intermittent no start

[azureblue]

I got a call from a friend with the same model as my 2001 V70T5 auto - she has an intermittent no start issue. She sent it to a reputable Volvo indy shop but of course, the car started every time. Apparently nothing showed up on a code test.
Here is what she says happens. For no reason at all, the car will not start. As if the starter itself will not engage, or the security system is preventing the start. She says it in independent of time drive, temperature, humidity, what the heck. And sometimes it will start up after sitting for a few minutes, other times, hours. IOW no pattern to it at all.

She reports something else that may not have anything to do with this, but she says that every once in a while the transmission dash read out will show dashes, instead of D, 1, 2, 3, etc.

Ideas?

[ignatz]

My 01 V70 wouldn't start one day, but in the message panel it said "Start Prohibited". It started fine the second try. My local shop replaced the Antenna Ring as a precaution and it never happened again.
Not sure if your friend got a message, or if the message panel works.

[cn90]

Maybe PEM issue, forum has tons of info on it.

[azureblue]

thanks - I will check into both

[azureblue]

Antenna ring was replaced........

[br0dy519]

Check my thread. Bad starter can cause bad interference and weird communication issues on the car. Always happened on the most humid of days for me. Also check the wiring loom for the crank position and make sure it’s in good conduit and distanced from the starter. I link to other good troubleshooting threads within mine.

viewtopic.php?t=100183

[azureblue]

she says the message screen said "Immobilizer. See Manual"....

[br0dy519]

I would try with a different key or fob if possible. But immobilizer can be one of the most difficult messages to troubleshoot. I remember JRL basically saying antenna ring or dealer back in some old posts. At the minimum it will require a connection to VIDA to check the codes.

The only time I’ve ever seen that message is back when I used to connect my old (bad) dice unit. It used to cause many communication errors on the bus, and the immobilizer message was one of them.

[azureblue]

Hm - so if she sees the message when the car refuses to start, but is not hooked up to VIDA, and the shop (Good guys) replaced the antenna ring, then where else to look? She said replacing the ring didn't change a thing..... And i assume they check for codes - I know they have a "deep" code reader

[jonesg]

FOB battery can trigger the security system, mine was self arming and locking the doors until I installed a new battery in the FOB.