V70: 1997 Immobiliser gubbed, need help

[doingitsideways]

Fuel pump, filter or relay do sound good from your description.

Immobiliser wouldn't let it run for more than a second or so, if there was something wrong with the keys or ring losing signal, once it was running it wouldn't matter as it only looks for them on start up.

Any way the garage can check fuel pressure?
Not sure if a knackered regulator would cause this.

May sound daft, but is there plenty of fuel in the tank, regardless of what the guage says?
Also, it's not an AWD?
AWDs have a stupid shaped tank with two senders/pumps iirc, so of one goes out of whack...

[ChristineV70]

I initially told the guy I thought it was a fuel problem since it seemed like the engine just wasn't getting fuel or fire hence the chugging and losing power.

I had a full service before the trip with my regular mechanic.
- fuel, air, oil filters
- spark plugs
- fluid changes
After the service the guys said the car was in tip top condition.

After death and once it was at Arnold Clark, they said the HT leads were burnt out, immobiliser gubbed, and they reluctantly checked the fuel pump since I told them I was so sure that was the issue. On checking they said it couldn't be the fuel pump as they took it off and it looked find and gas was freely flowing.

I am at a loss, I really believe what you guys do that it's fuel related, but their diagnostics say it's the immobiliser. Actually, they said a huge hanful of sensors were broken, but then they narrowed it down that the immobiliser was casing all the other faults. I have to say, we aslo never got a single warning light on the car. And the little beauty started first time every time before the AA guy played with it. So I really don't know.

[ChristineV70]

Maybe it's time for a different mechanic?

Can anyone suggest someone in Scotland that would be willing to give it a go?

oh, and yes, the car has plenty of fuel. we filled her right up only 100 miles before it died.

[PNuT]

Originally Posted by ChristineV70

but then they narrowed it down that the immobiliser was casing all the other faults. .

That sounds like absolute nonsense to me, The immobiliser is a very simple circuit that runs from the ignition antenna to the immobiliser unit and then sends a pulsed coded signal to the ecu!

if the immobiliser unit doesn't get the correct pulsed coded signal to the ecu then the ecu will fail to initiate correctly hence the fire & stall straight away!

Also the HT leads burning out sounds a little odd? unless you have been hit by lightning?

[Luxobarge]

Originally Posted by ChristineV70

Maybe it's time for a different mechanic?

That sounds like a very good idea!

If you don't get a response try searching for a good Volvo independent mechanic, or failing that a good general independent mechanic. A pain I know as your car isn't driveable, but worth it - I bet this is actually something relatively simple.

[Chris_Rogers]

As has been said, an immobilizer problem won't cause poor running, which seems to have been the initial problem.

The symptoms are that the engine cut's out 2 seconds after starting.

Seems too much of a co-incidence that an immobilizer problem (that clearly didn't exist before or the car wouldn't be able to be driven) is being blamed for the present problem, sounds like poor diagnostics to me.

There are often false immobilizer fault codes stored even if you scan a car with no problems.

[canis]

Oh, man! I feel your pain. I bet you've been driving around safe in the knowledge that the AA will fix 'n' percent of breakdowns at the side of the road, and the tow you to the nearest garage service will cover all other eventualities. Peace of mind, huh?

Dude, I know it doesn't help you. But this is a classic example of why people need to wake up to the "roadside assistance" scam. As you are now experiencing, it's not helped you in the slightest, I bet you've been dutifully paying for this "cover" for years.

Recently this topic was discussed in this thread, where I made this post, explaining why they are selling snake oil and should be ashamed of themselves.

Basically, you've had the misfortune of a breakdown, and now your car is being held to ransom while they take guesses at it's diagnosis. This is exploitation! They're hoping to keep you paying them money until you run out, then they'll keep the car. Then it'll be swiftly fixed and sold as a cheap trade-in, and that's their foreign holiday booked this year.

So what can you do? Find out where you stand legally regarding their (almost certainly exhobitant) storage fees. You may just have to pay these, but argue anyway. If the car isn't in a locked compound, go at night and "steal" it back. Cancel your subscription with the AA, and tell them why. Get a mate or relative to come up and tow you home. You'll probably need to pay his petrol and beg a little. And buy him a beer or two.

Then you can get your local trusted mechanic, whose only vested interest is keeping you motoring. It's worth asking him if he'll recover you, too.

Meanwhile, are any forum members up that way who can help this poor guy out with a tow? I'm seriously starting to think a "just tow me home" club would be a good idea. In the meantime, I'm truly sorry for you and I hope you get sorted. Good luck.

[PNuT]

Is Christine a man

[canis]

Originally Posted by PNuT

Is Christine a man

I'm trying to change the world here! Where gender indistiction is normal and "roadside assistance" isn't a euphamism for "now get out of that". :-)