2005 S40 cut out and won't start

[TubbyT87]

I have a weird issue with my S40. I was driving along at about 30mph this evening when I noticed my headlights turn off. I slowed down to check my light switch and noticed that the engine had cut out. I was still in the middle of the road because the car is so bloody quiet I hadn't noticed that the engine had cut out to start with. I selected neutral and tried to start it but I got nothing.

With the key in the 2nd position everything is powered up. Stereo, heater system, but as soon as I turn the key to start it the whole car powers down until i release the key back to the 2nd position. I managed to push the car round the corner to a family members house but I am very confused with this one.

Earlier today I did have an issue getting into the car while trying the unlock button and I thought maybe this was related but apparently there are thieves operating in the area with 'jammers' that restrict the signal. Facebook has just come up with loads of people saying they had this issue while shopping in tunbridge wells today. So I'm thinking this is more than likely down to that and not my non start issue

[cheshired5]

Sounds like your alternator has given up and you were driving on battery power only, which would be dead at this time of year pretty quickly and certainly wouldn't have enough to start the engine again.
You need to run a multimeter across the battery and post the results.
Ignore Facebook........not just for this but in general.

[Wooders]

2nd its the alternator, but also maybe the battery? I would fully charge the battery, then start the car and measure the voltage, off the top of my head it should be around 14.5v. I had the battery go,then the alternator went a few months later ( related?).

[TubbyT87]

Ok thanks I will check the voltage tonight. It just seems strange, I've never had a car that just cuts off if the alternator had packed up. Usually the lights will all dim and the everything will turn off before the car shuts off. Hopefully it's just that then.

Haha I agree on the facebook comment. Although this time there is about 40 people stating the same key issue happened to them on the same industrial estate around the same time

[Wooders]

Cold temps are when batteries struggle the most,so a weak one will throw it's hand in,just when you need it!! When the alternator went, I got one flicker of a warning light the day before,which I think was it's final parting gift.(but just thought I hadn't tightened the terminals on the new battery tight enough). Then when driving home, the wipers stopped first, then the headlights went out, then the dash lights, Rev counter etc, ( about a mile from home,so upped the tempo,as I didn't fancy walking ) then the steering went heavy just as I pulled into the drive.

I did see something on FB about the key code grabbing,which i presumed was America as it referenced using a 'cell phone'.

[TubbyT87]

Ok well I went and checked the voltage this morning. Apparently the battery is putting out 16volts! Which is obviously high. It's just had the clutch replaced so I'm wondering if it's an earthing issue? Mr Clutch has said to recover it to them but if it's something I can fix is rather just do it and get it sorted sooner

[Guru]

After doing a clutch job on my car by myself I can confirm that the gearbox, left chassis beam and left strut tower are earth (-ve) to many electronic component of the car ..

To be fully sure all were reattached properly after the clutch job you had done on your car, you'll have to remove the air filter housing (easy), and the battery plastic compartment which is not so easy .. the box has a battery temp sensor on it's base and detaching it's connector is a PITA!

So before dismantling things, for starters> have the volt regulator of the alternator examined first ..

[TubbyT87]

Ok so Mr Clutch can't find any issue with earths or anything like that. Battery is good, alternator is good, starter is good. They think it's more ECU or another module. I've been given the number of someone else who specialises in things like this.

I haven't seen the car since I got it recovered to them but apparently it's now not showing any dash lights.

I don't wanna spend too much on this car because it's not really worth it.

[TubbyT87]

Ok so still no joy with this. I took it to a garage near me that specialises in ECU and module stuff but still nothing. They said it's definitely the ignition switch so, being cheap, I towed it home, bought an ignition switch from volvo and fitted it myself. Garage charged £75 to tell me it was the ignition switch, volvo charged £142.80 for the switch and the car still does the same thing :-(.

Anybody have any ideas where to go or what to try next? The video link below is what it is still doing

http://youtu.be/72-XSZyfH5c

[TubbyT87]

Anyone?