Got a problem with my 2011 S40

[Hammerhedshed]

I've tried searching google, and this forum, but can't seem to fine what I need to know.

My 2011 S40, has developed an problem, I get a message saying a headlight failure, which when checking the lights are working perfectly.
Main beams, dipped, side lights everything, fine.

Then, when I park the car up and turn the ignition off, the car goes dead.
Nothing...
Not a single light literally as if the battery has just disconnected,or died.
Can't lock the car nothing.

The battery is fine, checked it, with both battery tester and multimeter.

Then, later the car comes back to life, not even an error message, nothing.
As if nothing happened.

This has happened three time now, the latest was dead for two days, then all of a sudden came back to life.

I've checked every connection I can get to, and made sure they're all firmly home, not loose in anyway. CEM connection checked, as well as the head lights...

I am at a complete loss here, I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance

Chris

[Hammerhedshed]

Come on...
surely someone must have an idea?

[iainmd]

CEM failure is the most likely culprit. Get your car hooked up to VIDA and read the Volvo fault codes.

[LizardOfBodom]

More info on spec of the car plz, what engine? As said above, try Vida if possible and maybe some errors come back. "Headlight failure" - thas what it says on display? Cant say I've heard of it, what do you have standard halogens or Xenons? If xenons - no sign of retrofitted ballasts or HID installatuon? I wonder if that message is the sign of culprit or just random error...

edit - when it goes "dead", can you restart it whenever you want or you need to wait for it to "undead" itself? if latter - did you try to disconnect battery when it happens and reconnect it to see if it is responsive or not?

[Welton]

Originally Posted by Hammerhedshed

Come on...
surely someone must have an idea?

Sorry but this is mostly a free forum not a paid-for advice service, please be patient or try to re-word your questions to prompt a bit of friendly advice back, lots of helpful guys on here but it has been quiet during the Covid Pandemic.

Anyway - If I was you I'd check and clean all of the wiring connector packs on the CEM (this contains relays and fuses handling most of the car's auxiliary circuits) lots of members here have had electrical gremlins caused by this unit and great success after cleaning the various contacts/pins with electrical contact cleaner and small brush etc..

[Hammerhedshed]

I tried plugging in the laptop, to get the codes of VIDA. I got the error message saying could not connect, pic attached.

The car is a 2011 S40 1.6 D4162T Drive, B6 manual box.
I believe the head lights are HID, I was hoping to get that information from VIDA, but alas...

When the car "dies", the first two times it did it, it returned to life after a short time. I cannot say I did anything in that time to remedy the issue.
The last time, it was dead for almost two days, miraculously returning to life all by itself. Basically going out to the car and trying the keyfob.

I removed the CEM, and cleaned all of the connection terminals with contact cleaner, and small fibreglass brush, whilst the car starts, the head lamp failure is still displayed. However the lights are functioning perfectly.

I'm going to pull the headlights to see if any of the cables are damaged. I seem to recall the passenger side cable was repaired, whilst this could cause the message it shouldn't cause the car to "die"?

I understand that his is a free forum, and you all give you help freely. I honestly did not think posting "Come on... surely someone must have an idea?" would cause an offence. In hind sight, yeah could have worded it better.

[Hammerhedshed]

I tried connecting VIDA to the car again, it took several attempts.
But would only work the ignition on, but the engine not running.
Which has never been a problem before.

Anyway, managed to get a full diagnostic of the car done.
I've attached two pics from the laptop, both the same list, just one scrolled down to get the rest of the list.

I also checked every cable I could get to to see if there was any damage, other than the cable repair on the head light, the only spot is appears to be chewed conduit, but the wires are not touched.