1999 V70XC AWD flashing winter mode arrow, BRAKE light, CE

[tyrendis]

Hey guys!

First post here but I have been reading the forum for a while for help with various volvo fixes. I had this problem about a year ago but it had stopped happening. When I am driving I will notice that my speedometer has dropped to 0 and my odometer reads all dashes. In addition the car feels sluggish to move from a stopped position (only upon initial occurrence though, once it happens it drives fine the rest of the time.) For a brief period I will see a BRAKE light and then that disappears and the check engine and flashing winter mode arrow remain. Is the solution to get a new ABS module? I am going to go get the codes read tonight, though to make sure.

[Matty Moo]

You have all the normal symptoms of a faulty abs module.

[abscate]

The wheel speeds are detected by sensors which are processed by the ABS module. When the ABS module faults, the ECU and TCU no longer have any idea what the wheels are doing, so ABS is disabled, speedometer is disabled, you get warning lights and the car goes into winter mode.

Matty will swap out your ABS with a tested and guaranteed working unit, or, if you are a glutton for punishment, you can open it up and resolder the connections...reinstall, swear, repeat, and rinse a few times.

[tyrendis]

by trade I am in fact a glutton for punishment (Mechanical engineer) but I know the simplest solution is usually the best! is there any sort of workaround I can use until the part arrives? Thanks so much for the quick response and I hope this solves it, as I am in my last year in University and do not have a large amount of money to throw around!

edit: Just ordered from midwestabs

[Ozark Lee]

There really isn't a workaround beyond perhaps trying to tap a wheel sensor and hot wiring it to the VSS circuit. That won't do a thing for the ABS but it might make the speedometer work and the transmission would be less irritated. I've never tried it but the ABS module more or less integrates the wheel sensor signals to arrive at a single speed signal and it should have the same number of pulses/revolution as the wheel sensor.

Since you already ordered the replacement you are a couple of days away from having it fixed for good so I wouldn't butcher the harness to try.

...Lee

[tyrendis]

Lee yeah I am pretty sure it's going to arrive today or tomorrow and luckily my colleague that I commute with also has a car so he has been driving.

[tyrendis]

update: I had to get a different size socket wrench but the new module is installed and works like a charm!