Today, I experienced exactly same problem.
"KEY ERROR" messages over and over again.
When I first contacted the Volvo-on-calls, the guy there said to me to open and close the door by remo. several times and it could make the immobilizer system work right again. But no way!!! I was really embarassed.
After about an hour, it happened to work. The message disappeared and I can start the engine. I never want to experience it again.
Now, I am waiting for my car to be fixed in the volvo service shop.

 

Sorry Folks.

I should have updated this long ago. The fault with my car was the electronic steering lock. It had developed a fault and hence the key error message. The dealer had to replace the upper steering column apparently. Thank ( insert your appropriate deity here) for warranty. Would have seen little change from £800. Thats nearly $1600 US at present exchange rates.

 

Although I have not experienced this error myself, I have seen it discussed many times on other Volvo forums. If you have ever noticed, when you first insert the key, you can hear an electric motor unlock the steering wheel. That is where the system is failing, and yes, replacing the steering column is the fix. As you said "Thank (insert your appropriate deity here) for warranty."

 

Hi,

I had the Key Error Message. It happened once then nothing for weeks. Then one day it happened and then every few starts. It was taken to the dealer who then replaced under warranty the ignition barrel.

No problems since.

Andy

 

Hi,
I am a S40 (2005) owner.
Yesterday evening I also got the venerable "KEY ERROR..... PLEASE TRY AGAIN" Message.
This message poped up once one month ago but and I was able to start my car then just by simply Locking/Unlocking the doors.

Yesterday it refused to start whatsoever. I also used my spare keys with no results.
I was forced to call the emergency service and get the car transported on a lift to my volvo service garage.

After a few hours they diagnosed tha it was the ignition switch......
Although my garrantie was for 2 years and expired in 2007, THIS SPECIFIC part was under garrantie
until 2009 (for 4 yaers also)...... So I got it replaced without payment.
The car works now.

Asking further questions (I also searched the internet) to the person who is responsible for the volvo cars at that service garage, I got the information that:
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PARTS IN THE RECENT VOLVO CARS THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TO REPEADEATLY FAIL ON CUSTOMERS AFTER 2-4 YEARS OF USAGE. THERE IS A HIDDEN LIST OF THESE PARTS AND WHENEVER YOU GO TO A QUALIFIED SERVICE PARTNER AND HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM INSIDE THE FIRST 4 YEARS YOU GET A REPLACEMENT AT LEAST ONCE.

He told me this was "off the record", and also showed me the list.... I also got last year a replacement of a faulty part which was on this list without knowing. They just changed it without notifying me.
Apparently VOLVO used some lower grade parts which normaly fail in 2-4 years and that is why they produced this secret list and did not notifiy the customers to check-in and replace the parts.

Not beeing able to start my car when I was in need was very painfull, I would appreciete a better treatment/warning from such a reputational car manufacturer.
They know that a very high percentage of the cars (this also shows in the forums on the net) is going to have this fault in 2-4 years of its purchase. Why are they not recalling the cars which exhibit this?
Maybe because they dont want to hurt their image, ON THE EXPENSE OF THE CUSTOMER WHICH GETS STUCK WHEN THIS FAULT HAPPENS.....
I wasnt even able to unlock my steering wheel and had a special service come to lift the car...

If this error occurs after say 5 years they now nothing about this list and let you pay for it dearly.
Chances are that is you have a new volvo you will get this error too.
So dont be surprized.

Dimi

 

QUOTE (Xero1 @ Feb 6 2007, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well hello folks. My first problem post. Thought I had nothing better to do yesterday morning but jump in the car get it started and all warmed up to take my son to school. But to my surprise I was confronted with "KEY ERROR...PLEASE TRY AGAIN", so I did and again and again with both keys, no joy. So it was a very fast walk to school which was good as it was -3 degrees C yesterday.
Back to the car I had to watch it being unceremoniously dragged off to the dealers. I called today to get an update to be told that a new steering column was on order?
Have any of you guys had something similar and can it be a steering column!! He says incredulously.

This error happened to me as well (on my V50)..I was not best pleased. I managed to solve it by manually opening the car door with the metal key, then when inside opening and closing the doors via central locking. Eventually the system reset and I was able to start my car. Highly annoying and I hope it does not happen again! Makes me feel a bit let down by the Volvo brand renowned for reliability...

 

This happened to me today. Very annoying. After trying for about 30 minutes, locking, unlocking, key in, key o0ut again etc etc it suddenly worked again.
Is there any pattern to the fact it was really cold (minus 1 or so I think) ???

