2008 S40 - Engine Starts, but nothing else does

[larrico]

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend, this is what she has told:

She hit a pothole yesterday and the car was running fine, got home turned it off and it started again, but the dashlights started to flicker and eventually went out and the engine shut-off also. She said this morning the car started, but nothing else would come on (ie radio, lights etc) and the car will not shift into drive.

Any starting to points?

[geekdad]

Start with the basics of any electrical issue. Make sure the belt on the alternator looks ok. A hard bump could have knocked it loose if it was not on all the way or the belt tensioner may have froze. The battery can power the car without the alternator for a short and I do mean short time. Then it will die and not start again until you have left the battery alone to build back up a charge. If you can remove the alternator and take it to a auto parts store. Almost all of them test it for free.

If all of that checks out ok then you have a bad ground wire. I have heard that volvos are known for having odd issues related to that.

[jimmy57]

The network wires to the electric power steering pump underneath right headlamp behind bumper could be damaged. The high speed network wires crushed against body would short and stop the trans computer from functioning and also stop any communication from engine compartment to instrument cluster. Depending on whether the power and ground wires to the pump are harmed she either has no power steering or has power steering with key on before engine is started.