QuestionDear Roger, Thanks for your time.
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Followup To
Question -
Dear Angel Roger,
Yes, I can give you more info. It's a little complicated (what isn't) because I now live in Germany with my American Volvo so all the work and receipts are in German. Since I have
little idea as to what the translations are, it's going to be tough, but here goes:
-Had a service at Volvo (over 735 Euro, 'bout 600+ dollars)
-a week or so later the car simply died while driving over a very bumpy cobblestone road. (Was able to get the car to make noise like it wanted to turn over, but I couldn't actually get the car to do it.) Had it towed to my Trusty Small Mechanic. He replaced the drive belt, gear belt and timing belt. (30 Euro, about $25)
- Got car back. Couple of days later, same thing, the car just suddenly died, while going through an intersection. Same thing, I would hear rumbling when I turned the ignition, but couldn't get the car to actually turn over and run. Towed car to Trusty Small Mechanic, who replaced the "Distributor Cap Finger" and Temperature sensor (remember I'm translating, here). Small charge.
-Got car back. Car was running fine for a couple of weeks and then simply died while taking a friend to the Airport. After trying to get it started, hearing the engine trying and trying to turn over, it finally DID turnover after about 10 minutes. Called Trusty Mechanic who said he didn't know what the problem was and that it was time to take it to Volvo.
-Drove straight to Volvo and the car died one more time while on my way, but I was able to get the engine going again after about 8 minutes.
-Volvo replaced hoses for Crank shaft, Ventilation, suction bender, pipe and seal, with a 95% chance that they had found the problem. (Cost 500 Euro)
-several days later, same thing. Took the car back to Volvo and went on vacation. While gone, they replaced the control slider, several clamps and the Idle Control Valve. They were sure they got the problem this time.(Cost 435 Euro).
-Picked the car up after vacation and the ABS and TRACKING OFF lights are lighting up intermittently. Talk to Volvo who says that the two problems are unrelated. Volvo says it will cost 1000 Euro to fix the ABS/ TRACKING OFF problem. I tell them to wait.
-Take the car to Trusty Small Mechanic, who replaces the ABS sensor. (cost 100 Euro) BUT he says that the lights on the dash are still going on and off and that means I have to take the car back to Volo.
-Set appointment with Volvo.
-One day before I am to go into Volvo for the ABS system, the car will not start (in the same way as before), after parallel parking on a cobblestone road. 10 minutes later, after repeatedly trying, I get the car going. It dies two more times on the way to Volvo, both times while turning a corner, but I am able to start the car after several more minutes of trying.
-Vovlo replaces the Encoder (Emitter) and reads and resets the Error Codes. Does not charge us for two weeks so that we can see if this is really the problem.
-It isn't. Two weeks later after returning to my car (it was parallel parked), the car, in the same manner, won't start. I'm able to start it after 15 minutes of turning the key (with breaks, of course), but then it stalls after less than a minute of driving when I'm making a U-turn. I get the car started, drive home, call Volvo, who says bring it in next week.
-Couple of days later, the car stops while going around a corner of a cobblestone road. Can't get it started. Some men push it to safetly and then it starts right up.
-Next morning, after parking, the car won't start, though I continue to hear the noise as if It wants to. 30 minutes later I still can't get the car going and tow it to Volvo. It starts right up.
WHAT I"VE LEARNED:
-I believe the electric still works
-The 4 wheel drive arrow on the dash and the winterization light (little tiny light on the "W" button) come up, athough I haven't pushed them.
-The internal computer shows no problems.
-There seems to be no connection to whether the engine is cold or hot, or if I've been driving for 0 minutes or an hour.
-I've always felt that the car ran better before the service than after, just in general, I mean, problems aside. I feel like it the engine doesn't come to a stop as smoothly as it used to when I stopping at a traffic light, for example. This is very subtle, but I notice it.
-When it stops, it feel like the car just shuts down. Even the steering wheel locks.
I'm so over this car (and the service at expensive "service" at Volvo, but don't have the money to get a new car. We have this one completely paid off, only 62,000 miles and ironically purchased the damn thing because of it's track record of safety and reliability. Been nothing but problems, but THIS takes the cake. Please, oh, please help.
1000 thanks, Marchel
My car will be a taxi... or bike.
I called my Volvo Dealership in Chicago (they're great) about this and they said to check the Ignition Switch, but that was only yesterday so I haven't had a chance to ask the Volvo Incompetents here in Berlin yet.
Answer -
Marchel, the only thing they didnt change was the cam sensor and airmass meter. I would have the guys in chicago do some tests. Car is still a nice car so dont give up on it. Roger
AnswerMarchal, sorry for the confusion. Your question was pretty much a book so forgive me if I missed out on a few things. The ignition switch is a possibility for the abs. When you tunr the key back a little does the light go off? If not, it will most likey be the ABS control unit. Please remember that diagnosing cars without actually seeing the car is difficult. I can only give you suggestions and possibilities. I mis read the Chicago thing. Again, my apologies. Roger