I'm obviously looking to fix this asap so it won't happen ever again, so I'm gonna phone the dealership in the morning for prices. I've got a guide on VADIS for replacing the ignition switch, (will post it up here if anyone needs it) and I'm hoping that wouldn't be too expensive, but I'm guessing if I need it, the steering column will be very very expensive.

Anyone know if the answer is replacing the steering column, or just the switch??

I'd love to know which bit to replace, but would rather not spend hundreds on something I don't need!! (It's a 2004 so too old now for a free fix!!)
Thanks

 

Just to update - Volvo tell me the Ignition switch is £106 +VAT (£124.55) and the Steering column is £101.50 +VAT (£119.26)

Don't know which to replace! I was thinking an error may have been logged, but they want £100 just to scan for errors, so I may as well buy both if I was going to spend that!

Also, they didn't know if the ignition switch would need programming to the car, though I think I read somewhere it doesn't.

Does anyone know?

 

QUOTE (Ben B @ Jan 4 2010, 04:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Just to update - Volvo tell me the Ignition switch is £106 +VAT (£124.55) and the Steering column is £101.50 +VAT (£119.26)

Don't know which to replace! I was thinking an error may have been logged, but they want £100 just to scan for errors, so I may as well buy both if I was going to spend that!

Also, they didn't know if the ignition switch would need programming to the car, though I think I read somewhere it doesn't.

Does anyone know?

Hi Ben,

I've got 99MYR V40 petrol and the immo has stopped working (w/lmp flashes ..no crank , all dash lamps come on)..battery is fully charged,i've ordered a copy of Volvo VARDIS to see if its possible to investigate the cause.
Found a poss tip on a US site..got to be worth a try...Use the REMOTE PLIP to UNLOCK/LOCK the car 5 times and it apparently turns off the immo !!! i'm at work at the moment,,,will try it tonight and let you know .

if you find a fix let me know ?

any help would be much appreciated

derrick

 

Even though I've only had the problem once, I'd rather never have it again, so I've gone and spent £240 on both parts (ignition switch and steering column) and will be fitting them soon. I'm hoping the ignition switch wouldn't need programming to the car (I read that it won't by googling - fingers crossed).

When it happened to me I did lock and unlock the car several times before it finally let me start it. Not sure if it was only 5 times, felt like I did it loads! If it's reliably as simple as doing that 5 times before it works again that would be great, but I've gone and spent the money on parts already! It's only happened once, and that was after a day parked in bitterly cold conditions, and a shady spot too, so really cold. I'm guessing the cold was somehow the cause.

 

QUOTE (Ben B @ Jan 11 2010, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Even though I've only had the problem once, I'd rather never have it again, so I've gone and spent £240 on both parts (ignition switch and steering column) and will be fitting them soon. I'm hoping the ignition switch wouldn't need programming to the car (I read that it won't by googling - fingers crossed).

When it happened to me I did lock and unlock the car several times before it finally let me start it. Not sure if it was only 5 times, felt like I did it loads! If it's reliably as simple as doing that 5 times before it works again that would be great, but I've gone and spent the money on parts already! It's only happened once, and that was after a day parked in bitterly cold conditions, and a shady spot too, so really cold. I'm guessing the cold was somehow the cause.

Ok, I'll try it and then go from there...don't want to put into Bells Vlvo bedford £££££££ so i'll do some investigation and let you know

cheers

derrick

 

QUOTE (Ben B @ Jan 11 2010, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Even though I've only had the problem once, I'd rather never have it again, so I've gone and spent £240 on both parts (ignition switch and steering column) and will be fitting them soon. I'm hoping the ignition switch wouldn't need programming to the car (I read that it won't by googling - fingers crossed).

When it happened to me I did lock and unlock the car several times before it finally let me start it. Not sure if it was only 5 times, felt like I did it loads! If it's reliably as simple as doing that 5 times before it works again that would be great, but I've gone and spent the money on parts already! It's only happened once, and that was after a day parked in bitterly cold conditions, and a shady spot too, so really cold. I'm guessing the cold was somehow the cause.

Hi Ben,

Did'nt work on my V40 !!! so i've got a Volvo indy coming out to plug his diagnostic scanner in to see what DTC'S etc we've got...i've ordered the Vardis DVD (waiting for that to come)..........got the Vardis DVD..wiring diags, going to check the power & gnds to the immo ecu +12v permanent & ign tonight (volvo indy ! still waiting on.

cheers

Derrick

 

Many Thanks. I just had the same problem. Came home, googled it and got here. Went back to the car (5mins walk) unlocked / locked remotely 5 or 6 times, got in and....Hey Presto!! It worked. Time to chop it in for a BMW ?

