First of all, I would like to say Hello to everyone on here, As I am new to the Volvo Community and a new member of this site... So, I have a couple problems with my new S80 that I would LOVE to have some help on as I cannot figure out....

1. The alarm on the car "works" but it does not make any alarming noises when it is armed, disarmed, or tripped.. The lights just flash, and when the car is started and ONLY when it first starts, for like 5 seconds, you can see the " Alarm requires Service " message in the message box.. I am thinking that it could be the siren box that needs to be replaced in the p/s front fender... Am I Correct????

2. This car has 110,000 on the clock, and when I got the car, the front suspension and steering was REALLY bad and maked a " thumping, low chatter " sound CONTINIOUSLY when the car is driven on the road and hits minor bumps, so the dealer I bought it from replaced the rack and pinion, upper and lower control arms, the strut tower rubber stoppers, alignment, and tire balance.. Now it drives better, straight as an arrow, but that thumping/chatter sound is still there... Its VERY annoying....The engine mounts are good, the upper mount is good, and the sway bar on the top is tight... What else can it be??? It sounds like it is under the hood and or in the steering or suspension area, but the vehicle and the wheel has no negative response when it is chattering/thumping!!!???? Any ideas.....

Please help quickly, as I am PLANNING on taking a vacation wit my family this weekend, but might hvae to cancel if the problems dont get fixed...

Thanks
Loren

 

1. Yes.

2. Might be the swaybar endlinks. It is interesting that the dealer said they did the upper control arms - there aren't any.

 

hehehehe ok, thanks for the info... maybe i was confused about the upper control arm part, well thanks for the answer on the first question, i will notate your reply for the second question and bring it to the mechs. attention... Lets see if anyone else has any ideas!!!!!!

 

1. Yes most likely siren is bad.
2. Maybe wheel bearing is it more of a roaring noise that speeds up and slow down depending on speed?
Did they check the rear sway bar links?

 

1. OK, Cool!!! I will get it replaced..

2. It makes the thumping noise no matter what speed your going.. Dosent get better or worse at any speed nor accelleration or decelleration... and it sounds like its under the hood or in the steering system..

 

Also have them check the tires maybe one is out of round.

 

Thats not it... The tires were just balanced, rotated, and an alignment done today and it still does it

 

Rotate the tire from the offending area out of that area and see/hear if the sound moves with it...

 

Did this today, noise is still present, sway bar end links were replaced ans the strut tower rubbers are brand new!!!! Any more ideas????

 

If there is no pitch or frequency change regardless of speed at all, do you hear it at idle and sitting still as well?

If yes, then I am thinking something with the HVAC system blower, if no, then it is tied to something mechanical.

If it doesn't change at all during movement I am puzzled. It would have to be something not related to speedor engine revolution if so.

 

No pitch or frequency change at all at any speed.. It does NOT make any noise when the car is sitting still or idiling.. Only when in motion...

I have been to 2 mechanics and they are puzzled as well... i was hoping that is is somthing sooo oblivious and overlooked that it is going to be an easy fix and am hoping that someone on here has ran into this problem and resolved the issue.....

 

Ball joints? Does it only do it when you hit a bump? Or all the time while in motion?

 

It makes the noise when u hit a bump and or driving on bumpy roads

 

It could be the ball joints then.

 

It only happens when you are in motion on a bumpy road or hit a bump? Or is it a constant bump just while in motion?

 

Maybe strut itself is bad.

 

Ahhh... maybe the strut bearing is loose? It would be interesting to bounce the car from the offending side to see if the noise is reproduceable.

 

I had my alarm controller replaced last year for $251 and change. The dealership had to unbolt the front fender area through the wheel well. Riveting is required to set the splash guard back, thus the dealership visit.
My neighbors hated me for a few weeks before replacement.
I kept getting the error messages and false alarms before I looked on the internet for the fix.