Hi Everyone,

Has this ever happened to any of you? I went to start my car yesterday and it would not start (2001 V70 Turbo wagon). The gauges came on, the car sounded like it wanted to start but never actually caught on (sorry, I have no tech lingo what-so-ever). Even the tow truck driver tried to jump it. Nothing. I had the car towed to my mechanic and this morning he told me it started right up. There are no error codes, no warning lights on. I have a hard time believing this is just a fluke. I really don't want to get stuck somewhere. Any ideas? Suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Shot in the dark from the world of Harley and Ford experience. Check the main ground. Make sure its clean (i.e. not corroded) and tight. Nothing uses juice like a starter. Even if other electrical functions seem to work, you may have a corroded or loose main ground. Where it is on your Volvo, I don't know. But follow the ground from the negative battery cable. At least this "diagnositic" is cheap. Maybe your mechanic already did this, but....

 

Thanks for your reply. I ended up having it towed to the dealer after my regular mechanic couldn't solve the problem. Turned out to be the alarm siren. So I'll have my car back today and be $400 lighter. Ugh!

 

Wait a second here. You said the car sounded like it wanted to start. Does that mean the engine was turning over? If the alarm was preventing your car from starting, then you wouldn't even be able to turn the motor over.

 

Yes, you are right. If the alarm was working correctly and I tried to start the car, then I would get a message "alarm activated" or something like that and the car would not even budge. However, in this case, the car would turn over (sound like it wants to start, gauges come on, etc... hopefully that's the correct term), but not start. After a few tries I would get an "immobilizer" message, but on most tries no messages would come up at all. It started no problem all weekend, so I hope this problem is now solved.

 

Well, apparently that wasn't the problem either. The car started without issue until yesterday morning, when the exact same thing happened. It turns over but never starts. Ugh! I called the dealer, and of course they tell me to have it towed in again so they can take a look at it (for the 3rd time in 2 weeks!) The only message that came up with the Immobilizer, and then only once in 5 times trying to start the car. Luckily I picked up my "new" Volvo 850 last night so I actually have a car to drive while that wagon sits in the driveway. Anybody have any ideas, thoughts, etc.? Any insight would be helpful and appreciated!

 

I had a feeling it had nothing to do with the alarm. What might really help is if you can record the sound of engine while you are trying to start it. Record from within the engine compartment. Use an MP3 player or even a camera then eith PM me the file or post it here.

Cars not starting could be anything. An intermittent problem leads me to believe it is electrical. Don't give up hope yet though.

 

For whatever it is worth, I have a 1998 V70 AWD that is in the shop now with this problem. It started the day after driving in a rainstorm. The car would not start. The Mechanic says that the immobilizer is shutting down the fuel pump. This has happened before, but never lasted as long.

 

these are the worst problems to fix!!

Turn on the key and at the end of the fuel rail there is like a tyre valve, push in the pin fuel should come out under pressure, if it doesnt theres no fuel getting there.

Need to do it straight after cranking as the pump will turn off again shortly afterward ......unless it starts.

this will determine if its getting fuel and thus can rule this out, next sparks......

Good luck

 

Hey thanks for the tip. Not all cars have an easy access for testing fuel pressure. Just don't forget to put on some safety goggles. Gasoline feels real good on the eyes. I once got brake fluid in my eyes. Don't ask me how it happened.

 

Volvo has something that's easy to test???? How about getting that engineer to work on auto trans fluid dipstick system? Or PCV location? I can think of more examples, but these would be a good starting point.

 

I had already determined that the power to the fuel pump was shut down. The siren issue that someone else had is probably what my problem was.

I was not willing to go to a dealer, however, because all dealers are too far away. Instead, I had my local mechanic rewire the power to fuel pump to by-pass the immobilizer. Everything works fine now and hopefully will not happen again. The cost was $132

 

I am glad to hear you got it working. Jumpers are a nice thing to have when needed.

 

If I ever get three wishes, one will be to have a Volvo mechanic in my area who can actually help me. Since my last post I had the car towed a third time back to the dealer. Of course it started for them, after a week of failed attempts trying to start it at home. I realize I'm not mechanically inclined but I do know how to turn the key! No error codes, so apparently no problem. I'm hallucinating after all! I tried to get them to check the things that had been suggested to me as the possible source of the problem, but apparently I was wasting their time because the dealer would take no action. No error code no problem. The only other solution offered to me was a software upgrade that is supposed to fix some network issues. I've had it home for 2 weeks now and start it every now and then just to see. So far so good, but I don't dare take it anywhere I actually have to park for fear of getting stuck again. Thanks for all your posts!

 

If you have never done so, replace the battery in your key. Then, if the problem happens, remember the secret Volvo rule of 5. Lock the car with the remote key and unlock it 5 times. In some cases, this action can reset the security system.