XC90 2016 won't start, locked in park

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Emilyk78

Did anyone find out the issue? We have an xc90 2016 t6 which we have hardly used iver the last year due to covid. We also have a 2010 v50 which we use most days for short journeys to take the dog out. We had to use the xc90 to jump start the v50 recently. We then used the xc90 the day after, came home and parked. Next day the xc90 won't start, lights come on but noone is home. We're three months out of warranty and hubby not working. I'd this going to cost a fortune? Tried manually releasing the gears to move to neutral but waiting for a truck to put it on skids to get to volvo

This does sound like a almost ‘dead” battery, before you start spending lots of money, do you have a battery charger or can you get hold of one?
Like a lot of people over the last year, I use a simple trickle charger every month or so to keep my battery fully charged as short shopping trips are far too short to keep modern day technology based cars’ batteries charged.

[Thorium]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

This does sound like a almost ‘dead” battery, before you start spending lots of money, do you have a battery charger or can you get hold of one?
Like a lot of people over the last year, I use a simple trickle charger every month or so to keep my battery fully charged as short shopping trips are far too short to keep modern day technology based cars’ batteries charged.

I agree. I have a 2016 XC90 D5 and recently had to replace the battery. The XC90 does appear to need a battery in very good condition otherwise all sorts of odd things can happen. Given that your car has had very limited use recently, and assuming it's still on the original battery, then my money would be on a battery that's past it's best. The good news is that it's not a fortune to replace, even via a main dealer.

[Albert Jurisic]

Originally Posted by Simon Eames

....and the final verdict:

Well in the end the main problem turned out to be a steering column fault, which surprisingly Volvo are replacing FOC. However there were also numerous software faults, and the main dealer has attributed these to the fact that the car has not had a "proper" Volvo service for 3 years and they tell me non-Volvo garages are unable to do the regular updates that are necessary. They insist this applies to all makes now as vehicles have become so much more complex and software-controlled. So lesson learned, and I'm signing up to their regular payment plan for servicing. I know many (including me) consider main dealership service costs exorbitant, but given my total lack of technical ability or interest, for peace of mind I've decided it's worth it.

Thanks again to all who have advised here.

—————————————————————————-
I have the same problem with my XC90 D5 this weekend.
Today came the towing service. They called an authorized Volvo dealer and received instructions on how to start the car. They replaced the blowing steering lock fuse located under the glove box. This is fuse number 19 (You have the picture in the user manual app). When the car was brought to the tow truck for service, they said that the problem was known and that Volvo solving this problem FOC, but only if the car was younger than 5 years. We were 3 months late. A repair will cost me 300 EUR. So, If I have known this I would change the fuse by my self and drove the car into servis....

[samati]

I have exactly same problem this morning, the car doesn’t start but the battery is fine, can you please advice me how did you solve the problem, as AA didn’t know how to fix it. Please I need urgent advice. Thanks inadvance.

[Guymcc]

Have you tried the suggestions in this thread?

[RinskyJinsky]

Hi all! Having the same issue as OP and would appreciate any guidance anyone might give. I have read through the whole thread and have tried everything I can, but the car still isn't starting. Sorry for the long post, but this is the context:

Bought the car in November last year. It is a 2016 XC90 D5. Had no issues. We wanted to get VOC activated, but when we had tried to do so online it said it couldnt be done and to contact a dealer. So while my wife was out dropping my son off (in the Volvo) at nursery, I called a dealer to arrange activation. He said it should just be a case of doing it online - which I had already tried. So instead he gave me a manual acitivation code to use in the car. When my wife got home, I went out to the car to enter the code only to find that the car was showing VOC on as "Active" already and there was nowhere to enter the code. At this point I tried to start the car, and it hasnt started since - this was 8 days ago.

Got back onto the phone to the dealership that gave me the code, but they had no idea. I spoke to VOC who also didnt know what to do. I spoke then to Volvo customer services who told me the VOC service for the car had never been activated and that we were therefore entitled to have it activated free for 3 years, which we went ahead and did. Still, the car doesnt start.

We moved on to the battery thinking that might be the issue, but break-down chaps couldn't jump it with a booster. I bought a charger (NOCO Genius 5) and left the car overnight, but it made no difference. We have had a new battery fitted, but that also hasn't worked (though the mechanic who fitted it didnt have the means to update the "code" for the battery - but would still have expected the car to start?).

We contacted the place we bought it (a Volvo specialist, not an official dealership) who had provided an "after-market" 6 month warranty (worth about as much as the paper it is written on) who only pointed at the battery. The aftermarket warranty by the way is "Auto-Guard" and is next to useless.

I have checked the fuse for the steering lock (Fuse 19 in the passenger area) and it looks fine.

The only option that we are left with is getting the car recovered to the dealership and leave them to sort it out, but would rather not pay the cost of getting the car transported back if it is at all avoidable.

So my questions are these:

- Does anyone have any experience with VOC immobilising the car? And if so, does this seem anything like something that could feasibly have been caused by that? (there are no messages on the dash to suggest the car has been immobilised BTW)
- Could it be that the battery being installed without the code would prevent it from starting?
- If the issue is the steering column as others have mentioned, would would fuse 19 have gone (trying to rule that out or in as an option)?
- The mechanic who changed the battery suggested that if I disconnect the starter battery the car might lose it's memory of which keys it is paired with etc - is that correct? (I suspect he was trying to get business by scaring me into not doing the work myself, but I didnt want to risk it).

Thank you all in advance for any advice!

[nu11eaf]

I can't help you with your problem but I would advise you to only use a Volvo main dealer to service your car, the service includes 12 months break down and recovery in the price of the service and you get software updates.
Was your car serviced by main dealer at the last service, I do not know it the breakdown service is transferrable but worth enquiring if it was.

One thing some people have experienced when car not starting is they have to press harder on the brake pedal to start it.

[Moonlanders]

I don't know if this is even possible, but if the previous owner had a tracker fitted to the vehicle and did not inform the tracker company that they had sold the vehicle, can the tracker company remotely immobilise the car to stop the ignition being switched on as they may be showing it as stolen?

[Philip Fisher]

Steering angle sensor is what has immobilised a lot of other cars. It might not necessarily blow the fuse but will disable the car. Unfortunately you are going to have to get it to the dealer and that aint going to be for free......

[Ballistic87]

Hi guys. I seem to be having the exact same issue as the OP, dash switches on, but car will not start and doesn’t even try to start. Ive heard a lot about a steering column module issue, anyone know what can cause this to go bad? Is it what is commonly referred to as the “squib” because as far as I know when this messes up the steering buttons will not work (which is not the case in my car, steering buttons work fine)

Many thanks. I have plugged my car into a diagnostics (v dash) if anyone would be interested in checking out the codes please drop me a message. Cheers.