ill fated hotwire attempt on 1996 850 glt, take to a dealer?

AJ850glt · Post by **AJ850glt** » 12 Feb 2010, 20:40

Hey everyone, this is my first post, but I've been here reading up on and then fixing various volvo issues for a few months now. What a great resource--saved me many hundreds of dollars thus far--so I thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and time.

So my issue: This morning I discovered that my car had been broken into. A few things of value were stolen, but that loss pales in comparison to seeing that my well loved volvo was ripped apart. Looks like they tried to hotwire it, but couldn't get the steering wheel unlocked. The steering column housings were ripped off and the ignition switch was pried off the column, with the ignition switch connector also tampered with. One of the wires (the red one, obviously) was removed from the switch, and it looks like another wire may have been ripped out, as there's a pin with no corresponding wire attached or hanging loose. I was able to put the ignition switch back in place and start the car, but it idled pretty rough so I shut it off immediately.

My question: Does a scenario like this necessitate a trip to the dealer. I'm flat broke and pretty handy, so I just assume get the parts (housings, ignition switch, ignition switch connector?) and do it myself. Does this sound crazy? I've read that hotwiring can mess up a car pretty good. So I ultimately don't want to do more damage to my baby, ya know? Also, I've searched around a bunch and couldn't really find much info on the ignition switch wiring or connector. If someone knows of a existing thread or another resource out there, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Many thanks, Adam

Post by **charlyW** » 13 Feb 2010, 03:05

No it doesn't sound crazy at all, if you can get the parts cheaply enough and can get hold of the necessary wire diagram then it will be possible. You could follow the wires and reconnect them at the ignition switch with solder will be cheaper than replacing parts and the rough running could have been that the wires weren't secured enough.

The dealership will charge you hundreds of $$$ for doing it because they will want to refit a brand new ignition switch, wire loom, any associated parts and of course new keys. Can you put it through insurance or is your excess, like mine, very high [seems the UK no claim bonus goes up so does the insurance]

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 13 Feb 2010, 06:50

If you can scare up the parts in a junk yard it should be easy. This might help:

http://volvospeed.com/Repair/ignit_switch.php

I would use solder and heat shrink to splice the wires, butt splices will quickly eat up all of the available room behind the cover. Hopefully the key portion of the switch is OK, if not it can be swapped with a junk yard cylinder as well but you are forever faced with two keys for the car unless you pony up for a factory replacement keyed to your original - $$$.

...Lee

AJ850glt · Post by **AJ850glt** » 13 Feb 2010, 13:39

Thanks for the helpful advice and the ignition switch repair guide, really appreciate it!

So this morning my dad and I went over a junk yard and picked up a used ignition switch. I took the opportunity to study and take pictures of the connector and other wiring on and adjacent to the steering column. Since it looked like all my wiring was, in fact, intact, we went ahead and just changed out the switch and replaced the housings. My car started right up, and the rough idle i noticed before was gone. I'll need to get it out on the road a bit more just to make sure everything is ok, but so far so good. All the parts we picked up (housings, switch) cost $20. Here's to this forum keeping me out of the poor house once again!

Cheers from Boston, Adam