Brake Failure Please Stop ASAP error...plus lights galore

[polskamafia mjl]

That's true...the electrical part of the ignition wreaks havoc on the 850's...perhaps you've got the same problem. Good thinking E Showell.

[jbrown122]

Thats a possibility but I don't think so. If it was the ignition, usually just the lights like ABS, CEL, park brake, etc will come on. But there are actually messages coming up on the info screen that do not show when the key is in II position.
Are you getting "low voltage" message? If so, did your mechanic check the alternator?


Maybe you just want to have the ABS rebuilt. Because these are all symptoms of module failure. Every thing you describe. When the module was out, the speedo and tach should still have been dead right? And all the lights should have stayed on. Probably. Therefore, I think the ABS module is bad, because the lights and gauges act the same with or without the module in there. So its probably not working when it's installed.

I don't think a bad ECU would throw these messages and no performance be effected. This is strange.

[JDS60R]

You are having an electrical ground fault or a voltage fault. The fact that many systems are being effected lets you know the common denominator is the power source.

First go to your local Advance or Auto Zone and get a battery test (both voltage and load/CCA ) and then have them test te alternator. Many hav reported a failing alternator with the same symptoms. If your battery and charging systems check out ok then have an automotive electrician check the car for a bad ground.

This should get you back up and running.

[robby91]

Ok, here is another update.....

Still no resolution. I am dropping the car off at my second mechanic in about a half hour.

-The ABS control module was fine. I reinstalled it and everything worked for about 10 miles and then it started happening again.
-I brought it back to the first place and had them check the alternator again while the engine was running and the guages were all dead. They said it was constant and fine.
-I tried to have them fault check for a bad ground or voltage irregularity and they couldnt find any.
-The new battery is working fine

To recap, the SRS system error and Transmission Service errors are always on in the message center. I imagine because they got tripped while driving the car with the ABS computer out. Shop i went to couldnt clear them. Sometimes the car drives fine. But most trips eventualy i'll get the Brake Failure Message and all the lights and lose all guage except Fuel Level. When i try to restart, it wont, unless i disconnect the battery first.

Thanks for your input guys. I have never had such a messed up automotive problem.

[Bandit]

When I had my 95 850 wagon, I got a whole host of flashing lights one day and after getting the car over to the dealer, they had a TSB on the ground cable from the battery. They replaced the ground cable with a new one and all the problems went away. Since Volvo has gone to the computer technology to monitor and control everything it's very important for you to make sure all your ground connections and positive battery connection are clean and tight. I've noticed that on my 2008 C30, they have over 7 different ground connections besides the main one on the battery. Volvo cars have two major weaknesses. 1. Poor rubber parts in the suspension and engine/tranny mounts. 2. Poor electrical parts especially in the quality of the wiring harness insulation.

So check anything that might be used in the circuits while the car is running. That would also mean the ignition switch in this case. Good luck.

Al

[uncletom]

Robby91, Have been away from this forum for quite some time. You may have read some of my posts from some time back. I have had exactly the same symptoms for about 2 1/2 years. Had mr Roca do a rebuild on my ABS controller at about 85000 miles and everything worked fine for 11 months. Symptoms returned so I sent my controller back to Mr. Roca to be checked and he reported it was fine. I installed another rebuilt unit for testing and still same symptoms.King Volvo in Bellingham wa. (great people) says all tests indicate ABS controller but you can understand why I am reluctant to try a 4 th unit.I will be looking at the key switch as it does make sense the problem could be there.Have checked for connections and grounds but all test out to be fine. I will run more tests on my voltage as I feel my lights while driving at moderate speed look like they may have a slight flicker in that they look like they may change in brightness very rapidly. I had to replace the voltage regulator also about 3 yrs ago We now have about 155K on the car and have submitted to reset the battery cable every 2nd or 3rd day when I use it on short trips. I can usually take off on a several hour continuous drive with no interruptions.

