For the last several days, an error message keeps popping up on the center screen in my 2015.5 XC60R.
The error message is: The car modem was unable to connect to a network. Please input the APN received from your operator.
I have never seen this message before. Could thins have something to do with most communication companies ending their 3G support? Maybe my system is set up on a 3G network system?

 

Funny enough, my wife's 2016 S60 CC just started doing this a few days ago, and this thread is so far the only breadcrumb I've found. I plan to contact Volvo USA in hopes to learn more.

Edit: from Natalie at Volvo USA:
"Your 2016 S60 is part of AT&T's 3G shutdown. All 2015-2017 vehicles were part of this shutdown that has affected your On Call button, SOS and Internet. You need to contact your local Volvo dealership for a potential 4G modem upgrade available. Once it is upgraded then you should have Internet and buttons reconnected.
It is not free of charge, there is a charge for the part and labor. You'd have to check with the dealership for a quote on that."

You were spot on. 3G network shutdown.

 

Odd update: yesterday and today, I have not seen this error message pop up once! The error message used to come on about every 10 mins, so it could appear several times driving across the city. But in the last two days, I have not seen the message one time!!! As a side note, I have never used the on call button, the SOS, or even the internet in the car. If I need to look something up on the internet, I always use my phone.

 

My 2015-1/2 S60 is getting the same message. I've seen at least one thread discussing the expensive ($600+, depending on dealer) upgrade costs, as well as the fact that many are having recurring problems with the new system after the install.

My question would be: "If I don't want to upgrade the system, how do I get the error message to permanently go away?" I have no need for the lost features and no desire to spend money to upgrade a system I don't use. Hoping that somebody knows a solution! ;-)

 

Great question! My error message started showing up again today and since I also do not use any of this, I would also like to know how to permanently disable this.

 

Ok, I have discovered a possible solution!

After spending a lot of time on the phone with my local dealer, Volvo Corporate (who were no help), and AT&T (referred by Volvo even though I knew they would be unable to help), I stumbled upon what I believe should be an easy way to stop the repeating error messages.

Long story short, Volvo Corporate suggested that I call AT&T and ask them to remove my VIN number from their system, which they falsely believed would eliminate the problem. I kept trying to explain to them (Volvo) that this would accomplish nothing, as the car would continue to try to connect to a system that has already been permanently shut down. That means that the car would never receive any return signal telling it to stop trying to connect. Volvo then suggested that perhaps AT&T could give me an APN code (and sign in credentials) that I could plug into the menu system and deactivate it. Again, I doubted that AT&T could provide me any special codes that would be helpful (and I was correct - they had no such "magic code."

While I was on the phone with AT&T, I sat in my S60 and navigated through the menus to the area that allows us to input our provider (in this case AT&T) and login info (which I never had, as this used to be my mother-in-law's car). I noticed when I first entered this area of the menu that the car showed "automatic" detection of the provider and that AT&T was listed as the provider. At some point, however, I inadvertently caused the menu to change to "Provider = NONE" and after I exited the menu (and hung up the phone with AT&T because they couldn't help), I noticed that the error message had stopped displaying - it hasn't come back since!!!

So... the temporary "fix" to stop the error message seems to be to change the listed service provider to "NONE" and then the car stops trying to connect to the 3G service. Obviously, this won't bring back your lost services - Volvo still has to provide a new piece of hardware (and the software to control it) before those services (such as "autostart" and "remote unlock/lock") will work again. I think it is shameful that they plan to charge close to $1000 for this once it's available - it should be FREE for a luxury brand (and features) that people have paid a premium to own...

I hope this is helpful, and I will add a separate thread with this info to help others who are searching for the answer. ;-)

 

The carrier, most likely AT&T finally turned the service off for all 3G devices. You can press OK, and go in and remove the check box on Automatic. There is nothing you can enter there to make it work. When Volvo finally figures out how to fix the 4G firmware issues they will be able to install the new modems so the work.
Cost me 750 two weeks ago, and I had to call Volvo NA to find out they were still having software issues. So I have 2 years of free service, if you want to call it that, but I cannot use it yet.

 

I just paid to have my 2016 XC70 upgraded with 4G. 750.00 with two years of free service (that I paid for in labor to get the non working hardware installed. Volvo is still having software issues. My car has the error message that I figured out how to shut off, but the display shows it connecting to 3G. So much for testing any of this, and I had to call the Volvo as the dealer did not press the On call buttons or check anything and thought everything was fine.

 

Tony,
I'm surprised that they even did the install of the new radio for you, because my understanding was that Volvo corporate has already told dealers not to make any more upgrades until they figure out their stuff.

It astonishes me that with more than a year of lead time they didn't have this all figured out, and I'm pretty disgusted that they would charge their customers anything for the fix, since many paid for options that are now useless, on a luxury brand. When other manufacturers are offering complimentary upgrades, it looks pretty bad, from a PR perspective, for Volvo.

Good luck! 😉😎

 

They had initially held off on the install and Volvo told dealers it has been fixed. And then I found out after it calling Volvo is was still broken, after my install did not work. They better fix it fast before I call the credit card company for a reversal 😉. Now which car models were successful vs not, who knows. But obviously not mine. Volvo has been horrible with communications to car owners, and obviously no better with the dealers. Another reputable car company that no longer cars. Did they even test this on real cars or on virtual computer simulations? Thanks for the reply.