2000 Volvo C70 Lights intermittently appearing on dashboard

Tiny
LINDASAMUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 VOLVO C70
Computer problem
2000 Volvo C70 Automatic 64000 miles

Our Volvo C70 Automatic year 2000 has had a problem with lights intermittently showing and disappearing. It has been checked on the computer by the garage and there is no apparent fault. The main lights that come up are the engine management and ABS. Could it be that it is the computer itself that is faulty and if so, how can this be tested and how much on average would a repair cost?
Thursday, April 30th, 2009 AT 6:31 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,412 POSTS
Do all the warning lights come on like say when you have the car off and turn the switch on and all the lights light up? If so most likely problem will be the ignition switch. To replace just remove the steering column cover and on the left side of it you will see the switch held by 2 torque screws.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
LINDASAMUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi JIS
Many thanks for replying to our question. When the ignition is turned on, the other lights go out, but the Engine Management light stays on and about 2 or 3 miles on, STC, ABS, Auitomatic Transmission lights come on, sometimes together and sometimes alternating, but the Engine Management (fault in the electronic system) always stays on. Also, intermittently the speedometer fails and goes to zero whilst driving and then comes back again.
Don't know whether or not this is connected, but 6 months ago, I changed a front tyre to a rear tyre at a garage and he was quite forceful taking the wheel off and immediately after that the trouble started. Took it to Volvo and they charged me  300 supposedly to "correct" the fault by replacing the VVT valve and cleaning SRS connection. Within 2 miles from leaving the garage all the lights came on again. Any thoughts on what could be wrong?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, May 4th, 2009 AT 2:03 AM
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,412 POSTS
Well sounds to me like you may have a problem with the high speed CANBUS and you will need to take back to VOLVO for proper diagnosing or a repair shop that will be able to handle such a task. It is not easy and once you replace a module that is it, it is yours. Also expect to have your car at the shop for a while so they can try and isolate your problem. If the fault is consistant it will be a little easier to figure out but if it is intermittant then it gets harder? The fault can be a module going out, maybe a relay is going bad or a short circuit or open circuit in the wiring for the CANBUS? Good luck.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
LINDASAMUEL
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for your input. We are taking the car to the Volvo garage tomorrow morning for them to do another diagnostic test. By the way what is a CANBUS?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 AT 12:11 PM
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,412 POSTS
Have the contact switch checked first before they do anything. Like I mentioned in the first reply the there is a starter switch on the ignition part of the tumbler that fails and that would be the first thing to check. Just wiggle the key around when the car is running and see if the lights go on and off. If it does then you found the problem but if it makes no difference have it scanned for possible high speed problem. Good luck and hopefully it is just the switch that is bad.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 AT 12:15 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.