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Random Dashboard Warning Lights

39K views 36 replies 19 participants last post by  RS3100  
#1 ·
Hi to All.


I've recently been having a problem with my 2014 V40 XC. Basically at any time while driving, random warnings appear on the dash - ABS, ESC, Engine Coolant, Tyre Pressure, Steering malfunction, Pedestrian protection and many more. The speedo reading and indicator repeaters come and go too. There seems to be no problem with these systems, it's just random warnings.



The car was first looked at a year or so ago when the garage (Volvo Service Centre) cleared and reset the errors, installed a software update to the DIM (Driver Information Module) and returned it to me. Things were fine for a few months but these errors have been returning and getting more common recently. It can go a day or so with no problems but the errors always reappear. I had the vehicle battery replaced a few weeks ago as this was mentioned on the original service report as being a possible cause - there has been no change since this was fitted.


Occasionally the car will not start - just displaying errors and not turning over. If I get out, lock and unlock the doors and try again it will generally start after 3 - 4 tries.


Car is currently at the garage where they have been trying various modules but the fault appears to be worse.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
I'm going to be facing a pretty severe bill for these tests with potentially no progress.
I'd be gratefull for any ideas!


Colin.
 
#2 ·
I've read of similar issues previously, with the following causes suggested:


Low battery.


Faulty multi-plug connector in footwell behind carpet near accelerator pedal. Apparently the pins can corrode and there is a Volvo repair kit to replace them with gold plated connectors.


Faulty multi-plug connector at back of fuse box behind the glove box - similar problem with the connector pins I suspect.
 
#3 ·
I have the same problem, I have had all the fuses out, cleaned everything. Think I have finally worked out as mentioned about, that it is the connector right next to the accelerator pedal, gonna ring a dealer and find out if the gold plated one is available, a quick uncoupling of the connector seems to make the issues disappear
 
#4 ·
These problems are caused by a 'Faulty Circuit'. When starting, the major safety items test the Voltage to their Control Units. They throw up a warning if this check fails. When you have multiple units putting up failure messages then clearly they can't all have failed. The Circuit is both positive and negative. A low battery may cause this but frequently it's the return circuit or Earth.
The easy point to test is the Earth at the battery. Then this earth will track down to a Body Connection and most cars could do with this cleaning up occasionally. Then another cable goes to the Engine/Gearbox and vibration can affect the crimped connector. After that, any connector block on the way to the Control Units can get moisture inside that will reduce the earth capacity. Inside, a car that is run without the drying affect of Air Conditioning might get some moisture on the connections and something above a wet drying shoe might suffer more.
You can see that each connection might have some resistance and every one of these is contributing to the lack of a good earth. So cleaning one might or might not get you above the threshold. I find a good test is to connect a negative jump lead from the battery to the engine and see whether this get you above the threshold.
 
#12 ·
Hey - in my case the issue was resolved by replacing two abs sensors in the back of the car. It is very important that you use genuine parts from volvo do not use same part number form Ford Focus ect (genuine volvo sensor cost only 25e each ). Ps the dealer was offering and pomp replacement but I have rejected the offer.
Miro
 
#13 ·
Hi to All.


I've recently been having a problem with my 2014 V40 XC. Basically at any time while driving, random warnings appear on the dash - ABS, ESC, Engine Coolant, Tyre Pressure, Steering malfunction, Pedestrian protection and many more. The speedo reading and indicator repeaters come and go too. There seems to be no problem with these systems, it's just random warnings.



The car was first looked at a year or so ago when the garage (Volvo Service Centre) cleared and reset the errors, installed a software update to the DIM (Driver Information Module) and returned it to me. Things were fine for a few months but these errors have been returning and getting more common recently. It can go a day or so with no problems but the errors always reappear. I had the vehicle battery replaced a few weeks ago as this was mentioned on the original service report as being a possible cause - there has been no change since this was fitted.


Occasionally the car will not start - just displaying errors and not turning over. If I get out, lock and unlock the doors and try again it will generally start after 3 - 4 tries.


Car is currently at the garage where they have been trying various modules but the fault appears to be worse.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
I'm going to be facing a pretty severe bill for these tests with potentially no progress.
I'd be gratefull for any ideas!


Colin.
Have you got it fixed?
If you did please let me know what the problem was and how much it cost you to fix it?
Where can I potentially get it repaired?
 
#14 ·
Well, I’m reading this thread as the dashboard in my v40 (2013) is having a Christmas tree light show. At the most I’ve seen 10 messages along with “check engine” illuminated. Sometimes no messages, sometimes four, sometimes six.

it’s not just the dash errors, the car behaves weird too when the messages appear. Auto transmission gets very rough, especially going from drive to reverse and vice versa. Engine feels weak, sometimes the car won’t start at all.
I’ve checked the fuses and they all seem happy.

Man, I hoped that a Volvo from a certified dealership would be a smooth experience but this far it has been a nerve wrecking ride.
I really do hope this won’t set me back too much financially.
 