[nettepsc]

Hello,
I was just reading through this forum and it sounds almost identical to the problem I just started having with my 2000 S80 T6. A couple weeks ago all a sudden my SRS light come on out of now where (It actually came on after coming from a Starbucks, where I had to return my cup because of a very small leak.) I have read that the SRS module is near the emergency brake and not directly under the cup holder so I have no idea if coffee leaked on the module?

There was nothing wrong with the car besides the light coming on, then a day later my Brake failure light came on & STC with stop ASAP and my entire dashboard goes blank (speedometer, RPM, gas gauge etc). Now every time i start my car my dashboard reads for only 5- 10 sec's and then shuts off. When that happens i cannot use my turn signals, all functionality on steering wheel, power seats and windows, and high beams. Besides that the car is still running fine. (Thank god for the iPod because i found a APP that tells me how fast I’m going lol)

So I noticed there hasn’t been a follow-up to robby91 in a little while just wondering the outcome or if anyone can help me out. I truly do not want to go the MA Volvo dealership because it will cost me probably $1,500.00. I have brought the car to a local dealership to get the VIDA read and no fault codes where coming up ( or the CAN system wasn’t communicating? He stated that they will have to take each module out one by one?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[robby91]

Hi guys,

I still have no resolution. Basically been without the car a ton for the last 2 months. I have it at another shop as i type. Dropped it off with them for the second time last saturday. For the entire week they had it the first time, it wouldnt fail. So, i take the car back home and 3 days later it started failing again, almost all the time.

To recap:
-Brake Failure Stop Safely ASAP comes on randomly, all gauges except for Fuel fail. Car drives fine. If i try to restart without waiting a day or unhooking the battery, the car will not start right.

-After the brake failue happens and that is cleared by time or the battery method, the SRS airbag service soon and Transmission service soon messages are present until the next time i bring it into the shop and they clear the codes.

I have yet to find a mechanic who can fix this. I wonder if the ABS unit is bad and Victor didnt see it because his testing involved driving with the unit in his car and it just didnt happen to fail? I am contemplating buying a replacement ABS controller. Grounds check out fine, voltage is fine, alternator is fine, battery has been replaced. Leads running from battery to the engine block have been repaired.

I am so tired of this. Anybody have any other ideas?

Thanks!

[robby91]

UPDATE>>>>

Mechanic has been testing every CAN network component while the car is in the failed position. He says all of the computer codes he is pulling are all pointing to the ETM. He wants to replace the ETM.

The ETM malfunctions, its on the CAN network, it screws up the other systems ABS,SRS, Trans. Then i can't start the car right because the ETM is still functioning poorly. I don't get an ETM message on the dash because of the recall software upgrade i installed. Its not allowing it to register to the dash. But the other systems going offline is.

Does this make sense to anyone else? Sounds logical. My question is, he wants $1,400 to do it? God, its a lot of money. Does that seem legit for ETM replacement pricing? Help.

[esmoriz]

My good, it looks like that I am not alone in this Volvo world! I have a S80 T6 1999, with 200,000 miles and I have exactly the same problem. “Brake Failure Please Stop ASAP”, “Transmission problem. Fix next service”. All the warning light, ABS, Brakes, STC, Check Engine are on, no eng. Temp. Gauge, no odometer, no tach … everything the same. When it happens I stop and wait about ten minutes and start the engine again and everything is fine. I read all posting … and was reading my own problems and experiences.
I took my car to the Dealer. Diagnosis: A faulty ABS control, under the dashboard. I gave orders to repair, at cost of $1,100.00. When I went to pick-up the car, it again turned like a Christmas Tree and the problems remained there. So, I asked: what did you do for $1,100.00 if nothing changed in the car? They took the car inside, with all the lights on, connected to the computer and it said that no power was going to the three computer modules. They kept the car to find the problem. They called me today to say that they think that it is the harness of the car. It did not make any sense to me, because the problem is intermittent and not permanent. You think? I told them to stop to work on the car and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. I will take it from there. I hope that somebody will post here same solution to this, for what I see, very common problem in the Volvo family. When even the Volvo mechanics are not able to help you, something very wrong is going on here!