01 S40 Complete loss of electrical while driving

allaboutjo · Sep 13th, 2011, 12:03

First I would like to say hello all. I have been surfing the forums since I owned our car, but never registered for a username. My wife and I purchased our first used Volvo about 5 months ago. Used from a dealership, we grabbed a 2001 Volvo S40 1.9T that had 48,000 original miles.

We have now put about 5,000 miles on the vehicle and are very please with the performance up until recently.

A strange problem that we have talked to several people about, so we are wondering where to start. A 2001 Volvo S40. When driving the vehicle, or sitting idle at a traffic light, the vehicle will shut off. We will lose complete electrical. The computer will not reset, but all electrical displays are lost. We can't turn over the car to start it. I have to pop the hood, tap on the negative battery terminal to reset the car. Once reset, it will sometimes allow us to restart the car right away, other times the car will reset itself again.

We have replaced the battery, cleaned the positive and negative terminals, as well as checked the negative terminal wires where the connect to the car. We removed the connections, cleaned them and sprayed with a anti corrosion spray.

Now I am wondering what I should check next. I have checked the alternator which is running fine by our meter. Any other ideas on what should be checked, or what wires I should trace?

Volvon · Sep 13th, 2011, 12:11

Welcome!

The ignition switch or the dreaded wiring loom under the radiator rotting would be the main culrpits IMHO.

allaboutjo · Sep 13th, 2011, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyvää

Welcome!

The ignition switch or the dreaded wiring loom under the radiator rotting would be the main culrpits IMHO.

Thank you....I will check those items out. I was at a complete loss after checking all fuses and replacing battery. Makes me wonder now if I should not have replaced the battery.

benf · Sep 13th, 2011, 23:39

I had part of these symtoms a good while back, where the car would cut out when stopping sometimes, had no problems getting it started again mind you.
It started happening after I cleaned the ICV. Cleaning the ICV eletrical connectors with contact cleaner fixed the problem, most off picked or disloged some crude when reconnecting them (or posiblisely got some moisture trapped, it was a damp day). Maybe there is a few niggling problems with the car, so something else to check

Oh yea .. there is also grounding points under the air-box that can cause all sorts of problems too (just remove airbox and trace negitive lead from battery). Overwise it could be the dreaded wiring loom problem as mentioned already :P

Sep 13th, 2011, 12:03	#1
allaboutjo New Member Last Online: Sep 13th, 2011 17:07 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Maryland	01 S40 Complete loss of electrical while driving First I would like to say hello all. I have been surfing the forums since I owned our car, but never registered for a username. My wife and I purchased our first used Volvo about 5 months ago. Used from a dealership, we grabbed a 2001 Volvo S40 1.9T that had 48,000 original miles. We have now put about 5,000 miles on the vehicle and are very please with the performance up until recently. A strange problem that we have talked to several people about, so we are wondering where to start. A 2001 Volvo S40. When driving the vehicle, or sitting idle at a traffic light, the vehicle will shut off. We will lose complete electrical. The computer will not reset, but all electrical displays are lost. We can't turn over the car to start it. I have to pop the hood, tap on the negative battery terminal to reset the car. Once reset, it will sometimes allow us to restart the car right away, other times the car will reset itself again. We have replaced the battery, cleaned the positive and negative terminals, as well as checked the negative terminal wires where the connect to the car. We removed the connections, cleaned them and sprayed with a anti corrosion spray. Now I am wondering what I should check next. I have checked the alternator which is running fine by our meter. Any other ideas on what should be checked, or what wires I should trace?

Sep 13th, 2011, 12:11	#2
Volvon Master Member Last Online: Nov 13th, 2020 06:29 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: The Land of Ice & Snow	Welcome! The ignition switch or the dreaded wiring loom under the radiator rotting would be the main culrpits IMHO. __________________ 1999 V40 1.9D (D4192T2 engine) Current mileage: 211,000 miles Average MPG: 54.4

Sep 13th, 2011, 23:39	#4
benf Senior Member Last Online: Mar 24th, 2015 13:53 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Farnborough	I had part of these symtoms a good while back, where the car would cut out when stopping sometimes, had no problems getting it started again mind you. It started happening after I cleaned the ICV. Cleaning the ICV eletrical connectors with contact cleaner fixed the problem, most off picked or disloged some crude when reconnecting them (or posiblisely got some moisture trapped, it was a damp day). Maybe there is a few niggling problems with the car, so something else to check Oh yea .. there is also grounding points under the air-box that can cause all sorts of problems too (just remove airbox and trace negitive lead from battery). Overwise it could be the dreaded wiring loom problem as mentioned already :P __________________ Current: 07/57 C30 T5 SE Geartronic with toys Past: 01/X S40 T4 SE@162k, 94/M 460 1.8Si

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