Bought a 99 s80 t6 for 500 need help electric

[str8jkt]

Greetings everyone. I am new to this site and I want to thank you for all the invaluable information. I am doing my best to research up before I ask any questions as to not waste anyone's time.

A month or 2 a go a friend who owns , VW, VOLVO's, and SAABs, sold me a 99 s80 t6 for 500 dollars with 144 thousand miles. It has no key fob, and only one key. The stipulation was that I could by the car for 500 and fix it myself, or he could fix it and sell it for 2 or 3 grand....I played around with the idea and finally bought the car. I took the car to a little shop to have the high pressure line for the power steering installed. When I got the car back, it was leaking fluids and some other odd stuff that didn't seem right...actually the place returned the car to me with all the fluids drained....so I took it back and of course they weren't at fault..Anyways, after about a week the door locks stopped responding to the key, the immobilizer was tripped up. ....it disabled almost everything, ALTHOUGH, the car still cranks and will drive.

Sunroof didn't work when i bought the car, the locks did. After i got it from the shop about a week, the key stopped working for everything except the ignition and the trunk.

Now it seems that the fan for the radiator won't come on, so its always boiling and i have antifreeze in it, not just water.

Now, this brings me to this question.....

What can I do to check and see whats causing all this. I'm disabled. fixed income, money is an object. I am unable to pin anything on the shop..

Key works in the ignition, and trunk only. Will crank will drive. Locks will not respond, all are locked. Have to open the gas door from inside the panel.

If i bought one of those universal key fobs for the car (some places offer for 40 dollars) would that be sufficient to get the locks to work again?
previous owner said it was brand new battery.
Could the immobilizer also cause a problem with fan motor?

I don't understand why the car starts, its like i am driving with the alarm on...

Never heard the siren before i don't know if it was messed with in the past..

I have been supporting and taking care of my 98 year old grandmother on foot so i needed a car bad, but now that it left me stranded with her at the store (until i wised up and crawled in the trunk to unlock the back door) and/or having the fear that it will be bricked the next time i try and start it, can someone please guide me in the cheapest way to figure out what to do ?


Thank you guys so much.

God Bless

Daniel - Birmingham AL

[Legofan]

The very best advice I can give you.

Drive the car back to your friend and get your money back.

The key fob is going to cost you $400, only a dealer can do it. You have to buy a volvo key fob, plus software, plus programming and labor. Your friend should have been able to tell you that. If you are losing fluids that fast you got serious problems that can take thousands to fix. If you need a new thermostat that's another $1000. The cooling fan circuit is probably bad and not part the security system. once you get all that fixed plan on a few more $1000 for the last few things to fix.

[str8jkt]

thermostat is 9 dollars. from parts geek.com. I hooked it up to the computer at the auto parts store and it kicked back NO trouble codes. When we tested the battery and starter it kicked back bad starter..

I took it to a shop to get the power steering line on it, and when i received the car back they drained all the fluids out and didn't tighten the rims...

I learned something that day, NEVER LEAVE A SHOP WITHOUT CHECKING YOUR FLUIDS/ LUGS ECT...it was almost like they were pissed off at me for bringing that kind of car to them..i should have known when i saw the mechanic digging in the motor with a crow bar..(smdh)...

Thanks for your advice Legofan, i'm trying to be more optimistic i don't have that option..

I'm hoping its the starter connection.....if so a forsale sign is going on the car..

[Legofan]

https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/80722/ ... g-9142696/

This is the only thermostat you want to buy and it's on the front of the engine which means you have to remove the power steering reservoir, coolant reservoir, timing belt cover and timing belt. It's about $1000 parts and labor. I had them do mine last year while changing the timing belt and other seals. that bill was about $2300.

I think selling it is a wise choice, just get what you paid and find a Honda or Toyota.

[SuperHerman]

Dude you are all over the place. Let's try to break down your issues. I am going off the top of my head on some of this stuff as I never owned a 99 S80 - a later model S80 and other older and newer Volvos yes. They are all basically the same.

1) Sunroof will not open. First check your fuses - all of them. Sunroof may be caused by your alarm module being bad - although this usually throws a message. The sunroof not opening is a hint, at least on my old XC90 - they are tied together. The alarm module is located if I recall under the front wheel well under the splash shield. You can pull it out - cut it open and replace the batteries if the board has not been rotted by NICAD acid. Do a little digging and you will find posts on this. I am not sure if there is a work around - like unplugging the unit to get your sunroof back. This would be low on my list.