#15 ·
Hi there,

I got the very similar issue to my v40 (2015) with many error messages waring lights up in the driving screen. It actually happened one time back in 6 months time, I drove to volvo workshop, they connected to the computer and removed all the errors, with mentioning it can be the driving system issue, which they're not sure if the software update can solve the problem, they recommend me to charge the battery (it was in winter right after the X'mas/New year holiday), if I'm not driving for few days. The car worked without any issue for about 6 months, until August I was having the same issue again. I drove to the workshop and wanted to take the same solution as did last time, the technician mentioned the CEM (central electronic module) need to be replaced which quoted 1,500 euro to fix the problem. I thought it can be suspicious whether the CEM been down, as it was okay last time. Then they tried to upload new software (2022) program into the car which failed, and the car cannot even startup after that, they try to switch to a new battery, doesn't work either. Now they're saying we have to change the CEM and fix it, I've been put in a no option situation have to spend the money for a new CEM before the car can be back to life.
Anyone have an opinion or recommendation what should I do?

Thanks for helping.
 
#17 ·
Check the CEM multi-pin connector behind the glovebox, and another in the driver's footwell behind the carpet. Use an electrical contact cleaner to clean the contacts and make/break the connection a few times to clean them up. It is a known problem which can cause multiple spurious warning lights and messages at the DIM.
 
#18 ·
Thanks! I managed to access the multi-connector in the driver side and did a few make/break and it seems to be working fine since. I also cleared the warnings with my OBD2-device. They haven’t reappeared since.
However, I have an appointment booked for tomorrow at my local shop for troubleshooting. They will charge 200 euro minimum. Should I tell them to look at the connectors right away or should I let them do their thing? Now when it’s no problem and no errros, I’m not sure how they can identify the root cause.
 
#19 ·
You can either explain what you have done, and that it seems to have fixed it, but let them investigate and pay the cost, or cancel for now and see if you have effected a permanent cure.

I understand that Volvo can supply replacement connector pins, which have to be diced in to the existing loom, but that is ready for extreme cases where the pins have become so corroded that cleaning them won't make a good connection.

Personally, I would probably see how it goes and you can always rebook with the garage if the issue returns.
 
#20 ·
Just share my experience here, I had the same issue as stated in my previous comments. Volvo ask me to change the CEM and the old one they used as exchange, meaning I got no chance to look at the "old/defect" one myself...Shortly after I take my car back 2 days, similar warning pops up again, I just feel so upset of the issue not been fixed, it was last Friday. The workshop won't open during the weekend, so I tried myself to charge the car battery, as it was sent to the workshop for more than a week time, not have been driving that much, I actually found it could potentially be a battery issue, after I recharged the car and drive around (10km...) no fault message. I'm not yet going back to the workshop again, but I've called them saying the similar issue come back again. Just wondering it cost me almost 1,300€ to exchange the CEM, it actually might turns out to be a battery problem...
 
#21 ·
I got a warning on Saturday: Check-Emissions fault. Diognostics shows O2 Emissions sensor faulty poss. Going to Volvo Dealer though warning never repeated. Today got: Engine Coolant Low-Stop Engine, breifly when stopping at a slope down hill. Went off. checked coolant level okay. Some forums state could be sensor, poss electrical problem with connector near driver pedals, others say could be leak in exhaust gas coolant coil for first issue where it goes to EGR Valve, found split in bore, requiring engine change in one case. Could these be connected issues with one common cause? Just had 6 year full service and software update and MOT by Volvo dealership. Others say had issues after software update, could this be the cause? Car is 2016 Volvo V40 T2 R Design 2 litre.
 
#31 ·
You have an XC60 based on the Land Rover Freelander chassis. You're posting on a forum specifically for the V40 which shares the Ford Global C platform, so you can't expect the cars to be in any way identical.

If you are suffering from multiple apparently unconnected electrical issues, the same approach applies. Cleaning contacts in the wiring assemblies by breaking and reconnecting the multi plugs may or may not help. But we can't give you specific guidance on a car built on a different platform which most of not all of us here are not overly familiar with.

Have you tried the Swedespeed forums, which cover all Volvo models and are predominantly US based?
 
#33 ·
Hi got a Volvo v40 T2 loads of warning lights coming on and check engine etc kept running but didn’t feel right and also a couple of times they just cleared themselves but had issues starting a couple of mornings.
mid I lock and unlock the car it seemed to sort it
Took it to local Volvo specialist they cleared 2pages of faults but couldn’t id the cause
Been ok for 2 weeks now it came back on this morning in mid drive and engine actually cut out on the Mway Does anyone have a clue what this might be as the gar
 
#34 ·
First thing would be to check for any fault codes stored as a result of the latest issue. Being as the previous codes were all deleted, it may help pinpoint the cause of the problem.

If however you find that another list of seemingly random and disassociated codes have been stored, it may point towards the issue with poor contacts at one or more of the electrical connectors as detailed in this thread, in which case read through this thread and the associated links referenced in previous contributions.