Warning lights come and go 2001 V40 80k miles

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Dec 2006, 22:42

Same as before...connections aren't as tight with colder weather...I suspect bad wiring somewhere.

anordheim · Post by **anordheim** » 19 Dec 2006, 22:48

MadeInJapan wrote:Same as before...connections aren't as tight with colder weather...I suspect bad wiring somewhere.

Thanks a million for your recommendations! Guys like you should be rewarded. I will post updates once I find the problems!

anordheim · Post by **anordheim** » 24 Dec 2006, 22:37

I have also noticed that the timing for the car to shift seems off over the last 2 days. As I reduce the speed and come to a stop, I notice that the car doesn't shift into first gear until the car has been stopped at the intersection for several seconds. It also shifts a little rough at times if I happen to be pushing the throttle at the same time as the car is about to shift.
Connections with my other problems? I assume that the transmission on this car is computer operated.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 25 Dec 2006, 06:39

You have 80K miles on that transmission without a fluid change. Although the dealer won't recommend it, you really ought to do a ATF flush or have it done....you'll HAVE to use the special ATF (either Mobil-3309 or Volvo ATF which are the same thing). The flush is same procedure as the 850 and other FWD cars (write up in the maitenance database section) but you'll have to jack your car up as the line from the ATF cooler is under your car.
I would try a fluid flush first and see if this smooths things out.

anordheim · Post by **anordheim** » 27 Dec 2006, 12:07

MadeInJapan wrote:Free check of the charging system at Autozone...that's what I would do. That would tell you if it's the battery or alternator. My concern however is that it's something else- like a ground wire off of the negative side of the battery or some bad ground connector in the dash. At least you can eliminate one issue and it could very well be the alternator. Could even be a loose service belt that isn't helping the alternator do it's job...hard to say, but start plugging away at it and you'll figure this thing out.

I took it to Autozone this morning for the charging system check and both the Alternator and Battery checked out. With my transmission also flushed now, the timing on the transmission still seems off and the Airbag light is still on. It's also interesting to see that the LED's behind the dashboard seems to fade a lot every time the turnsignal relay lights up the turn arrow on the dash. Next recommendations? Where are the ground connections located?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 27 Dec 2006, 18:35

Looks like this might be a dealer issue. Though I'm fairly certain it isn't, it could be that the SRS and other issue are somehow related...like a wire came loose and is grounding or shorting the other light. I'd take it in at your earliest convenience and get ready to pay as no one here seems able to diagnose (apparently no one has had the same issue as you) and help you fix your problems over the internet.

anordheim · Post by **anordheim** » 27 Dec 2006, 19:50

MadeInJapan wrote:Looks like this might be a dealer issue. Though I'm fairly certain it isn't, it could be that the SRS and other issue are somehow related...like a wire came loose and is grounding or shorting the other light. I'd take it in at your earliest convenience and get ready to pay as no one here seems able to diagnose (apparently no one has had the same issue as you) and help you fix your problems over the internet.

I guess I'll have to. I got this car because I thought it was going to be a very reliable one. However, as it hit 80k too many things started going wrong. I'm not so keen on Volvo's in the future. They're safe but you pay a bloody fortune every time something goes wrong.

anordheim · Post by **anordheim** » 22 Jan 2007, 21:48

Well, I took it in to Volvo to get it checked. They found that the Airbag light was illuminated because the right front Airbag is bad. That's an $800 repair.
They downloaded software to fix the problem with my transmission. Seemed to work fine for a day or so but problem came back a couple of days later. Today when I drove home, I noticed that the transmission is erratic again and that the dash lights keep fading and coming back again.
Since I had the alternator tested before, I decided to measure the voltage on the battery cables with the car running one more time. Sure enough, the reading is all the way down to 11.7v compared to the 13.5+ it used to read. Do you think all of this could have been caused by an alternator going out? I assume this is a sure sign that the alternator is bad? How tough are they to change without taking it in to the dealer? I just put in a new alternator in my wife's Ford Explorer and I was amazed with how easy it was. Looks like the alternator sits a little deeper on the Volvo. Biggest concern I have is to get to the belt tensioner.
Any thoughts?