V50 Electrics : - Wipers on, no indicators, no central locking

GreatScot1777 · Feb 28th, 2009, 00:04

V50 on a 54 plate 91k miles - Sitting in the car listening to the radio, suddenly, wipers come on and wont switch off, warning message displayed "Airbag failure" - Footwell lights stay on and no other interior lights. Get out of the car and try to lock it, wont lock. Try metal key - will only lock drivers door. Rear (boot) door locked and will not open. Radio still works!

Engine OK so got home, but full beam will only work by 'flashing the headlamps' - in short the car from working perfectly since I bought it used 5 months ago went crazy before my eyes. Had to leave the car parked and unlocked - car alarm went off. used the remote to 'unlock and lock' the car again and it reset.

I will try to book it into a Volvo specialist and aren't open till Monday, regretably they are very busy since my nearest Volvo dealer closed down and moved 50 road miles from me. I may take a week or more to just get it looked out. Any ideas that might get me back on the road in the meantime?

Gel · Feb 28th, 2009, 08:07

Sounds like an ET moment.
Why wait for Volvo; try finding recommended garage from Honest John's site, who should be open today at least.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/director...on=&p_feature=

GreatScot1777 · Mar 1st, 2009, 10:06

On trying the car the next day unable to get engine to start at first, then a spectacular display of error messages including "brake failure stop safely" and restricting the engine to idle speed. Turned off, tried to restart again car would not do anything showing the message 'immobiliser on' or similar, though the wipers did eventually turn off.

Disconneted the battery for 4 hours and charged it for good measure, just in case this reset the cars system. Tried the car later - it started on full power but the wipers came on and would not turn off and I continued to get scrolling warning messages displayed including 'Air Bag failure' or similar.

Has anyone come across anything like this before?

Finally, the 'Honest John' recommendation below showed less than a handful of dealers in the South East so not credible I'm afraid, still I have helped their SEO I suppose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gel

Sounds like an ET moment.
Why wait for Volvo; try finding recommended garage from Honest John's site, who should be open today at least.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/director...on=&p_feature=

vitesse99 · May 4th, 2009, 22:05

Hi
my husband and i had a similar problem mentioned above - first we lost power (engine still ticking over at this stage but could not rev at all); message was about airbags service required - safety mode I think; we turned off and started the car again, still now power from accelorator, and wipers came on at high speed; then brake failure message came on; turned off; tried to restart - nothing - then a message about immobiliser.
got rescued home (fortunately from coutry village not motorway where we had been 30 minutes previously). Once home, central locking failed, had to use metal key.
speaking to volvo tomorrow, so any info or suggesttions greatly appreciated!
thanks, Sally

4wheeldriver · May 4th, 2009, 22:25

Had something similar on my Mums c30 2.0d. turned out it was the battery on its way out at a year and a half old. Might be worth checking.

wideboy · May 8th, 2009, 06:46

yes, got somthing very simlar which happened last night...

I've got a 2006 2.4i V50. Its been an OK car, but we have had loads of electrical issues ( central locking failing on passenger side, full electrical failure on passenger side, external temp sensor failure..) All of these have been fixed under warently, but only to return again for a simlar issue... last night, i had a new one. My wife noticed that we had a leak of some sort showing where we park the car. No error or messages showing in the car. i popped the bonnet to have a look to see if i could spot anything obvious, but nothing to be seen. I checked the oil, which was ok, and closed the bonnet. I then got back into the car to park it in the driveway and when i started the car, the front windscreen wiperes came on and are going flat out. The wiper control switch has no affect when i tried to turn it off. Then on the driver display, a message comes up "Tailgate open" its shut and won't open, then "Anti Skid Service Required", followed by "SRS Airbag Service Required". The central locking does not work or the mirrors or reversing sensor. The car drives and stops ok but i have only driven around the driveway. I think its more electrical than mechanical going on the previous issues we have had but i'm not sure what damage will be done if i drive the car as i'm not sure what the leak is..looks more of a transmission fluid than oil,but i might be wrong. Did you take your car to the garage and what did they say? i need to try and get my car in today..

Cheers,

Kevin

does anyone have any ideas or has seen anything simliar. The cars just out of warenty, so talk about timing. We have just have the service message come up as well and we have it booked in for the end of the month.

Thanks,

GreatScot1777 · May 8th, 2009, 10:22

My V50 continued to disgrace itself in terms of reliability, the final straw (and a fault not identified on the warning messages display) was a loss of power, that would sometimes happen from start up, then clear, reappearing again after a brief stop. Thought it was the valve issue identified eslewhere in the forums. My local Volvo specialist quickly hooked the car up to his computer to tell me it was a blocked particulate filter.

More research on this fault with other diesel cars - not just Volvo/Ford/Peugeot - revealed I had made the error of buying "the wrong car" for my wife who uses it for lots of short journeys (2-3 miles) and only the occassional long run, something she had not undertaken for several months. I was advised to thorough 'thrash' the car for a weekend to see if that would 'burn off' the blockage in the particulate filter. It helped but still the power loss returned - max 2500-3000 revs only - cost to fix £800 plus plus.

Decision, enough was enough, part exchanged the V50 at a local Vauxhall dealer for a Vectra Estate - its is cheap, big simple and it works. I have never been so glad to see the back of the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Meanwhile my R plate V40 continues to soldier on and is totally dependable.