 

Hi everyone,

I encountered also the problem "key error - try again" on my 2005 Volvo V50 and found a way to solve it, at least temporarily. I guess it would also work on the S40, and it is certainly worth trying on other models.

By reading all your post, I just could not understand why an ignition problem would require a complete change of the steering column. That sounded totally absurd to me : why change a complete steering column for a non-working lock ? After a few searches, I found a French Volvo forum where a woman wrote that she got a working solution from her garage. I tried it and, believe it or not, and do not ask me why, it worked the first time I tried, for a huge cost of - ZERO - dollars.

Here is what I did.

1 - I went back to my car with a medium-sized hammer.
2 - I inserted the key into the ignition.
3 - I knocked firmly (not strongly, but firmly) on the inserted key with the hammer. Twice.
4 - I pulled out the key and reinserted it.
5 - Then I could unlock the steering wheel and everything worked as usual, after a few flashes from the different indicators and a list of non-sensical messages on the information display.

If the first hammer strike does not work, try a couple of time more. Leave the metallic (manual) part of the key in place, so that you hammer knock on the metal, and not on the plastic.

The car is now working perfectly. Maybe the problem will repeat, I don't know. I will see my Volvo dealer this week, and maybe I will have the lock itself changed, but I will ask Vovlo to cover 50% of the fees, since it is obviously an dysfunction. Meanwhile, I added a hammer in my car toolbox. Do not know how this will last. But this trick is certainly worth trying before deciding to spend hundreds of $$$ at your dealer.

Keep me informed on your attempts !

 

QUOTE (Xero1 @ Feb 6 2007, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well hello folks. My first problem post. Thought I had nothing better to do yesterday morning but jump in the car get it started and all warmed up to take my son to school. But to my surprise I was confronted with "KEY ERROR...PLEASE TRY AGAIN", so I did and again and again with both keys, no joy. So it was a very fast walk to school which was good as it was -3 degrees C yesterday.
Back to the car I had to watch it being unceremoniously dragged off to the dealers. I called today to get an update to be told that a new steering column was on order?
Have any of you guys had something similar and can it be a steering column!! He says incredulously.
I had the same problem a while ago with my V50. Locking and unlocking the doors a few times did not work, but I managed to reset the immobilizer by setting off the alarm and cancelling it with the "unlock" button on the remote. After that both my keys worked normally again. No further problems for about 6 months now.

There are many ways to set off the alarm: wind down a window before locking and unlock the door using the button by the handle and open it, set off the motion sensor by moving around inside the car, sit in the car and lock it and then pop the hood, jack up the car etc, etc.

 

What it might work in this case is reprogramming the fob. I tried reprogramming my s40 key a year ago when I dropped my key and was left only with one spare. WHat i did is I bought a new one from ebay and had it cut at a local locksmith and then reprogrammed it myself according to a procedure that I found here: http://autokeysquad.co.uk/volvo-key-fob-programming . Very simple, easy steps to follow and took me less than 10 minutes ( I like to take my time)
good luck

 

Newbie here... wifes V50 key errored, and since I've recieved quite a bit of usefull information from forums like this (thanks!) I thought I would give some feedback... As I said, wife's car key errored while parked about half mile away from home, so drove there... starred at the message, did the same thing my wife had been doing for the last 30 minutes, got pissed... came home, got spare key (and looked at this forum) and tried it, to no avail. Tried the on/off on the locks, nothing! Had it towed home (thank you State Farm!). Got back to this forum... read the "hammer technique", what the heck... hit it twice, pulled it out - pushed back in... MIRACLE! Unbelievable, wheel unlocks & car starts! Hat's off to whoever thought of this... and thanks to all who share! QUOTE (tarcis @ Feb 6 2011, 08:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi everyone,

I encountered also the problem "key error - try again" on my 2005 Volvo V50 and found a way to solve it, at least temporarily. I guess it would also work on the S40, and it is certainly worth trying on other models.

By reading all your post, I just could not understand why an ignition problem would require a complete change of the steering column. That sounded totally absurd to me : why change a complete steering column for a non-working lock ? After a few searches, I found a French Volvo forum where a woman wrote that she got a working solution from her garage. I tried it and, believe it or not, and do not ask me why, it worked the first time I tried, for a huge cost of - ZERO - dollars.

Here is what I did.

