Howdy all... I'm hoping someone has words of wisodom they can share.. I went to go home from work tonight and turned the key... for a big nothing to happen.. Lights/Windshield Wipers and radio all worked fine... Tried to turn they key again, still nothing... Thought maybe I was nuts and didsn't have it in park or the brake pressed down, all to no avail. I finally got a warning that it was Immobilized and to see the owners guide... That was no help.

I called my mechanic who is more familier with older Volvos and isn't sure on the newer ones and he referred me to the dealer. The dealer told me to bring it in (yes, after I had just explained it wouldn't start! LOL) so before I pay to have it towed into them does anyone know of a work around or how to fix this?

I would really appreciate any advice!

Thanks!!! :liebe011:

Have you tried the other key or the 'Valet' key ?

Might be something to do with the little transponder in the key or the antenae in the steering column.

Sounds a bit like this thread ..
http://www.volvo-forums.com/t6366-start-prevented.htm

Just thought I would update the post... I ended up having to take my car into the dealer, thankfully it finally started and I was able to drive it in instead of towing it in! The end result was a new starter relay & replacement of the Ant. Ring in the receiving unit of the immobilizer.

Good Luck to you in the future that face this!


Thanks for you reply!

I'll need all the luck I can get. I am facing this issue. My 2004 S60R had an intermittent no start issue. The problem occurrs randomly every now and then. Sometimes the car will start after a few tries, sometimes it starts after I wait a while, and sometimes it leaves me stranded. Since it comes and goes, it is very difficult for any dealership or repair shop to diagnose. I've already had my antenna ring replace and CEM software reloaded.

How long have you been dealing with this issue?

I will ask them to replace the starter relay next if nothing else works.

[The problem occurrs randomly every now and then. Sometimes the car will start after a few tries, sometimes it starts after I wait a while, and sometimes it leaves me stranded.]
:57:
That is exactly what happened to me. Since having both of those replaced it never happened again ---> THANK GOODNESS!

[How long have you been dealing with this issue?

I will ask them to replace the starter relay next if nothing else works.]

I couldn't delay having them done because I lived in the sticks and the towing bill would have been HUGE to tow it from the country to the dealership.




Good luck, I hope the starter relay solves the issue!

I have exactly the same problem for second time. For the first time I was not able to start the car and Immobolizer see manual message appeared. I found similiar problem here: http://www.volvo-forums.com/t8802-immobilizer.htm
And today it happened again and reseting of immobolizer did not help...it doesn't want to start so i towed it to dealeship.....i hate and i love volvo... :wacko: :blink:

Now I can see that this problem is not uncommon! I have exacltly the same issue with my C30.

Welcome to the club.

Personally, I seem to have now experienced every glitch and am probably going to get rid of it.

My latest repair bill is $700 to replace the SRS Sensor and another reprogramming. Seriously... it was reprogrammed last year

Hey, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but group members: your troubles may only be starting (no pun intended).

I've had the identical problem with my 2004 S60 on-and-off for the past year and a half. When it began in Jan/Feb 2007, they did the reprogamming thing ($150), but that didn't solve things for long, as the problem repeated itself a few months later. Next, they did the antenna ring thing (another $200-$300), but when that failed to solve the problem after a few weeks, they told me I had to replace the starter ($750 estimate). At that point, I had lost all faith in my local Volvo dealer, so I took it to an import repair shop, who replaced the starter for less ($550).

Late last year, the no-start/immobilizer issue recurred. Having moved out of state since the Spring 2007 starter replacement, I took it to another Volvo dealer, and they did the antenna ring/reprogramming thing again ($200-$300). However, a couple months later, I was immobilized for the fifth time. After, once again, having it towed to the dealer (thank God for AAA), the chief mechanic informed me that it was a bad electrical connection, which they fixed ($200).

But, of course, in March of this year the "safest car on the road" immobilized itself once again--late at night, in an empty parking lot near the subway station no less. Thinking that the third tow was the charm, I took it back to the Volvo dealer, who promptly told me that, since the previous repairs hadn't done the trick, it must be the (less than 1 year-old) starter.

At this point, I had enough, so I called Volvo customer service. The rep on the other end was of absolutely no help--at one point even saying that I wouldn't be complaining about the cost of these repairs if I had purchased the extended warranty Volvo had offered!!! Having few other options, I agreed to have the dealer replace the starter again ($550). But guess what? Two days ago, the $30,000+ vehicle w/less than 62K miles was--once again--immobilized.

Now I'm really stuck: on the one hand, I could probably have them do another starter replacement, which if history is any indicator, would allow the car to work for long enough to fool the guys at Car Max. However, I'd hate to mislead the eventual buyer of this piece of crap. For all I know, someday he/she might need to rush a loved one to the hospital, only to find the car immobilized!! And on the other hand, I have no confidence whatsoever that the next repair/replacement will actually solve the problem.

Right now, I'm thinking of filing a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Would anyone else be interested in joining me? I'm a licensed attorney, so I'd be willing to do almost all of the legwork. If so, please reply to this post.

I got lucky, it never happened to me again. A bunch of other issues mainly electrical. I ended up getting rid of it last month. Go Saturn! Better warrenty and less repairs!

Two things:

I had a similar no-start issue (but the car was never immobilized). All it took was to have the corrosion on the lead on the starter motor knocked off and a new connector put onto the wire. I'm not saying that this is your problem. But the next time your car won't start, just reach down and jiggle the top wire going into your starter (it is on the front side of the motor, about half way down). Good luck!

A Saturn? Um...yeah. Hope you survive the first accident.

I would love to join you in reporting this since I too am having the same problem.

Our 2001 v70 has had this problem throughout the summer leaving my wife stranded on several occasions most recently on her way to pick up our daughters. It has been an exceptionally frustrating issue. Today we had the antenna replaced and I ended up being stranded; the car is off in a retail parking lot. I will be writing to Volvo of America to express our absolute frustration. We are supportive of your actions. Frankly I'm happy to hear someone as upset as we are.