I've been refurbishing a 2006 v50 2.4i automatic for my daughter. It has spent quite a few weeks on my lift while I installed new suspension arms and brakes.

I've got it back on 4 wheels and I want to roll it back and forth to settle the suspension so I can make some adjustments but it won't shift out of Park into Neutral.

I think I know what's going on but would like to know if you guys think I'm on the right track. Details:

1) I disconnected battery 6 weeks ago.
2) Removed the airbox (which requires unplugging ECU) to get at the leaking oil filter housing.
3) Replaced a whole bunch of suspension parts.
4) Reconnected the battery 2 weeks ago so I could get into neutral for some task (can't remember what - not relevant).
5) Put ignition in position 2 and shifted to neutral no problem.
5) Shifted back to Park but left the ignition in position 2 and went to bed.
6) Got back to the car two days later - could not remove key from ignition - battery was flat.
7) Disconnected battery terminal and charged the battery.
8) Today I reconnected the battery, put the key in the ignition, moved to position 2.
9) Try to shift car into neutral - no luck at all.
10) Turn off ignition - and get a "immobilizer - see manual" error.

I'm thinking the immobilizer is preventing me from shifting the car out of park, and I'm thinking that the immobiliser is kicking in because the car's computer forgot my key fobs when I let the battery go dead with the ignition is position 2.

What do you guys think and ....more importantly....what can I do to resolve the problem ?

Thanks

 

Yep, the car "forgot" that key. I think the best option might be to disconnect the battery again, and for good measure, short the leads to remove any residual voltage. You might get lucky.

Otherwise, I'd just start researching the threads related to the immobilizer system, and see if anything jumps out.

You should be able to use the manual gear shifter release on the console to release the shift lever at least (so you don't have a permanent Volvo stored on your lift). ;-)

 

Follow up:

Turns out I had two "issues:

1) My first issue was that I had removed my airbox to repair my leaking oil filter housing, and the ECU is part of that box. The car goes into immobilizer mode if all of the computers are not plugged in and good. Once I got everything plugged back in and charged up (see issue #2) the car started on the button.

2) My second issue was that my battery didn't have enough juice to activate the solenoid that allows shifting out of Park. It had enough juice to disengage the steering lock, and enough to turn the dashlights on - but for some reason that last solenoid was too much. Once I got the jump box attached and the car started then I could shift out of Park no problem.

There's no indication that park is locked out by the immobilizer. From what I've read and observed if the key disengages the steering lock then the CEM recognizes the key.

The car can be shifted very easily out of Park using the manual release located under the little flap in the bottom left corner of the shift console. That was helpful. I ended up disassembling the shift console to replace the shifter blind as well. Easy job and well worth it if no other reason than cleaning the 15 years of scunge built up.

Car is running and driving splendidly.

Thanks for the support.