Hello! I have a 2008 Volvo C30 automatic with roughly 85k miles. I was driving home, and all of a sudden I get all the lights on in my dash, and a message saying to urgently service the power system. The car was still driving fine, and I made it the final 300 feet to my driveway. Unfortunately due to finances, the car has sat for about 2 months. We are now in the process of trying to get it fixed. I had the battery tested and fully charged, and it’s completely fine. I figured it was the alternator, but even with the charged battery it won’t start. Keys still work, and all electronics. The only code I’m now getting is P081C. Something about the starter being disabled due to low voltage. What could I be dealing with here? I figured if it was a bad alternator, I could at least get it started with a fully charged battery. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

If I google P081C - everything says "Park input signal" As in the car thinks it's not in park - Is it in Park?

I would make sure the codes are cleared - it's possible a stored code is preventing the start signal (that happens with other Volvo systems, but not sure about the start system.)

And you unfortunately probably have a bad alternator, those alternators are known for overheating when they go bad so check the belt to make sure it's not damaged.

 

a quick trick to try is the shifter row (turn the key to unlock, engine off, move the shifter quickly from Park to Lo to Park 10-20X fast). Sometimes this is enough to clean up the contacts on the PNP sensor to give a correct shifter position.

 

tried rowing through the gears, no luck. I’m not seeing the relevance to the code I’m getting considering the symptoms that initially presented though. While driving I got the power system service urgent, and the smell of something burning. Now that I’m trying to start the car up, I’m getting that code. I’m trying to figure out how they’re related but I can’t think of anything so far.

 

1. Neither do I - that code indicates a neutral starting switch problem - have you tried starting the car in neutral? (starter should work in neutral also)

2. That was your alternator overheating - that's a common way they fail in your model, make sure the belt is not damaged

3. Have you erased all codes? And tried starting in neutral?

4. May be related due to the low battery situation - weird codes that make no sense get stored sometimes when batteries go dead while driving

If you want to run the engine to diagnose your alternator you can manually engage the starter by using a jumper wire on the starter relay for fun - that will send current directly to the solenoid, on the wiring diagram 2/35 is the relay - 6/25 is the starter, relay location is shown in the fusebox under the hood. Make sure the car won't roll (it's in park, maybe brake on also) when trying to bypass the neutral safety switch.