing our volvo & others for years and this seems to be stumping him.

Has anyone run into this issue before or have suggestions? Google is failing me and mostly points towards the ABS module, but I just replaced it last weekend (which has been an issue for us in the past).

The car appears to run as okay as a 14 year old car can otherwise.

I'd prefer not to have to buy a car I can't currently afford, b/c otherwise I really like the car! And it does still work-- I just can't get it to pass inspection.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Check Engine Light usually is specific to the emission control system: O2 sensors, MAF, Valve timing, etc. Many of these have Volvo-specific error codes that won't show up on generic code readers. I know some Volvo dealers offer free diagnostics, and it's probably worth calling a couple to see if that's possible. Just keep a skeptical mind when they give you a laundry list of stuff to fix.
I know where I live (WI), if the estimated cost of repairs exceeds a certain amount you can get the car deferred from inspection for that cycle. So sometimes those insane Vovlo dealer repair estimates help . Your state/county may have a similar rule that can buy you some time.

The blinking arrow is more of a concern, as that suggests a transmission problem. Does the car still run and drive fine? If so, my guess is the park-neutral-position (PNP) switch is acting up. A fairly common problem and there are some home fixes that may shake it into life.

 

+1 Some codes do require a Volvo specific reader to uncover.

Some repairs are beyond our scope of ability. Every once in a while we have to bite the bullet and let the certified pro take care of something. Is that a reason to sell the car and get another? I wouldn't go that far but do proceed with caution.

 

thanks for the responses....seeing if a volvo dealer would do a check is a good idea! Thanks.

If it's a major issue and we can't repair it ourselves, it might not be worth the repair costs. It's already racked up a bill in the past couple of years. Hoping we can figure it out, but who knows.