Electrics: - Volvo 2003 XC90 electrical issues

k saunders · Dec 30th, 2021, 19:25

Hi All. I have a 2003 xc90.
Today I put the key into the ignition all the lights came on but it failed to turn over, lights dimmed but no go. Can I ask if anybody has any thoughts. cheers.

S60D5-185 · Dec 30th, 2021, 19:49

Battery? Have you tested it?

TruckbusUK · Dec 30th, 2021, 20:47

On the same theme, loose terminal connectors, any work been done on the car recently?

Darrenw · Dec 30th, 2021, 21:51

Have a similar problem with mine at the moment and diagnosed it today as a stuck ac pulley. The pulley is so stuck that it shredded a rib off of the aux belt and stops the crank turning.
I would also still check the obvious such as starter motor, earths and battery. I also know that Volvos can be strange with key battery’s, sometimes when the key battery is low the immobiliser doesn’t like it.

XC90Mk1 · Dec 30th, 2021, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrenw

Have a similar problem with mine at the moment and diagnosed it today as a stuck ac pulley. The pulley is so stuck that it shredded a rib off of the aux belt and stops the crank turning.
I would also still check the obvious such as starter motor, earths and battery. I also know that Volvos can be strange with key battery’s, sometimes when the key battery is low the immobiliser doesn’t like it.

Really interesting post, I had not thought it would prevent the crank turning! That’s a really sieved AC!

Good luck with the repair.

My initial thought to op is battery or earth issues?

Darrenw · Dec 30th, 2021, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Really interesting post, I had not thought it would prevent the crank turning! That’s a really sieved AC!

Good luck with the repair.

My initial thought to op is battery or earth issues?

When I tried to crank the car all pulleys would turn except the ac one. The Tension was so tight that all the pulleys would only manage to turn about 1 quarter rotation. Took me a while to diagnose as it was a strange problem. At one point I really thought my engine had seized Or time went seriously wrong. But turned out to be a fairly cheap easy ish fix.

SwissXC90 · Dec 31st, 2021, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrenw

sometimes when the key battery is low the immobiliser doesn’t like it.

Impossible. the key battery has nothing whatsoever to do with the immobilizer.

The immobilizer transponder is fully passive, it does not run on the key battery. It is powered by the ring antenna around the ignition lock.

The key battery powers only the remote central locking and unlocking.

wynnj · Dec 31st, 2021, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Really interesting post, I had not thought it would prevent the crank turning! That’s a really sieved AC!

Good luck with the repair.

My initial thought to op is battery or earth issues?

Have experienced the same on two cars over the years - first on a S60 and secondly on a Toyota Celica. in both cases the AC compressor had seized. Easy fix but you need the system degassed before disconnecting the pipes.

Darrenw · Dec 31st, 2021, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Impossible. the key battery has nothing whatsoever to do with the immobilizer.

The immobilizer transponder is fully passive, it does not run on the key battery. It is powered by the ring antenna around the ignition lock.

The key battery powers only the remote central locking and unlocking.

I would have thought the same for any other car but for some reason there are quite a few cases of Volvos not starting just because of a dead key. Seems more common on xc90 though.

SwissXC90 · Jan 1st, 2022, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrenw

I would have thought the same for any other car but for some reason there are quite a few cases of Volvos not starting just because of a dead key. Seems more common on xc90 though.

A dead key due to a dead transponder can cause a no start condition.
But a dead key due to a dead key battery can still start the car.

Dec 30th, 2021, 19:25	#1
k saunders Junior Member Last Online: Apr 12th, 2024 20:08 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: spalding	Volvo 2003 XC90 electrical issues Hi All. I have a 2003 xc90. Today I put the key into the ignition all the lights came on but it failed to turn over, lights dimmed but no go. Can I ask if anybody has any thoughts. cheers.

Dec 30th, 2021, 19:49	#2
S60D5-185 Me ? Surely Not! Last Online: Apr 25th, 2024 19:48 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic. South of Hadrians Wall.	Battery? Have you tested it? __________________ “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain 😊 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 SE Geartronic

Dec 30th, 2021, 20:47	#3
TruckbusUK Petrolhead+Lots of Diesel Last Online: Yesterday 16:01 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Glasgow	On the same theme, loose terminal connectors, any work been done on the car recently? __________________ BMW X3 Msport MHEV 2020MY & VW Beetle Design 1.2Tsi DSG 2014MY Previous XC90 D5 SELux Geartronic 2009MY

Dec 30th, 2021, 21:51	#4
Darrenw New Member Last Online: Mar 21st, 2024 16:38 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Carnoustie	Have a similar problem with mine at the moment and diagnosed it today as a stuck ac pulley. The pulley is so stuck that it shredded a rib off of the aux belt and stops the crank turning. I would also still check the obvious such as starter motor, earths and battery. I also know that Volvos can be strange with key battery’s, sometimes when the key battery is low the immobiliser doesn’t like it.

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