Feb 28th, 2009, 00:04	#1
GreatScot1777 New Member Last Online: May 8th, 2009 10:22 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rochford	Wipers on, no indicators, no central locking V50 on a 54 plate 91k miles - Sitting in the car listening to the radio, suddenly, wipers come on and wont switch off, warning message displayed "Airbag failure" - Footwell lights stay on and no other interior lights. Get out of the car and try to lock it, wont lock. Try metal key - will only lock drivers door. Rear (boot) door locked and will not open. Radio still works! Engine OK so got home, but full beam will only work by 'flashing the headlamps' - in short the car from working perfectly since I bought it used 5 months ago went crazy before my eyes. Had to leave the car parked and unlocked - car alarm went off. used the remote to 'unlock and lock' the car again and it reset. I will try to book it into a Volvo specialist and aren't open till Monday, regretably they are very busy since my nearest Volvo dealer closed down and moved 50 road miles from me. I may take a week or more to just get it looked out. Any ideas that might get me back on the road in the meantime?

Feb 28th, 2009, 08:07	#2
Gel Member Last Online: Mar 21st, 2015 17:47 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Thames Valley	Odd happenings Sounds like an ET moment. Why wait for Volvo; try finding recommended garage from Honest John's site, who should be open today at least. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/director...on=&p_feature= __________________ Gel-Berkshire: 1st Volvo + Well pleased V50 R SE_2008 MY: 477 Inscription Electric Silver

May 4th, 2009, 22:05	#4
vitesse99 New Member Last Online: May 5th, 2009 08:33 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Winchester	loss of power, failure messages Hi my husband and i had a similar problem mentioned above - first we lost power (engine still ticking over at this stage but could not rev at all); message was about airbags service required - safety mode I think; we turned off and started the car again, still now power from accelorator, and wipers came on at high speed; then brake failure message came on; turned off; tried to restart - nothing - then a message about immobiliser. got rescued home (fortunately from coutry village not motorway where we had been 30 minutes previously). Once home, central locking failed, had to use metal key. speaking to volvo tomorrow, so any info or suggesttions greatly appreciated! thanks, Sally

May 4th, 2009, 22:25	#5
4wheeldriver Master Member Last Online: Jan 20th, 2013 20:28 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aberdeen	Had something similar on my Mums c30 2.0d. turned out it was the battery on its way out at a year and a half old. Might be worth checking. __________________ BMW X5 3.0sd SE with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur!!!! Mini Cooper Worx

May 8th, 2009, 06:46	#6
wideboy New Member Last Online: May 8th, 2009 06:46 Join Date: May 2009 Location: st helier	yes, got somthing very simlar which happened last night... I've got a 2006 2.4i V50. Its been an OK car, but we have had loads of electrical issues ( central locking failing on passenger side, full electrical failure on passenger side, external temp sensor failure..) All of these have been fixed under warently, but only to return again for a simlar issue... last night, i had a new one. My wife noticed that we had a leak of some sort showing where we park the car. No error or messages showing in the car. i popped the bonnet to have a look to see if i could spot anything obvious, but nothing to be seen. I checked the oil, which was ok, and closed the bonnet. I then got back into the car to park it in the driveway and when i started the car, the front windscreen wiperes came on and are going flat out. The wiper control switch has no affect when i tried to turn it off. Then on the driver display, a message comes up "Tailgate open" its shut and won't open, then "Anti Skid Service Required", followed by "SRS Airbag Service Required". The central locking does not work or the mirrors or reversing sensor. The car drives and stops ok but i have only driven around the driveway. I think its more electrical than mechanical going on the previous issues we have had but i'm not sure what damage will be done if i drive the car as i'm not sure what the leak is..looks more of a transmission fluid than oil,but i might be wrong. Did you take your car to the garage and what did they say? i need to try and get my car in today.. Cheers, Kevin does anyone have any ideas or has seen anything simliar. The cars just out of warenty, so talk about timing. We have just have the service message come up as well and we have it booked in for the end of the month. Thanks,

May 8th, 2009, 10:22	#7
GreatScot1777 New Member Last Online: May 8th, 2009 10:22 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rochford	My V50 continued to disgrace itself in terms of reliability, the final straw (and a fault not identified on the warning messages display) was a loss of power, that would sometimes happen from start up, then clear, reappearing again after a brief stop. Thought it was the valve issue identified eslewhere in the forums. My local Volvo specialist quickly hooked the car up to his computer to tell me it was a blocked particulate filter. More research on this fault with other diesel cars - not just Volvo/Ford/Peugeot - revealed I had made the error of buying "the wrong car" for my wife who uses it for lots of short journeys (2-3 miles) and only the occassional long run, something she had not undertaken for several months. I was advised to thorough 'thrash' the car for a weekend to see if that would 'burn off' the blockage in the particulate filter. It helped but still the power loss returned - max 2500-3000 revs only - cost to fix £800 plus plus. Decision, enough was enough, part exchanged the V50 at a local Vauxhall dealer for a Vectra Estate - its is cheap, big simple and it works. I have never been so glad to see the back of the most unreliable car I have ever owned. Meanwhile my R plate V40 continues to soldier on and is totally dependable.

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