2001 s80 Coolant Low, Stop Safely / Stop Engine Message, faulty sensors????

Question:

OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
should I start? Thanks!

"Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> Question:
>
> OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> should I start? Thanks!

I have a 2001 S80 T6. I haven't seen any coolant messages so can't help
there. The fan blower operation is a normal event and not temperature
related. It comes on an hour after shutdown and runs for a period of time
to dry any condensation in the A/C system.

Allen

On Jun 29, 4:31 am, "Allen" <ha_smit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Scott" <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>
>
>
> > Question:
>
> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> > should I start? Thanks!
>
> I have a 2001 S80 T6. I haven't seen any coolant messages so can't help
> there. The fan blower operation is a normal event and not temperature
> related. It comes on an hour after shutdown and runs for a period of time
> to dry any condensation in the A/C system.
>
> Allen

wow.. thats kind of crazy I have never heard of that before, I was
kind of worried that it was going to drain the battery, never has
happened, but the car definitely will turn over slower after a period
of the blowers being on.. has it ever drained your battery?

"Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> On Jun 29, 4:31 am, "Allen" <ha_smit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> "Scott" <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > Question:
>>
>> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
>> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
>> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
>> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
>> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
>> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
>> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
>> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
>> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
>> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
>> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
>> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
>> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
>> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
>> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
>> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
>> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
>> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
>> > should I start? Thanks!
>>
>> I have a 2001 S80 T6. I haven't seen any coolant messages so can't help
>> there. The fan blower operation is a normal event and not temperature
>> related. It comes on an hour after shutdown and runs for a period of
>> time
>> to dry any condensation in the A/C system.
>>
>> Allen
>
> wow.. thats kind of crazy I have never heard of that before, I was
> kind of worried that it was going to drain the battery, never has
> happened, but the car definitely will turn over slower after a period
> of the blowers being on.. has it ever drained your battery?

I had to replace the original battery about 4 months ago. That is the only
time the car would not start.

Allen

On Jun 29, 8:31 am, "Allen" <ha_smit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Scott" <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 29, 4:31 am, "Allen" <ha_smit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> "Scott" <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:(E-Mail Removed) roups.com...
>
> >> > Question:
>
> >> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> >> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> >> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> >> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> >> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> >> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> >> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> >> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> >> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> >> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> >> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> >> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> >> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> >> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> >> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> >> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> >> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> >> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> >> > should I start? Thanks!
>
> >> I have a 2001 S80 T6. I haven't seen any coolant messages so can't help
> >> there. The fan blower operation is a normal event and not temperature
> >> related. It comes on an hour after shutdown and runs for a period of
> >> time
> >> to dry any condensation in the A/C system.
>
> >> Allen
>
> > wow.. thats kind of crazy I have never heard of that before, I was
> > kind of worried that it was going to drain the battery, never has
> > happened, but the car definitely will turn over slower after a period
> > of the blowers being on.. has it ever drained your battery?
>
> I had to replace the original battery about 4 months ago. That is the only
> time the car would not start.
>
> Allen- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well, you have to love volvo, they have to get the award for over
engineering every last detail, the same reason I love my care is the
same reason it scares me... they do not follow the K.I.S.S. thoery of
auto design... I mean come on, drying out the condesation in the AC
unit? Isn't that a little over zealous?

On Jun 28, 10:23 pm, Scott <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Question:
>
> OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> should I start? Thanks!

Have you checked the coolant level when cold to see if it is above the
minimum marker. On my 2000 S80 if the level is slightly below minimum
the light will flash on and off as the coolant sloshes around, but
once warm it has expanded enough to no longer trip the sensor.

As Allen mentioned the car computer is set to run the blower about 1
hour after the AC was run. That removes any remaining moisture from
the evaporator and helps to control mold buildup. It works.

"Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> Question:
>
> OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> should I start? Thanks!
>
>
I think Roadie is on the right track. Dunno about the S80, but most cars
with a "low coolant" indicator are telling you the level in the reservoir is
low. Those sensors fail fairly often, but be sure the level is right.

Mike

On Jun 29, 11:50 am, Roadie <hjs...@cs.com> wrote:
> On Jun 28, 10:23 pm, Scott <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Question:
>
> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> > should I start? Thanks!
>
> Have you checked the coolant level when cold to see if it is above the
> minimum marker. On my 2000 S80 if the level is slightly below minimum
> the light will flash on and off as the coolant sloshes around, but
> once warm it has expanded enough to no longer trip the sensor.
>
> As Allen mentioned the car computer is set to run the blower about 1
> hour after the AC was run. That removes any remaining moisture from
> the evaporator and helps to control mold buildup. It works.

Well, I did notice that the coolant is down near the minimum line when
I have verified that the coolant was not leaking or below low, but I
wasn't thinking that being so close to the minimum would be a
problem. I want to add some coolant to this bad boy, but it says
"Volvo Coolant only" is this total BS or should I go buy it at the
dealer? Other lead in question, since the blowers come on like that
sometimes (rarely 1-2 times) the car does a weak start, like it takes
longer to turn over, should I buy the Volvo battery or will any due?
I heard some car manufactures build their cars to only work properly
with some brands of batteries?

On Jun 29, 8:41 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
wrote:
> "Scott" <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>
> > Question:
>
> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> > should I start? Thanks!
>
> I think Roadie is on the right track. Dunno about the S80, but most cars
> with a "low coolant" indicator are telling you the level in the reservoir is
> low. Those sensors fail fairly often, but be sure the level is right.
>
> Mike

Hey mike, thanks for the follow up, I'm going to try to add coolant,
it is hovering at the minimum line...

On Jun 29, 11:50 am, Roadie <hjs...@cs.com> wrote:
> On Jun 28, 10:23 pm, Scott <scott872...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Question:
>
> > OK, so my 2001 s80, non-turbo, "the sled" as it is named has a small
> > issue. In the morning, every morning, my volvo will display "Coolant
> > Low, Stop Safely" as well as "Coolant Low, Stop Engine" and it is
> > switches back and forth between the two with no consistancy, as in it
> > will switch back and forth like it can't make up it's mind as to if it
> > wants me to stop safely or stop engine. Also, I can time it, I drive
> > down my street and as I pass by a certain stop sign, the message will
> > go away and it will not show up again until the next day when I start
> > my car. Also, I have repeatedly checked for fluid leaks and a lack of
> > coolant, neither of which it has. My car never goes over the dead
> > center of the middle of the temperature guage, no signs of any kind of
> > overheating. When I got the car a year or so ago, this reared its
> > head 2 or 3 times, but it went away and I didn't worry about it.
> > Also, my car will turn the fan blowers on in the cabin on by itself,
> > no key in the ignition, when it gets hot really outside (80-100+
> > degrees, Socal weather) again sporadically, unrelated I think, but the
> > only other apparent issue with the car. My first inclination is a
> > faulty sensor of some variety, and I know I can swap sensors. Where
> > should I start? Thanks!
>
> Have you checked the coolant level when cold to see if it is above the
> minimum marker. On my 2000 S80 if the level is slightly below minimum
> the light will flash on and off as the coolant sloshes around, but
> once warm it has expanded enough to no longer trip the sensor.
>
> As Allen mentioned the car computer is set to run the blower about 1
> hour after the AC was run. That removes any remaining moisture from
> the evaporator and helps to control mold buildup. It works.

ps...THANKS IN ADVANCE YOU RULE!