Car won't start.....beginning to look expensive !

Just to let you all know I've been having problems with the car this week, went out on Wednesday to start her up.....turns over fine just didn't want to fire.

Did the ususl, called RAC who sent a guy who was obviously knocking off as he simply spent 10 mins checking fuses (I'm not by any means a mechanic but even I'd already managed that) and turning the car over before asking where I wanted it towing.
I declined his offer but agreed I'd call back if I wanted it taking to a garage.

Yesterday was spent with a (cheap local) auto-electrician checking the ususl, fuel pump (ok) fuses (ok) when he had finished he said I had a problem with the immobiliser.

Fast forward to today and had out a (bit more expensive/not so local) auto-electrician who specialises in immobiliser faults, he came with all the gear, plugged it in and came up with the following.....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...6/IMG_0054.jpg

He also said that the ECM 'could not be found' (whatever that means), and said it could either be a wiring fault or the ECM could need re-flashing.

Have any of you ever had anything like this before ?

The car is now booked in to be collected by the RAC Monday at 0830 and taken to Carpenters, an Independent Volvo Specialist (est 1934) who say they should be able to tell me what's wrong by Tuesday lunchtime.

http://www.carpenters.co.uk/

As I'm a glutton for punishment I am offering a very small and extremely cheap Volvo related prize to whoever comes up with the nearest diagnosis/cost for this to be fixed.....over to you !

try a different ecu mate

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Originally Posted by t5frankie

try a different ecu mate

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That's one of the first things they are going to try.....if they have one knocking around.

Ooops.....forgot the most important thing.....

Another big 'Thank you' to M-R-P who has been a great help so far with suggestions/texts/calls/pictures and videos of what to look for and where to find it.

Cheers mate, hopefully not too long before I can get down to see you and collect that steering wheel :eclipsee_

What year is your car mate because if its drive by wire then the throttle body sensor nackered or the tb could do with cleaning .

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Originally Posted by smithy

What year is your car mate because if its drive by wire then the throttle body sensor nackered or the tb could do with cleaning .

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It's a 1998 ME7 it's a new suggestion that the throttle body sensor could be the cause.

I had a fault many years ago the old girl wouldn`t start and called a local garage to find the fault, pluged his bit of kit and said the ECU is f##ked because he couldn`t connect to it.

So I called out a local indy volvo garage and he pin pointed the fault to the MAF which when changed the old girl started :)

I think the your indy volvo garage should pin point the problem.

Shame I couldn't be more help. I doubt it would be the throttle as there would be warning signs and it would still start.
And I'm not sure if you can play swap the ecu with ME7 as its coded to everything else in the car.

Fingers crossed tho mate, she'll be in good hands and hopefully there'll be a quick and not-top-expensive resolution.

Keep us posted mate.

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Originally Posted by M-R-P

Shame I couldn't be more help. I doubt it would be the throttle as there would be warning signs and it would still start.
And I'm not sure if you can play swap the ecu with ME7 as its coded to everything else in the car.

Fingers crossed tho mate, she'll be in good hands and hopefully there'll be a quick and not-top-expensive resolution.

Keep us posted mate.

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It is, but you can reprogramme them takes 2-3 hours I've been told.

Ignition ring antenna.

About 30 quid from the dealer

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Originally Posted by BLACKDOG

Ignition ring antenna.

About 30 quid from the dealer

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Nope, all checked and working fine, immobiliser is seeing the keys, just not communicating with ECM.

Found this on VOC

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=145555

if its the ECU thats at fault get a second hand one doesnt matter if its auto or manual, Volvo will reflash it with original software for £78 all in. As some one already said if it was the anything to do with the throttle you would have codes and a light dash, your ETS and ENGINE lights would be on.

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Originally Posted by bomb192uk

Found this on VOC

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=145555

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Secondly, there is fuel getting in as the plugs were soaking when removed (and changed just in case). Does this point away from the immobiliser? can anyone tell me?

The reason I ask is that whilst my small OBDII code reader did not pull off a
P1670 code (only a P0300 misfire code), the code reader at the garage (Smartbox) pulled off the following two codes:

At 5;21pm - TOTAL CODES 001
IMM 321 "Initiation signal from engine control module (ECM), signal missing"

Then on a second try at 5:26 - TOTAL CODES 001
ECM-720A "Immobilizer communication"

The good news is that the mechanic wasnt convinced and said that sounded like the engine was just flooded and decided to try tow starting it - IT WORKED! after switching off it restarted with the key ok.



Now this IS interesting.....

The RAC guy asked when I last started the car and for how long I left it running, I had simply started it and turned it staright off, he also reconed it was flodded but couldnt get it going again by turning it over.....I've also heard these engines don't like being started and turned off straight away.....just gotta find someone to tow start me to find out !

Sorry to hear that,hope it won`t cost too much.Have u tried taking ecu out and plugging back in again in case if some connection failure.

If the car is flooded take the spark plugs out and leave the car for an hour or too and then put them back in

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Originally Posted by smithy

If the car is flooded take the spark plugs out and leave the car for an hour or too and then put them back in

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Thats the direction I'm gonna tell the garage to head in on Monday, I'm sure it's something to do with me flooding the engine.....no time to try myself, back on the Buses at 0500 tomorrow :(

hope you get it sorted...........................without losing an arm or a leg

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Originally Posted by t5steve

hope you get it sorted...........................without losing an arm or a leg

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He's already been down cash converters but they don't accept internal organs :hilarious

Have you looked at fuse 11c/4 is ok
fuse11c/8. Ok these are immobiliser central electrical fuses