1999 Volvo S80: check engine light

Filed Nov 17, 2010 · Acceleration, Engine · 78,600 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volvo s80. While accelerating from a stop, the contact felt a thump from the driver side wheel. The failure occurred whenever she accelerated from a stop or decelerated. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the insulation surrounding the wires in the engine compartment were degraded. The vehicle also displayed difficulty when shifting into fourth gear. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact could not shift out of third gear after attempting to accelerate from 40 MPH. The failure occurred intermittently and the check engine light began to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in recalls 00v238000 (suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint), 02v096000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan), and 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,600 and the current mileage was approximately 79,100.

Filed Mar 4, 2008 · Lights, Suspension · 142,000 miles · TX

During normal driving conditions at night, the low beam (dipped beam) headlights failed while out of town with my wife and two daughters. I was able to drive to a safe location using the high beams. A check of headlamp bulbs and fuses showed that everything was in good working order and I was left scratching my head. The headlights are still not working three weeks later, and I finally know why. Volvo owners exchange information on various websites and on more than one I found people suggesting that the cem (main computer) used "shunts" for various components on the vehicle and they were proned to shorting out due to random overheating issues. I checked the area under the driver's side dash and sure enough, there is a shunt inserted into the cem with heavy charring around the terminals. The 1999 volvo s80 was the first year of my particular model, and the first year this type of wiring architecture was used on their vehicles. The shorting of a crucial circuit such as headlamps not only poses a grave danger when driving the vehicle at night, but could also cause a fire. I feel the failure in the design of the cem and the vehicles wiring architecture could also be responsible for the random electrical problems occurring with the s80 as well. There are several websites that mention the constant "check engine" light that comes on and dealers are claiming they repair the problem after each visit, which usually end up costing over $1,000.00. There's also several examples of customers , including myself, who lose the A/C compressor randomly, and the alternator indicating that it isn't charging correctly. Finally, there is also something inherently wrong with the design of the front suspension of the s80. I've paid for struts and ball joint repairs and have had them repaired through a manufacturer recall. Again, the dealer claims to have repaired the problem after each visit, yet the problem has recently come up again in my vehicle. Please contact me anytime.

Filed Jun 18, 2007 · Electrical · 99,769 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volvo s80. While driving 55 MPH, the check engine light illuminated with a message stating "transmission service urgent". The dealer stated that the valve body was faulty and there was mechanical failure with the transmission. The vehicle has not been repaired and the check engine light remains illuminated. The contact felt there may be a defect with the software. The current mileage is 100,255 and failure mileage was 99,769.

Filed Oct 19, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · NJ

For the past year my check engine and urgent light have been popping on. I have to go to my machanic (who is volvo certified) to have them turn off. But the check engine light comes on more frequent now. For the past 6 months, when I start the car, it hesitates and runs rough, like it is going to stall. The first time this happened my machanic said it needed a tune up. Today 10/19/06 I brought it to my macanic again, and they told me it was the throttle module and the 1999 s80 's are having all the same problems, and that I need to take it to an authorized dealer, before it gets worse.

Filed Aug 31, 2006 · Brakes · 80,200 miles · OH

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, a brake failure warning, power steering warning, check engine warning light, ABS warning light, and stability traction control failure warning messages illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer where it was determined that the ABS module was worn out and sending a false signal to the warning message readout. There were no repairs made.

Filed Jan 13, 2006 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 70,000 miles · NJ

Dt*: the contact stated the ABS, traction control, check engine, and total brake failure lights illuminate at different times. There is a noise that sounds as if the ABS is activating. The vehicle has not been seen by the dealership or an independent repair shop.

Filed Jan 1, 2006 · Electrical · 71,129 miles · WI

Vehicle defect make: volvo year: 1999 model: s80 nature of problem: check engine light is on and volvo technician diagnoses the problem as a defective electronic throttle control module which I found later to be a common problem with volvos. The dealership estimated the repair to be $850 plus the cost of the diagnosis ($82.00). I refused to authorize the repair and sought alternatives. Presently, the car's check engine light is still on and the car idles roughly and suffers from poor gas mileage but continues to start and run. As this is an apparent problem with volvos as I was told by other mechanics, I felt that this defect should be the responsibility of volvo rather than myself.

