My wife called me just a little while ago. She was out and tried to restart the car and got the dreaded immobilizer message. She tried to restart and it fired right up. She called me on the way home and it went into safe mode. She restarted it and got home alright.

I'm seeing a lot of various potential issues but not sure how to track down what it is. We only have the one key (thank you Volvo for making them so FRIGGIN' EXPENSIVE!!!) so I can't easily try another key.

I saw the video of the loose wire, I'll be checking that in a minute but I'm not hopeful that's the issue (not too many bumpy roads here in NE FL.

What else can I do to check on what the problem may be?

Thanks.

 

Checked an no codes on the car. And everything seems tight (cables) under the glove box.

Not sure what the problem is/was. Seems to be starting fine now. These intermittent issues are the ones that scare me.

 

I've been told that the security chips in the key occasionally go bad. I would get it addressed sooner rather than later by getting another key, even if it is only a "service" key, one that is strictly a key and doesn't have the remote with it. I recently had one made for $180 to got with the remote key I got with my '06. Having only one key just didn't seem like a good idea and $180 while a lot of money may save me a heck of an inconvenience at some point down the line.

 

The V50 doesn't have the service key as an option.

A generic code reader isn't going to read codes related to the immobilizer. The SCU (Start Control Unit- where you put the key) isn't too uncommon to fail. It's what reads the key. You'd need VIDA to diagnose it and it would have to be acting up. Could be the key too though.

 

Thanks. I was afraid of that--not being able to read the code with a normal code reader. I HATE intermittent problems!!!

 

I'm with you, I need a key but, even if I get a new key--and have no problems--I won't know if it fixed the problem because it's intermittent.

 

So nothing new to report. It hasn't happened again. Still unable to track anything down on this one.