Ignition switch lock out? Can't start it! S40-V40

TurboWagV · Post by **TurboWagV** » 07 Oct 2011, 17:06

I'm totally frustrated and mystified as to what happened with my "new-to-me" s40... It's been running and starting just fine in the four or so weeks I've owned it. Then today I took a small errand while on a break at work and when I came back out to start the car, I couldn't turn the key to the third or last position which does all the magic of starting the engine.

I have tried just about every combination of wiggling and moving the steering-wheel, the key-switch, and the shift-lever back and forth. I can't seem to get it to let me turn to that last position. Argh!

I called my regular volvo shop and a tech told me it sounds most likely to be something with a cable and pin system connected from the shifter to the key-switch. The pin has somehow become stuck and the ignition system is not "seeing" that it is indeed in park or neutral. The pin is blocking it from the final turn.

So... I'm wondering if any of you have any helpful hints as to what to try next? Are there any work-around tricks to bypassing the key-swith altogether? Can I pop the cover off the gear-shift lever (at the base, with numbers), or on the lever itself to get in there and somehow coax that cable and pin system to release?

Oh... and I also was wondering if any kind of ODBII error-codes thrown can cause a lock out situation so that you are protected from damaging the engine? If so, perhaps it would be worthwhile to finally purchase a code reader?

Any tips at all would be most graciously thanked...I can't really afford a two and mechanics fees for something that is likely quite simple.

c70_lindsay · Post by **c70_lindsay** » 07 Oct 2011, 22:42

Had a similiar problem with my 2000 C70. It was the lock cylinder and not the park/cable/clip you mentioned( but that very well could be your problem). If you take the lower cover to access the ignition you can see the cable going into the lock cylinder it is hard to miss. I cannot recall which position the key needs to be in either first or second and you can pull the cable out by depressin the tabs and pulling it out. Everything is all mechanical so an obd ii won't help.

If you want to drive the car you can remove the ignition switch from the back of the locking cylinder and with the key in the cylinder lock in the first position( this will unlock your steering lock and because the key is in the ignition it will allow disable the anti-theft) put a screw driver or something in the ignition switch and turn the switch to start the car.

But your car and problem might be different from mine and I am doing this from memory so I might be a little off.

Post by **MyVolvoPartsOnline** » 10 Oct 2011, 18:37

Im sorry to hear your new to you car is giving you issues.

These lock cylinders can sometimes be jarred free with some WD-40. If the WD does not make it better you may need to buy a new cylinder.

We can order them so that they are specially coded to your key, that way you can use your old key when you get the new cylinder. It does take some time for them to be made, up to a week usually, but it beats having to buy all new keys and the programming that goes with it. If you have any questions please email, we can save you close to $80 over buying it at retail through your local dealer. Good luck.