Filed Aug 30, 2005 · Acceleration · 85,000 miles · NJ

Months prior to electronic throttle module needing replacement , at my cost, 1999 volvo s80t (@85k miles) engine idle surging and engine warning lights randomly occurred, requiring restarting car when it stalled in heavy traffic. New throttle(gas pedal) was replaced but did not resolve problem. Lastly, while driving on an interstate highway, car would not accelerated beyond 20 MPH(limp home mode) and volvo dealer replaced etm to resolve problem. About a year before, the ABS module was replaced(under extended warranty) because a multitude of warning lights were occurring (ABS, brakes, power steering). While I'm listing failures, the engine cooling fan needed to be replaced(under extended warranty).

Filed Aug 21, 2005 · Electrical, Fuel system · 61,189 miles · TX

While driving, I suddenly lost power/acceleration in my vehicle. My check engine light also came on. I turned the car off, but could not restart it. My vehicle was towed to my local volvo dealership. Diagnosis - replace throttle body and download software (etm). Because my vehicle was past the original manufacturer's warranty, I had to pay for the reparis since the extended warranty did not specifically list these defects . . . $815 parts and labor. Approximately 1 year 3 months later, I began experiencing the same problems as in 2002 which volvo diagnosed as a throttle body failure; however I have have been able to start my car, but with some trouble. Non-warranty repairs are covered for only 1 year. I called the warranty company to see if they could help me out. The warranty company knew of the defect from previous other complaints, and they told me to try to work out a deal with volvo (which didn't happen). On september 11, 2002, I took my vehicle into volvo because my engine fluctuated while idling. The interior lights flickered as the idle surged. Volvo diagnosed the problem as an ignition coil failure. Parts and labor cost me $250. I took the car in again on september 16, 2002 (5 days later) with the same problem. I requested a fuel filter check/replacement, but volvo diagnosed the problem with the throttle body. The checked and cleaned the throttle body. This happened, of course, just 2 months before complete failure of the throttle body. I've spent over $1000 for mis-diagnosis and an defective part that volvo and their warranty company have known about for several years.

Filed Aug 2, 2005 · Electrical · VA

1999 volvo s80 t6-multiple failures of etm (5 failures, replaced 4 etms total). Car would go into "limp home mode", "check engine" light would go on. Very dangerous and frustrating. The etm also has failed on wife's 2001 v70 xc one time around 80k miles. I no longer own the s80; too unreliable, a complete joke givens volvo's reputation for safety!

Filed Oct 3, 2004 · Acceleration · 96 miles · TX

Check engine light has come on 5 times in less than 7 months took to dealer and they said it was a loose gas cap.(which it was not) the last time it was taken to the dealer 9-26-04 and just out of the extended warranty period they say it is now a bad throttle body with a repair est of 950.00. Throttle bodys do not go bad is there information that the dealer dose not have on the repair (cleaning of the throttle body)

Filed Dec 8, 2003 · Acceleration, Engine · 34,000 miles · AL

My 1999 volvo s-80 t-6 suffers from a design flaw associated with the throttle body and engine warning light. The light is on all of the time. Servicing does not clear the light, so I have begun to simply ignore the light. The throttle body has a problem where the engine runs properly for 20,000 then begins to oscillate upand down by 200-300 rmps at idle. This seems minor, but it almost caused a major accident yesterday. When slowing to a stop at a major intersection, the engine slowed to idle and then sped up just as I was about to come to a stop. The higher RPM caused the car to move into the intersection. If another car had been approaching, it would have struck my car. I asked my wife (this is her primary car)if she had experienced the same problem and she said she had several times. I went on the web and found that many volvo owners are experiencing the same RPM and engine light problems. I do not know if they have had the same near accident I did, but I must assume they have. Have you received other complaints about this problem and has volvo been notified? I contacted volvo and they denied any problem. The words on the internet tell me they are mistaken. Some one could get killed by this design flaw.