AboutRay Niemi Expertise ASE Master Rated. Ask any questions about Volvo models up to 2000. Runnability, starting and charging system, diagnostic codes, brakes, front end, where to get certain parts. Should I buy this Volvo or not? I will try to answer your question and give you the knowlege to make the best decision in your case.
Experience I started working on Volvo's in 1978 at the dealer and attended all the schools and achieved a Master rating. Since 1999 I have worked at independent shops and now own my own shop.
Organizations Alldata on line repair manuals. IATN network of techs.
ASE rating of Master.
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Volvo - transmition fix next service, ABS, and service reminder
Question hi i bought a volvo s80 1999 with 120 000 miles on it and ever since i had it
(about 3 weeks) till this day one problem after the next, when i bought the
car it had engine service message in the message box then when driving
around with it and 2 weeks later of putting 600 miles the ABS light, the STC
light along with the break light (the one with 2 brackets and exclamation
mark in the middle) all light up at once and my RPM goes to 0 and my
speedometer goes to 0 and my temp. gauge goes to 0 but the car drives fine
and in the message box i have brake frailure stop ASAP so i stop turn off the
car and turn it back on and the message disappears the next day i want to
turn on the car the same message comes up along with the 3 lights (ABS,
brake, and STC) and this time it does not let me turn on the car but it cranks
fine and the engine turns fine but the engine will not start felt like it was
cutting fuel to the engine so it does not turn on so i turn it off and on a
couple of times and then it disappears and the car works fine, a week later i
was parked and talking to the girlfriend for like 45 min and when i want to
turn on the car the the 3 lights and the "brake failure stop ASAP" message so
i unhooked the batter for 10min and hooked it back up because the car
didn't want to turn on this time at all once i did that a new message comes
saying "transmission fix next service" message comes on and it been on for
the past week. yesterday the 3 lights came on again and the car felt like it
wanted to stal so i put in in 2nd and drove like 20 miles per hour for like 0.5
miles to take it back home. today i called my mechanic and he told me to rest
the car by putting the key in the egnission and moving it to position one
holding down the trip meter for 10 sec and then turning the key to position 2
while holding down the trip meter button for 5 extra second and then letting
go and the car will beep twice and that is what i did and it beeped but the
messages are still there and the message box reads "02" when i do it and like
5 seconds later it goes away can you tell me what the problem might be so i
can fix it thank you so much and hope to hear something good thank you
Answer Ali,
With all the dash lights on and some no starts, there is a programming fault. You will have to get the car to the dealer and have the programming checked. Also if your battery is weak or failing, or the charging system is not up to par, that could be a good starting place. Get the battery and charging system working clear all fault codes and see what comes back.
There have been several updated programs for that car. They need to be downloaded into the cars control unit.
There have also been many failures of the ABS control unit, which the STC uses also. That control unit replacement may also help the speedo so it continues to read.
There may also be a updated program for the DIM drivers information module (instrument cluster).
