1999 S80 Brake Failure, Pull Over A.S.A.P. Message

Hello:

I have just purchased a used '99 S80. I was driving about 30mph through
town when my car told me that I had a brake failure and I needed to pull
over ASAP. My brakes seemed fine, so i wasn't in immediate concern, but I
pulled over at my convienence and turned the car off and back on again.
Everything fine, all red lights are errors were gone.

I am concerned that possibly the alternator or regulator might be a problem.
When I have the engine running and I look up at the interior light, I can
see a slight unpatterned flicker very faintly. When I look at the battery
voltage at the post under the hood to several different grounds, I'm seeing
flucuations from like 13.65-13.85 volts constantly. To me that sounds
reasonable, but I wonder if it maybe takes a large spike or sag at times
when your driving, possibly causing a computer to trip or malfunction.

Has anybody any experience with a problem like this? It seems like this car
has issues with ABS, STC module. It has 97,000 miles on it.

I hope that I didn't make a mistake trading in my Isuzu Trooper -- that was
a very reliable vehicle for me...

Sincerely,

Deacon Eisenhart

 

There will probably be some codes stored, you need to find a garage with
the VADIS system to read them. This will point you in the right
direction as far as any repairs are concerned.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Hello:

I have an OBDII code scanner that returns no codes from the main computer.
Do you know if that computer would store the codes or if it is a special
computer code scanner for the braking system? What is the VADIS system,
some special Volvo diagnostic?

Deacon

 

Basically that's correct. VADIS stands for Volvo Aftersales Diagnostic
Information System.

Beverly

 

Different voltage drops on different points are normal with electrical
systems... Wire resistance and corrosion and contact pressure etc can change
readings... 0.2 Volts is not too much... You won't see fluctuations on a
digital multimeter - they measure RMS voltage over an average of around 1
second per update... You might see problems on a really good analogue meter
(but probably not, you would most likely need an oscilloscope).

Voltage spikes/dips could cause all sorts of random problems - especially
with electronics.

I don't really know what's wrong with your car, just telling you some
general electrical knowledge I have learned (doing apprenticeship to be a
Mechatronics+Controls/Industrial Electrician)

You probably have an electrical problem, maybe just a sensor... could be the
alternator, hard to say - I doubt your brakes are problematic, as you say
they brake fine... Brake failure is really rare.

 

An OBD-II scanner will only work on the codes required by law, which
limits it to the check engine light. All other codes in all other
systems Volvo wants you to go to the dealer for. Some Volvo specialist
independents will have the required tools, since American law requires
Volvo to make these available.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Hi:

Fortunately, I have received this message for two days. Since the car
really hasn't been driven much in about a year, perhaps it is just
stretching ...

I have read some interesting comments to avoid this car - many little
gremlins. I'm hoping that with the 97k miles on it that recalls and parts
that needed replaced have been taken care of.

I really enjoy driving this car.

Thanks,

Deacon

 

I meant to say have not received the message...

Deacon

 

Good to hear.. maybe it was just a dirty sensor or something.