I'm at my wit's end, maybe you guys can help. First, the back story.

Around the second week of December, my car wouldn't start. I tried for several days to figure it out, but no dice. There were just too many possibilities. So I had it towed to the only garage within 30 miles that would work on a Volvo. Even they had a rough time figuring it out, because if it was in the warm shop it would always start, so they had to leave it outside overnight any time they changed anything to test it in the morning. 6 weeks and $1300 later (almost all of it labor charges), he put a shim on the camshaft sensor and then it would start regardless of the temperature.

About 40 miles after we left the shop, the check engine light came on and the info panel started telling me "engine system service required" and "reduced engine performance." I took it back and they plugged it in, and said the computer was falsely throwing a misfire code because the shim was up too high. So on Friday they moved the shim down. Engine light was off, no more crap in the info panel. Only problem is, the next morning it would start in the cold anymore.

Clearly the garage doesn't know what they're doing. This is a fairly new car, and I know several other people with the same car and no problems (and I didn't have any problems for the first 15 months I owned it, either). I refuse to believe that I have to choose between the car not starting when it's below 32 degrees out, or having a check engine light on forever. Does anyone have any idea at all what this could be?

 

I have an idea of what it can be, but, it is only an idea.
My S60 recently went through the poor communication shutdown dance because of arcing in a module connector. The initial symptoms were not starting in the cold and engine messages in the cold. The problem then moved into not starting in the cold, transmission lock-up, ABS malfunction lights, loss of cruise control. and about 15 other codes.
The problem was traced to arcing within a module connector because of corrosion. Off my head I do not remember which one. I can check the paperwork if you want me to. The harness was re-terminated and I am running again. I do have to find my faith again, however. This was a bad failure; not starting.
I would suggest you go to a dealer or mechanic who has a Volvo computer. A dealer nailed mine and completed the re-termination within a day.
Good luck!

 

JDusza, can u explain further what u mean by "re-termination of the wire harness." I'ming because this may also solve my problem. TY

VOLVO PROBLEMS for life

 

Yes. Understand the wire harness is probably buried deep within the car so changing it is not an option.

There are two sides to a connector, if you will. There is a female termination (or socket) and a male termination (or pin). The pins go into the sockets with an interference fit when the connector is attached.

Without knowing this job in detail, I suspect the harness end is sockets and the module has the pins.

The terminations are cut from the harness end and new sockets are crimped onto the respective wire ends. The harness is then reconnected to the module.

To properly finish the job, the connector should be bathed in silicone to seal it and keep moisture and other corrosion causing contaminants out.

Hope this helps.
J

 

Thanks JD.

 

Once at the dealer, the car was started and codes read. This is weird because the car wouldn't start for me. I guess the dealer has error code bypass in order to start the car.....customers should have this!!!
Here are the dealer's words:
Communication buss error code present along with CEM-1D04, CEM-E000, CEM-1A61, CEM-1A62, CEM-6F71, ECM-4050, ECM-928C, ECM-9400, ECM-720A, BCM-0065, BCM-E000, TCM-E003.
Checked the network pins at the TCM and found arcing marks on the network pins at the TCM.
Replaced the TCM high speed network harness ends, cleaned the TCM control module pins, cleared codes and test drive.
Parts $18, labor $368, total $386
Best of luck to all of you!