1 - I went back to my car with a medium-sized hammer.
2 - I inserted the key into the ignition.
3 - I knocked firmly (not strongly, but firmly) on the inserted key with the hammer. Twice.
4 - I pulled out the key and reinserted it.
5 - Then I could unlock the steering wheel and everything worked as usual, after a few flashes from the different indicators and a list of non-sensical messages on the information display.

If the first hammer strike does not work, try a couple of time more. Leave the metallic (manual) part of the key in place, so that you hammer knock on the metal, and not on the plastic.

The car is now working perfectly. Maybe the problem will repeat, I don't know. I will see my Volvo dealer this week, and maybe I will have the lock itself changed, but I will ask Vovlo to cover 50% of the fees, since it is obviously an dysfunction. Meanwhile, I added a hammer in my car toolbox. Do not know how this will last. But this trick is certainly worth trying before deciding to spend hundreds of $$$ at your dealer.

Keep me informed on your attempts !

 

QUOTE (tarcis @ Feb 6 2011, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi everyone,

I encountered also the problem "key error - try again" on my 2005 Volvo V50 and found a way to solve it, at least temporarily. I guess it would also work on the S40, and it is certainly worth trying on other models.

By reading all your post, I just could not understand why an ignition problem would require a complete change of the steering column. That sounded totally absurd to me : why change a complete steering column for a non-working lock ? After a few searches, I found a French Volvo forum where a woman wrote that she got a working solution from her garage. I tried it and, believe it or not, and do not ask me why, it worked the first time I tried, for a huge cost of - ZERO - dollars.

Here is what I did.

1 - I went back to my car with a medium-sized hammer.
2 - I inserted the key into the ignition.
3 - I knocked firmly (not strongly, but firmly) on the inserted key with the hammer. Twice.
4 - I pulled out the key and reinserted it.
5 - Then I could unlock the steering wheel and everything worked as usual, after a few flashes from the different indicators and a list of non-sensical messages on the information display.

If the first hammer strike does not work, try a couple of time more. Leave the metallic (manual) part of the key in place, so that you hammer knock on the metal, and not on the plastic.

The car is now working perfectly. Maybe the problem will repeat, I don't know. I will see my Volvo dealer this week, and maybe I will have the lock itself changed, but I will ask Vovlo to cover 50% of the fees, since it is obviously an dysfunction. Meanwhile, I added a hammer in my car toolbox. Do not know how this will last. But this trick is certainly worth trying before deciding to spend hundreds of $$$ at your dealer.

Keep me informed on your attempts !

 

I have a 2005 V50 and got the message "key error - try again" I decided to investigate what I could do before calling for a tow and in the process, I found this forum. As suggested, I used the key to lock/unlock the car numerous times in an attempt to start the car without success; however, tapping the key with a hammer as outlined in tarcis's post did allow me to start the car. I made it to the repair shop and learned that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. Thanks to everyone who posted and especially to tarcis for sharing a successful solution to my problem. It was much appreciated.

 

QUOTE (mabekirby @ Nov 5 2011, 01:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have a 2005 V50 and got the message "key error - try again" I decided to investigate what I could do before calling for a tow and in the process, I found this forum. As suggested, I used the key to lock/unlock the car numerous times in an attempt to start the car without success; however, tapping the key with a hammer as outlined in tarcis's post did allow me to start the car. I made it to the repair shop and learned that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. Thanks to everyone who posted and especially to tarcis for sharing a successful solution to my problem. It was much appreciated.

I tried the hammer technique on my 2004.5 S40 to no avail. However, in frustration after no success after several attempts over several hours (I even disconnected the battery in hopes the system would reset) I beat the snot out of the general area around the ignition with my fist. Then somehow the alarm went off in the car. I said "That's different" and lo and behold! When I tried the key again...voila! my car started! I LOVE hi-tech solutions!

 

высококачественные услуги нашим клиентам.кредита под залог автомобиля

Передача в заложник - Если Ð'Ñ‹ нуждаетесь в наличныÑ&#8230; деньгаÑ&#8230; и имеете неприятный часть имеющий вес, Ð'Ñ‹ можете заложить иÑ&#8230; и получить деньги, в которыÑ&#8230; Ð'Ñ‹ нуждаетесь. Простой возьмите часть к любому Ð'ыстрому Наличному местоположению Пешки, представьте это представителю сообразно обслуживанию клиентов и скажите им, что Ð'Ñ‹ Ñ&#8230;отите заложить это. Ценность пункта будет оценена, и количество, для которого она может водиться заложена, обеспечено. Пункт будет проводиться в пешке в течение 90 дней. Перед этими 90 днями произошел, Ð'Ñ‹ можете заплатить мелочь полностью, воеже вознаграждать Ð'аш пункт, разве Ð'Ñ‹ можете один выплатить процент каждые 30 дней, дабы держать это в пешке. Если Ð'Ñ‹ не Ñ&#8230;отите пункт назад, Ð'Ñ‹ сносный не должны сделать, и часть довольно вынут из пешки и продан в демонстрационном зале.

