"Brake failure stop safely" and limp mode - see photo
 

My 2006 auto XC90 (pre-facelift model, 50k miles) has intermittently started showing a couple of warning messages, shortly followed by limp mode.

It's now done this three times in the last three months, as follows:

1. Car drives normally, then from moving off from a standing start, clunks into limp mode (low power, remains in low gear and 40mph max, D symbol on dashboard changes to dash or "-" symbol - see photo)

2. Immediately, "Anti-skid Service Required" message displayed on dashboard, amber warning light

3. Few seconds later, "Brake Failure Stop Safely" message displayed, red warning light, rev, mph, temp dials stay at 0

4. Limp back home, switch engine off, then fails to re-start for at least an hour.

I've experienced no loss of braking (that I can tell).

My local Volvo specialist says the codes show faults relating to:

1) a brake pressure sensor and / or
2) the steering sensor

Both are expensive to replace, particularly without knowing which one is at fault. The car is back with me for now although it now feels far from reliable.

Has anyone experienced this sequence of events? Ideas on where to head next with this, appreciated.

The picture is a classic sign of DIM failure BUT....

That type of DIM (the revised version) doesn't suffer the same fate as the earlier version.

I'd say there's something amiss electronically. The blank clock would say there's been a total power failure, when it didn't start, did everything go dim and a loud clicking noise come from the engine? if so, the battery or starter system has failed.

Get it plugged into a proper diagnostic methinks, there's no quick method of faultfinding with a problem like this I'm afraid.

EDIT - I see you've already had the codes read but I don't like the results tbh, there's clearly more to it than that. hmmm..

Thanks for the reply.

The speed / rev dials only temporarily stopped working the last time it happened. I don't recall them going to zero on the first and second times.

Also, if memory serves, when trying to re-start it, I got an Immobiliser message flash up but no clicking / turning over / dim lights.

My local Volvo specialist plugged it into a Vida for the codes. Is a Volvo dealer likely to be able to glean any more information on top of what I've got already?

Sounds more like the CEM fault that some XC90's have.
Lots of unrelated warnings etc......It can be caused by water ingress.
Us S60 V70 S80 owners get the dim faults and they get this.:)
Plenty on this forum about it.

I've read through some of the CEM posts and they seem relevant. It might just be a coincidence but I think the three occurrences have all happened at the weekend, probably not long after a car / jet wash. Water ingress perhaps? Can anyone advise on how to check for this?

Worth mentioning that I've also had the radio / stereo / rear parking sensor stop working on a few occasions (radio doesn't work, no reversing beeps, no display although balance / fader / volume settings display when volume knob is turned). I've not had it for a few months and always suspected it was related to wet weather and damp.

Is this linked to the CEM as well I wonder?

Is airbag service urgent on aswell,

My ICM went down on mine and shut the low speed network down in car which put brake failure lights on and airbag then dash went off,

Was there any network comm fault codes in system when they checked codes???

Rooster, no airbag light (so far).

I will check with the garage to see if they saw a comm fault - it rings a bell...

Replied in other thread - LINKY!

:star-wars-smiley-01

XC90 D5 2004 limp mode
 

Hi,

I am new to XC90 and problems associated to it. If someone here could advise me or direct me in some relatively correct direction would be really helpful.

Problem - Yesterday evening I tried starting XC90 and I assume it went in to limp mode ie all clicks and tings started coming around from centre console, dashboard clusters went relatively blank and message came up suggesting brake failure stop safely, ABS service required and service required. Then the car went dead. Initially, I thought it's a battery which could not have geared up enough voltage to start up engine. I gave a jump from other car but still it went into limp mode. Key fob is also not responding.

Can someone please advise and help? A note - the car was working fantastic a day before.

regards,
Dhruv

What model year?