1999 S70 GLT Randomly won't start. Immobilizer?
 

Randomly my 1999 S70 GLT will not start, I have power, but does not crank. I have had it at a shop, but the problem is by the time the shop gets it, it will start up again. It seems to start after sitting for a long period. It has not started for a few days at this point.

A few months back the car would not start, and I found the starter has issues with the ground wire, and there was a large chunk of crud that I removed and it started. Later that day it died, and did not start till a shop tested it, and charged that battery. I have since changed out the alternator because it died on the highway after the battery light came on.

After reading about this issue, I changed out the ignition switch in hopes it was that, but I still have the issue. If it starts for me in the AM before work, there is no guarantee it will start at lunch, or for the ride home. I plan on changing out the Immobilizer (antenna ring) tomorrow to see if that is the issue.

I purchased a Actron CP9125 PocketScan tool, and just tried pulling any codes from my car, but all I got was a no-link error on the reader, and could not gat any codes.

I need this car for work, and plan on getting a new car in the summer, but can't afford to keep breaking down and renting cars. The shop told me unless they test it when the issue is happening, they can't find the problem. and every time I have it towed there, it starts for them.

Please help
Thank you
Amanda

Similar issue
 

I had similar issues and it was the halo or antenna ring. Try taking the key out and flipping it over to see if it will start. This did start mine until I got it replaced. Hope this helps.

In addition to flipping the key, do you have a spare key also? If so keep both keys on you with the means to tell them apart so that when it happens you can switch keys and see if that solves the issue.

Thank you, I am going to change out the Imm ring today and will update you

Not 100% sure but there may be some reprogramming required for the change out of a halo. I took mine to the dealer since I had several other issues I needed fixed.

Check out Robert DIY's vid on the S70 antenna ring replacement

Just an update, the antenna ring was very simple to replace, however taking the steering wheel column off locked the wheel, and now my key just spins. I have had the car towed to a shop, but unfortunately I am worried that I need to change out the ignition lock now, and this still isn't my original problem.

Occam's Razor
I figured I would post an update now that the car is starting normally.

I replaced the starter switch, then the antenna ring, and at this time the starter lock cylinder needed to be replaced by the dealership in Portland ME because the key was spinning 360. After the lock was replaced the car started for the dealership, but then did not on the 2nd attempt, Volvo quoted me over $700 for a starter. The started was replaced less than 2 years ago with a Bosch rebuilt, and should have been covered under warranty, however I did not own the car at the time. The shop knows the previous owner, and knows I have all the receipts for the work, and could have cut me a break and allowed me to pay the labor for the replacement, since they would have been able to have it replaced, but that is not how my luck goes.

I went to another shop, because I was confident that the original shop was going to charge me for the starter that they swapped out for the warranty. It's nice to finally find an honest Volvo repair shop in my area, who isn't looking to rip off a female customer, they replaced it for $330 installed.

So, if I could go back in time to when my car 1st started having issues with starting, I would have simply replaced the starter for $330, sometimes the simplest explanation is actually the correct answer.