Gremlins in my S60

rjyoung32 · Post by **rjyoung32** » 25 Apr 2018, 06:24

Ok hoping someone can help or point me in the right direction. My dad is an advocate of Volvos so I decided to see what the fuss was all about and pick one up that needed a little work. Well it's turning out to not be as "simple" as I was expecting....like some of the previous cars I have owned. So here is the short list of issues I am trying to tackle first;

1 - SRS light is on, from what I have read this needs to be reset with a specific code reader or taken to the dealership. I was told that the previous owner had taken out the stereo and the light has been on ever since. (side note, the factory stereo is now back in it)

2 - With that said, the stereo is possessed! I turn it on and there may be a little sound at first then nothing for 10 mins then it comes back on loud as heck. I have read about the amps going bad under the drivers seat however my car does not have an amp.

3 - Turn signals/high beams. The entire left side switch on my column does not work. I went and picked up two used ones from the junk yard and neither of those worked either. At a loss on this one......

4 - Lastly the heater....while this is not as important since spring is finally here it still would be nice to get it tackled while the weather is nice. The AC works great however the heater is not hot, I would say it does get warm.

Now from what I have read (please correct me if I am wrong) there is a possibility these can all (or a couple) be linked due to the computer under the dash? Is this something that would require a visit to the dealership or a Volvo mechanic? Estimate on cost?

Thanks from a virgin Volvo owner just looking to join the cool kids club.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Apr 2018, 06:51

Find someone with a higher end code reader that can unload the climate control codes for you to get started on that heater problem - its probably a damper door. The heater cores on these cars run full flow all the time - heat is regulated by mixing cool and warm air in the big white box under the dash.

Someone probably disconnected the SRS system with the battery connected - that will pop an SRS code. Its a dealer reset or that high end scanner again.

Its sounds like you have some electrical failures - is there a remote start on the car or other wiring hackery?

Post by **Rattnalle** » 25 Apr 2018, 07:02

The CCM under the stereo will trigger an srs code if removed without the battery out. And since it needs to come out to get to the stereo it doesn't seem too unlikely a cause.

The heater cores while full flow can still get sort of clogged with poor heat as a result. If there's a noticeable temperature difference between the hoses in the engine compartment the flow is poor.

rjyoung32 · Post by **rjyoung32** » 25 Apr 2018, 07:06

No remote start or after market wiring that I could see under the dash. Stereo wiring wasn’t even cut up.

dlundblad · Post by **dlundblad** » 25 Apr 2018, 07:24

The turn signal switches on these things are terrible. There's a YouTube video on disassembling them and cleaning the connections. 2 failures from used units is a head scratcher though.

A new Volvo switch fixed the turn signal on the S60 in my signature, but the lever needs held down for high beams. I believe the high beams are tied into the DIM/ gauge cluster somehow, but I am not sure. Maybe that would have something to do with the radio too.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Apr 2018, 07:58

A new switch from Volvo is under $100 - sometimes it just pays to get a new part - should be able to diagnose this, though.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 25 Apr 2018, 08:03

The high beam could actually be the light mode switch below the stalk..

As for the stalks they have to be from the right model year i think since there are several different CAN generations on these cars.

Post by **oragex** » 25 Apr 2018, 11:35

Could there be a fuse for the turn signal only? Watch out as the stalks from 2001-2003 fit in there but will not work on 2004 and up

As for the heater core, I'd check first the thermostat (Youtube), then use some coolant flush because some owners either put a coolant that creates sludge, either mix coolant with tap water which blocks the passages to the heater core by creating lime deposits.

As for the radio, swap it out with the same unit used off Ebay, try to find about the same year. Then clear the SRS message once everything works well.

Post by **jonesg** » 25 Apr 2018, 12:09

If you wanna be a volvohead you're gonna want the Volvo software, vida on a laptop with a dice interface, its better than fancy code readers...unless you own other cars and need a general code reader.
Can't beat vida though.

I had an Autel 802 scanner, it cleared the SRS code but I sold it when I got vida.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 25 Apr 2018, 18:41

No, there's no fuse that would affect only the LH side except for the main beam (park/turn would still work) More than likely the common ground for the front left headlamp assembly is bad. If the rear left doesn't work either then there's something else going on either with the stalk switch or steering wheel module.

Issues with not getting full heat can sometimes be caused by a problem with the CCM or the damper motors. Usually VIDA will show associated DTCs if this is the case. By '06 the damper motors sense their position differently than earlier designs and will recalibrate themselves periodically without intervention - unless there's a problem. VIDA is recommended to help sort this.

A restricted heater core can often be cleared by backflushing it in the direction opposite to normal coolant flow some fluid pressure (say 40-50psi). Quite often this works. How feasable the procedure is, as opposed to just replacing the core if you're paying somebody, depends on whether you can access heater hoses where they connect at the head/block/water pump under the hood. I haven't specifically looked at the Volvo regarding this. On some cars this can be a ten minute procedure. If it doesn't work then you 'resort' to replacing the core.

These radios, made by mitsubishi electric co, are problematic.
Their electronics are sort of a plague upon Euro/Japanese/Chrylser vehicles that integrated mits' stuff into OE designs through the 2000s. Radios...GPS units... I'm half surprised there hasn't been a class action representing owners across multiple makes and models against them. I'm sure Volvo stuck it to 'em for every unit that had to be replaced while vehicles were still under the new vehicle warranty.