02 S40 Switchlock button function?

Jimnmorgan74 · Post by **Jimnmorgan74** » 13 Feb 2020, 08:36

Hello, I am new to your group and have owned many Volvos over the yrs and still own a total of 15 old gems that have been lovingly restored from frame-up. However, I recently inherited a 02 s 40 T and I really know nothing about these particular models but would like to know what exactly is the switch lock button used for? I keep finding how to fix certain items associated with this button but it really doesn't say much online anywhere so any suggestions or help would really be appreciated.

Post by **alschnertz** » 13 Feb 2020, 15:13

What is the "Switchlock button"?

Jimnmorgan74 · Post by **Jimnmorgan74** » 15 Feb 2020, 04:17

What does it do? as I stated I know nothing about this particular car. I own the old Bertone's, 240;s series and the 7 series and one S80 executive limo. So I don't understand what the button is used for? All I find id how to fix this button not what exactly it does any help, please?

Post by **alschnertz** » 15 Feb 2020, 06:35

I mean literally what button are you referring to?
Not sure what button you're talking about. Where is this button located?

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 23 Feb 2020, 01:57

Could he mean the drivers door safety locking rocker switch located with the master power window unit.??

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 23 Feb 2020, 14:33

Shift Lock?

Navservice · Post by **Navservice** » 02 Apr 2020, 01:30

Noooo, he's referring to a button next to the shifter. DON'T PUSH IT! I did and it took me a while to fix it. In the meantime I couldn't take my key out of the ignition. In fact, that's the reason I found this site and joined.

The function of that push button (it's not a switch) is to allow the car to be shifted out of Park even if there's no juice from the battery to operate the interlock solenoid. That could become important if the car had to be towed. Very thoughtful of Volvo and all that but it's very common that the button doesn't return to it's unpushed state again resulting in my problem. The button is purely mechanical and is plastic in a plastic opening. There is none of the self-lubrication you might think plastic parts would exhibit and the hole the button passes through is perfectly oriented to accumulate crap and crud over the years. If you push the button it will very likely not come back up. There is a process in the owner's manual for "unpushing" that button but it didn't work because the button was binding in the hole.

I can tell you the various needle nose and chain nose pliers I used (I used to be an electronic tech, I've got lots of nice ones) couldn't grip it. Using a small screwdriver to brute force pry it up didn't work. The prevailing advice here had to do with WD-40 or similar. I did eventually get the button back up.

Since then I found out by accident a surefire method of getting access to that button for cleaning, etc. I was at my favorite place, Pick Ur Part, to pick up, among other things, a wood colored shifting knob as part of sprucing up the interior of my new old Volvo. I knew that the knob could be removed simply by pulling up, with gusto, the shifter knob with the button pushed in. I did exactly that to a car in the yard and the knob and the shifter surround came up together. That's how I found out how easy it is to take the shifter surround out. Be careful, as the shifter surround comes up the button will fall out, possibly into an inaccessable location.