2004 V70R transmission not coming out of park

grntrdbx · Post by **grntrdbx** » 05 Jan 2015, 21:28

Ok, so this all started with a "time for regular service" message in the instrument cluster message screen, check engine idiot light and triangle ! between the speedometer and tach. Next the "brake failure stop safely" message came up on the message screen along with brake and ABS idiot lights and the gauges dropping out (needles going to 0) and trip odometer going blank (-----) in addition to it staying in (I think) 3rd gear. From looking around on the volvo sites, it seemed like the BCM/ABS module was bad. I first tried to reset the faults by disconnecting the battery. When I hooked the battery back up, I idled the car up and down the driveway but the faults came back right away. I repeated the proceedure of disconnecting/connecting the battery again and tried to start it. It fired up and ran for 30 seconds the first time then died, 20 seconds the second time, 10 seconds the third time then not firing up the fourth time. It sounded like the #2and #4 injectors were opening and closing intermittently. I read later that the time elapsed between turning the ignition off and disconnecting the battery (battery replacement proceedure in owners manual) should be 10 minutes. I don't think I waited that long the second time I disconnected the battery and fear I may have lost any data to the ECU. I didn't realize this at the time so I called a local shop (not a volvo dealer) that had done some repairs on it in the past and let them know what I had done so far and asked them if they wanted to tackle it. They said yes so I had it towed there and they did little on it for the 3 weeks they had it so I had it towed back home. It rolled off the flatbed in neutral so I didn't think anything of the most recent issue at the time. (I'm getting a little ahead of myself). Ok, once home, I removed the BCM thinking I would have it repaired. I contacted Matt Pollack and he said he didn't repair '04' BCM's anymore and he thought I may have more than a possible BCM issue. He suggested putting it back together and having a reputable volvo repair shop put the correct diagnostic equipment on it and have the other modules checked out. I put it back together but I can't get the trans to come out of park eventhough the shifter moves and the shifter arm that goes into the transaxle also moves correctly. I made sure that I had a full charge on the battery (12.56 volts). I'm not sure but is there any kind of electrical solenoid that would keep the parking pawl (for lack of a better explanation) engaged if the information in the ECU was lost? I'd like to get it to a volvo repair shop/ dealership but there's no way I could have it towed like this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Post by **chrism** » 06 Jan 2015, 15:43

You might start by pulling the battery out and taking it to an auto parts store to do a load test. Is it the original battery? Also check the condition of the battery cables including the connections at the engine compartment fuse box.

It would be nice to also check the alternator output but you have to get the engine started first.

grntrdbx · Post by **grntrdbx** » 07 Jan 2015, 00:23

I haven't had the battery load tested but it is seems to be holding a full charge. The battery is at least 4yrs old, I think it was changed the same year we bought it (2010) before we purchased it from the original owner. We have put about 60k on it since we've owned it. The cables at the battery and the fuse box in the engine compartment are good and reinstalled with dielectric grease.

grntrdbx · Post by **grntrdbx** » 07 Jan 2015, 19:28

So, I had it towed to another shop today and before we tried using dollys to get it on the truck, the driver said that he would first hook it up and pull it forward in neutral slowly to see if it needed to move farther to release the stuck in park issue. Viola, it moved. I'm still glad I was cautious even though it burned at least a full day worrying about it. Right now it is at a nearby shop and hopefully they will be able to tell me something about what is going on with it. If it's more than they can handle (even though they work on a lot of Volvos) I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and drag it across town to a dealership. I'll keep you posted.