1997 850 Mystery Ignition Key

Redox · Post by **Redox** » 07 Jul 2014, 22:59

Hello everyone, I am hoping your combined brainpower can help me figure out this issue that the internet and several Volvo dealerships can't.

I got this 850 NA off Craigslist about a month ago. It is a base model 5spd M56 B5254FS 4.4 with California TLEV emissions (found this out because it needed a cat). Apparently it spent time in the Netherlands because it has holes for a longer license plate, a "NL" sticker on the back, and Dutch Kroner coins under the seat. I am in the US.

The car has this small key that needs to be inserted into a switch on the dash before it can be started. There is a red LED that blinks constantly until you insert the key, then it stays on. The switch has five wires coming out of it. See attached photo. It does not have keyless entry or an alarm. I only have the single 210 relay under the steering wheel and no receiver behind the glovebox.

It had stickers on the rear windshield and rear doors; they were triangular with a stick figure in the middle with lightning bolts around it with Swedish words printed on the perimeter. They were very faded and like an idiot I scraped them off so I can't get a picture.

Talked to 3 Volvo techs and they had never seen it before, VADIS doesn't show anything. Can anyone help?

Post by **scot850** » 07 Jul 2014, 23:08

Not entirely sure, but I had a 93 850 NA which had a strange flat key like a small circuit board with a bunch of slots/contacts in it. It was an immobiliser and a major pain. I ended up removing it and solder the wires to by-pass it altogether. Car ran better with it removed as it would disconnect with age and slide out while driving. Also had another car in Europe with a ignition cut-out hidden at the back of the glove box. It had a similar type of key.

The purpose is as an ignition cut out I believe, so if you remove the key, the car won't start.

Neil.

Redox · Post by **Redox** » 07 Jul 2014, 23:24

How did you end up bypassing it? That's what I'm trying to do here, major PITA.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Jul 2014, 01:29

I think your system is on page 4.51:
http://accessories.volvocars.com/Access ... _NL_DE.pdf

Hope this helps!

Redox · Post by **Redox** » 08 Jul 2014, 09:27

BEJinFbk wrote:I think your system is on page 4.51:
http://accessories.volvocars.com/Access ... _NL_DE.idf

Hope this helps!

THANK YOU! Its exactly what I have. Has to be a European model; Volvo of North America couldn't even find my VIN.

Where did you find the catalog?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Jul 2014, 19:58

You mean This catalog?
http://accessories.volvocars.com/Access ... .D/Details#

Lotta cool stuff, but most of it is long out of production...

Redox · Post by **Redox** » 08 Jul 2014, 22:11

Yeah, I wasn't aware of that catalog… Now to figure out how to disable a Dutch engine immobilizer :-/

Post by **abscate** » 09 Jul 2014, 04:03

Be careful you don't clog up the works..

Post by **scot850** » 09 Jul 2014, 23:37

That's a terrible pun, but funny never-the-less!

The system I had was fairly simple, and mostly just removed the live feed to the ignition switch. Pulling the key basically caused a break in the circuit.

Most of these older basic systems are fairly simple, but they can take time to figure out where all the wires go. Use a good wiring diagram and once you figure out where all the wires go, we can try to help to work out how to remove.

Neil.

skloon · Post by **skloon** » 10 Jul 2014, 00:02

I want the auxiliary light bracket kit, or the Volvo towrope