99 V70 turns over, no start

[pfmet]

My wife got home from an afternoon of errands yesterday, parked the car, and turned it off. Immediately decided to move it back some and started it up and it shut off before she could get it in gear. She started it again and it immediately shut itself off again at which point she removed the key and came inside. She relayed the tale to me this morning and soon after I went out to start the car and see what happened in hopes of starting some sort of diagnostic process. It would only turn over with no sign of starting. No spits or sputters, just cranking. I hooked up the code reader to see if anything showed up and got 1 DTC, P1081, the immobilizer ring apparently from what I have seen. But I’m unclear how that device works. Does it allow cranking to occur and just break the ignition circuit to keep the motor from firing? Or would it shut down the starter circuit as well? Just checking before I tear into things, and is there anything else to check to confirm a immobilizer issue, and how do I test the immobilizer? I searched for a thread on this but didn’t come up with the specifics I’d hoped to see but will continue to search. Thank you as always. Hope to hear back from some of you. Best, Peter

[FireFox31]

I just pulled an immobilizer ring from a 1999 V70. I'll be driving through your area on Sunday afternoon or Monday. I could come by and test this ring in your car, selling it to you if that fixes the problem. Feel free to PM me your address and I'll see how it works into my plans.

I just tested the ring on my 2000 and it works fine. Trying to start with that ring disconnected just cranked the engine with no start. I'm guessing it turned off the fuel pump. I started with the ring, stopped, disconnected the ring, then tried to start. The engine almost started as if there was still some gas in it, but it stumbled back into cranking.

Interesting, this taught me that the immobilizer was another "no start" condition.

[scot850]

There is a coded chip in the 99- North American Volvos. The antenna ring 'read's' the chip and if it sees what it has programmed into the immobiliser the car will start. The 2 issues I have found with the 99-00 P80 chassis cars are:

1) The connector to the ring can get oxidised/dirty over time, and sometimes just removing the connector and re-fitting it is enough to make it work again.
2) The unit cracks with age and it will stop working.

It is unusual for a key chip to fail in these keys. In the 2001 on P2's there is a chip internally that can fail but I will stop there.

If Firefox can help, it is worth trying to see if the used replacement works.

Before then, try locking the driver's door with the key and un-locking it a couple of times. Sometimes the system can get confused and shut you out. This will reset the system. If this doesn't work the the antenna ring issues need to be investigated.

Good luck!

Neil.

[abscate]

Depending on status of turbo or NA, the immobiliser function is slightly different for the two engine management systems

Bosch ME7 on the turbo will inhibit ignition if the immob isn’t satisfied. Crank, no fire.

Denso on the NA cars will crank, start. Then stall. Subsequent key on will just crank.

[FireFox31]

Denso on the NA cars will crank, start. Then stall. Subsequent key on will just crank.

How do you know this stuff?

That's what happened to me without the immobilizer in a NA. Cranked, kind of started, stalled, and subsequent attempts just cranked. The immobilizer I have came from a 1999 NA in case that matters.

[scot850]

Abscate is always trying to hotwire Volvos to add to his collection! That is how he knows this stuff...................!

Neil.

[abscate]

Denso on the NA cars will crank, start. Then stall. Subsequent key on will just crank.

How do you know this stuff?

That's what happened to me without the immobilizer in a NA. Cranked, kind of started, stalled, and subsequent attempts just cranked. The immobilizer I have came from a 1999 NA in case that matters.

I’m running four 1999s in my fleet right now, and one of them, Evita, the S70 NA DENSO was wired with a permanent key in the antenna under dash. It’s successful start sequence was …start stall, then start run. If I unplug the antenna on the other DENSO 1999s, they also start, stall,,,,,then just crank

If you put a key in permanent antenna position , it will pend a 1081 code ( basically “ key in too long) but that won’t set the CEL in my experience.

I have two ‘ failed chip keys” for my 1999 turbo with ME7 and they usually don’t start, stall….just crank. My other 1999 turbo does the same. I have had them do the start, stall thing but it’s rare. Something to do with how the ECU sets the security flag?

This data is sparse but I think it is reliable.

…and now everyone on MVS knows this……

Abby went from being slightly embarrassed at having a funky old car in college….to being the only one at work without a car payment….

[foggydogg]

How do you know this stuff?



Abby went from being slightly embarrassed at having a funky old car in college….to being the only one at work without a car payment….
[/quote]
Plus, she has a seasoned Volvo wrench that makes house calls.

[pfmet]

The issue is resolved…..at least for now. Our car is a Denso NA so Abscate’s data jibed perfectly with our experience. Two starts with IMMEDIATE stalls. Less than 1 sec, which as Ozark Lee pointed out in a post I saw somewhere is significant. Then the crank no start the next morning. So this morning I pulled the antenna ring, dripped some electronic cleaner in the plug and plugged and unplugged it numerous times and it’s working. Thanks you to Abscate, foggydogg, Scot850, and particularly Firefox31. I appreciate the offer of your precious time. Enjoy you visit to the area. And as always best of luck with all your projects.

[scot850]

Glad you found a solution. Hopefully it is permanent!

Neil.