Fault code 042?

[GMad]

I had the engine system service message light up last night and my cruise control stopped working..
I would hazard a guess that the two are related, but what specific component does code042 relate to?
The car works just fine, no reduced performance or any other issues for that matter.
I don't really want to throw the old girl away just yet, so unless the replacement part costs an arm and a leg, I'd like to sort it.
Any ideas anyone?

[RobbieH]

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbo=d...w=1068&bih=897

Any number of reasons apparently. Can't remember which engine variety you have though which might help pin the reason down. Might need a proper code read with VCT or DiCE to help get to the bottom of things.

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, Got to agree with RobbieH. Get that code-in-the-message-window deciphered. I posted a question over an '052' years ago. Several people experienced 3 digit codes in the lower left windows but nobody knew what they were looking at. Mine went away. Since those codes seem more finite and brief, perhaps you could drop in at a service desk or call a Volvo dealer and ask. Asking in person (wielding all of your charms) might be the better way to go. As you stand before the Great Desk of Knowledge and Help, clearly but respectfully ask, "WHAT DOES A 042 MESSAGE IN MY '99 V70 MEAN?" Also, if it's still there or returns at least plug a good generic code reader into your OBD port. It might reveal something; perhaps something which relates to one of the posts in the google link. Hear from you Kira

[mikealder]

I would make sure the brake lights are working correctly and that the brake light switch on the bracket just above the pedal is still fully inserted, if its come loose in the hole it clips in this will knock out the cruise control and throw 042 - Mike

[GMad]

Originally Posted by mikealder

I would make sure the brake lights are working correctly and that the brake light switch on the bracket just above the pedal is still fully inserted, if its come loose in the hole it clips in this will knock out the cruise control and throw 042 - Mike

Thanks for the replies gents, this one however is on the money
After I posted the question and given that I had bugger all else to do today, I plugged the old girl into the old diagnostics gadget and low and behold, the issue is the brake position sensor.
Now given that there are only two sensors linked to the cruise that are not connected to the ABS and I have no ABS warnings, I got the meter out and checked resistance etc across them.
Turns out the brake light switch was suffering with low voltage! A spray with Electra Clean and a reset of the code, has sorted things for now. But should said switch be goosed, at least I know what to replace.
Thanks again for the replies

[GMad]

The switch it would appear is u/s, a new one has been ordered

[GMad]

Ha, now the other sensor is playing up, the one that plugs into the servo!
I pulled it apart, by very carefully cutting the end with a modelling knife and repaired the broken solder to PCB joints. What utterly appalling design and build quality, bloody Bosch!
Anyway, purely by accident I happened across two S60s and a V70 all of which were just about to be crushed (long story, I'll tell you about it another time) and had the opportunity to nick the switches out of them (along with several other bits).
One of the switches was a Bosch item, the other two were made by Delphi. So I dismantled one of the Delphi units. Shock horror, the design of the Delphi unit and indeed the build quality is far superior to the Bosch.
The moral here is, should this switch fail on your car and you really can't be doing with cutting it apart to fix it, it is a very fiddly job. Replace it with a decent quality Delphi item