2) Your key. So are you saying the key in the door does not unlock the other doors? Does it unlock the driver door? I do not think the driver side door key in the 99 S80 is electrical as it relates to the drivers door look. Looking at pictures - I see only mechanical parts. Now unlocking the other doors, usually with a double turn would trigger an electrical event for the door module to unlock the other doors once the mechanical portion pushes a switch. There is a door module on the driver's door that could be your issue. I think you can buy a used one of the same year and part number and get away without programming it. Do some searching if you get to this point. You may have a door module issue. Check all your fuses. Also how are you locking the doors? How are you unlocking the doors? Which doors are locked and which are not when you do this? I recall one volvo had a door which wouldn't always lock with the rest and if this door was opened it would cause issues. You need to give more details. Finally check the owners manual on the operation of the door locking - it may be that you have something set blocking you from doing what you want - like Valet button if car has one. Also if you unlock doors that should not be unlocked the car will think it is being broken into and cause issues. You could have a mechanical problem on one of the other doors or an electrical one. What exactly are the problems and when do they arise? Look at the owners manual to make sure you are following the "rules". Key needs to be programmed to car - a spare key to get the ignition to work has to be chipped. I usually prefer my straight key to a FOB as it is smaller - it should work. Let's narrow down the issue and get more details.

3) Power steering - did you get this resolved and stop all leaks from this source?

4) Other fluids - you need to give more details of which fluids and where.

5) Cooling fan - does it work when the AC is on? Does your ac work? Can you spin the electric cooling fan by hand freely and without grinding noise? The problem here can be a bad fan motor to a bad sensor or again a FUSE, or relay. Do some checking and report back.

6) Why do you think the thermostat is bad? Usually they fail open meaning you shouldn't overheat unless the fan doesn't come on and the car has been running for sometime and not moving. Does the car overheat when you are moving? How fast? How hot is it outside? How long until over heat? Maybe you have a blown head gasket. How is the coolant and engine oil? Any signs of cross contamination in either?

7) Gas door - check fuses. Also I believe there is a solenoid back there that may be faulty or out of wack. Take a look. Have someone push the button and listen. Open it and listen and look for movement of the plunger. Disconnect it and put a meter on it and push and check for voltage. If door lock solenoid is bad - take off the door if you do not fear gas theft until you can source a new solenoid. I see them for $25 on Ebay used. Locally you can do better - maybe off a CL part out.

Your car is not a loss. You took on a project and need to work through the issues. Figure out what is wrong and prioritize per your budget. Buy used parts. First thing is to figure out overheat as that could kill you car. At the same time stop all fluid leaks. Hope this helps. Report back.

[Legofan]

What can I do to check and see whats causing all this. I'm disabled. fixed income, money is an object.

Your car is not a loss. You took on a project and need to work through the issues. Figure out what is wrong and prioritize per your budget. Buy used parts. First thing is to figure out overheat as that could kill you car. At the same time stop all fluid leaks. Hope this helps. Report back.

I think you missed the key parts of this post, best advice is sell it to recoup what he paid.

[SuperHerman]

I understand what you are saying. But what I advised him is to figure out what is wrong.

He could have a few loose hose clamps, a fitting that needs to be tightened, a blown fuse and an unplugged connector. The key problem may be of his own making.

On the other hand he may have a blown engine and numerous other costly repairs.

He has to look first.

[June]

https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/80722/ ... g-9142696/

This is the only thermostat you want to buy and it's on the front of the engine which means you have to remove the power steering reservoir, coolant reservoir, timing belt cover and timing belt. It's about $1000 parts and labor. I had them do mine last year while changing the timing belt and other seals. that bill was about $2300.

I think selling it is a wise choice, just get what you paid and find a Honda or Toyota.

I think to advise someone who came here for help to sell their Volvo and buy a Toyota or Honda is sad. I agree the S80 T6 is not for everyone, but neither is a BMW, Mercedes, or Cadillac. Volvo does have other models that are indestructible like the 240 which can be bought cheep and is easy to work on, or the S60 which has the modern safety features and seems to have the reputation on MVS as reliable. Maybe it is just me, but $500.00 won't buy much of a car in most cases. In my opinion the OP should either work through the issues and then enjoy the S80 with the piece of mind that safety features like WIPPS may save back damage one day, or sell the S80 and switch to 240, 740, or 940 and learn to work on their own car on a easy-going indestructible car.

June

[Legofan]

I think to advise someone who came here for help to sell their Volvo and buy a Toyota or Honda is sad.

It's sound advice, doesn't matter what site we're on.