my 2001 v70 won't start

lrfowler · Post by **lrfowler** » 29 Jan 2011, 00:41

is it the alarm?...we put in a new battery.....thinking the battery had died and wasn't holding a charge....We turn the key ...lights dim..turn the key .....car doesn't start...no noise from the starter or anything....
one time...... it wouldn't start...i pressed all the buttons on the key fob...alarm went on..turned it off....lights turned on...doors opened,...blah blah blah...then I turned the key and it started...
wha tthe heck is going on?

thanks!!

Post by **jimmy57** » 29 Jan 2011, 07:31

Lights dim and no starter activation? The Immo system would prevent any attempt to start on that car and would not make starter click or do anything but there would be no light dimming due to load. You should also have a message on DIM message center that says "wrong key" or something to indicate it is not allowing starting.
IF the headlights truly remain on and dim then I would suggest someone turn the ignition key and you take a 24 inch length of pipe, broom handle, old golf club shaft, etc and locate and tap starter while key is held. The starter may be your problem and if tapping the black motor housing part of starter that you will find below intake manifold and behind the black plastic pipe that runs from intercooler on driver's side across and turns to go into bottom of throttle module.
If this makes it start, it may not start again until the starter is tapped. Starter will need to be replaced or repaired.

ed7 · Post by **ed7** » 29 Jan 2011, 12:06

Sounds like bum cable ends or connections at the battery, ground or starter.
Ed

jjaV70T · Post by **jjaV70T** » 29 Jan 2011, 15:51

ed7 has a good thought, starter connections, resistance somewhere, or a dead starter. was you battery tested to not hold?
I always keep 12 volts to the system while installing a new one..

lrfowler · Post by **lrfowler** » 14 Feb 2011, 08:41

so it's the starter and not some kind of alarm function?....Does the alarm keep the car from starting...does it keep the starter from activating?
I know there's an alarm bypass...do I need this?
It happened again last night....car didn't start...I removed the battery cables ..let is sit awhile...came back and put the cables on...it started...I tried like three times to start it over again..it seemed to be starting OK....on the fourth time, it was back to no sound at all....

thanks very very much..
Larry

Post by **jimmy57** » 14 Feb 2011, 12:23

That a battery rest seemed to fix it temporarily might make the faulty cable/starter cause go down the list.
There are a number of things that can make the car not operate starter. Working on a networked car with no scanner is much like shotting at targets you can't even see. Get a shop to read full car codes, no generic OBD-II scanner job, and see if something shows up.
Alarm issues, Faulty CEM, faulty start relay, poor relay connections, wiring harness connections, and other things can make it not start.
When electronics are concerned you could think you have it fixed with several things you might guess at $$$$$$.

superjodz · Post by **superjodz** » 17 Feb 2011, 10:55

Did you ever find a solution to this? If the lights are dimming then something is drawing load from the battery so I would think that the starter relay is picking up and trying to turn the starter but something is preventing it. A bad starter or solenoid comes to mind first, but the fact that pulling the battery cables seems to temporarily fix it makes me not so sure. These cars are so hard to diagnose problems on because there's so many circuits and modules and electronic control. Let us know for sure if you find the answer.