Продавая - Коли Ð'Ñ‹ нуждаетесь в деньгаÑ&#8230; и простой Ñ&#8230;отите продать частный часть изза его текущую достоинство, мы можем помочь. Просто принесите частный неприятный часть к Ð'ашему местному Ð'ыстрому Наличному местоположению Пешки, представьте это представителю сообразно обслуживанию клиентов и скажите им, сколько Ð'Ñ‹ Ñ&#8230;отите продать это. Ð'ажность пункта довольно оценена, и наличность, ради которое мы можем подкупать ее, довольно обеспечено. Ð'ам разрешать, несомненно ли Ð'Ñ‹ Ñ&#8230;отите продать это за ту цену, однако красоваться гарантированными, что Ð'ам предложат изрядное количество. После того, будто Ð'Ñ‹ согласитесь на цену и представляете пункт, Ð'ам заплатят.

Продажа Ð-олота - Коль у Ð'ас лопать нежелательное золото, серебро либо платиновые драгоценности, мы заплатим Ð'ам капитальный доллар за это. Ð'ыстрая Наличная Пешка специализировалась на покупке драгоценныÑ&#8230; металлов больше 20 лет. Мы купим Ð'аши драгоценности и заплатим Ð'ам наличные бумажка независимо через того, в чем условии наÑ&#8230;одятся Ð'аши драгоценности. Мы принимаем старые кольца класса, запутанные цепи, сломанные браслеты, непревзойденные сережки, кольца с недостающими камнями и больше. Ð'ажность Ð'ашиÑ&#8230; драгоценностей довольно оценена на месте, и Ð'Ñ‹ будете платиться наличными следовать это в минутаÑ&#8230;.

 

Translating your post and web links indicate the purpose of your posting is to promote Russian loans and credit via pawning which is inappropriate for this forum. Please limit your post to information and problems relating to Volvo cars!!

 

[/quote]

Tried the hammer trick on the key today after getting the key error message last night it worked a treat
Just put the key in don't turn it just tap it well with a little force not to much and straight away you will hear a click well that's the steering lock undone
Then turn the key and then start the car happy days, before I done this I changed the battery inside the key use a CR2032 3v' you can buy these off eBay for a couple of pounds or go to maplins and pay £4.00

Happy chappy, I will be straight down to Volvo in the morning for a kick off and I will expect the service to be free
As I have bought into the Volvo reliabillaty pitch as far as I am concerned they have over complicated the keys function
So I will expect a fight and I will not be paying for a ignition switch.looks like Volvo know about this problem but they kept it quiet it's similar to when my Nissan Navara engine blew up and Nissan knew about the inferior cam shells but waited for customers to complain they dealt with the issue after twisting their arms back but they knew that the d22 engine had a severe issue and never recalled the product well this is the same as the
Issue with volvo if they don't sort it I will print it and provide then with enough proof that this is an issue

Rant over

 

Alright I thought I would give back to this thread. Got in the 2004.5 S40 T5 and it would not start. Tried both keys and nothing. Automatically thought it was the battery. Then noticed the display saying Key error message try again. Really hated the thought of having to pay for the car to be towed to the dealer. I tried the locking/unlocking thing multiple times with both keys and nothing. Last effort I took a hammer and lightly tapped on the ignition where the key inserts. I then inserted the key and presto! Steering wheel unlocked and it started like new. I then drove to dealer because they are the only ones who can properly fix codes, software, stuff like that. Turns out it needs a new ignition switch. They will also use Volvo software and re-program everything. The cost $625 but what choice is there? Just wanted to pass along......

 

I dont know if its anything to do with this but I recently bought a used v40 (1998) and there is no remote, the central locking (if it has it) doesnt work, neither do the interior lights when you open the door( but they do if you manually switch them on- as do the 'door open indicators) while this may seem irrelevant I have 2 keys, one of which has a small notch in the end - I was told use this one in the ignition with the notch down. I wonder if this is to bypass the security lock? or it may be that my model is too early to have this system and fault?
Grendel