Volvo S40 starting problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter marcb
  • Start date Start date
M

marcb

Our S40 2.0 auto model is refusing to start on occasion - just making a
clicking noise when the ignition key is turned. A few tries later it is
starting (so far). Just noticed that the radio has lost its code too.
Any thoughts welcome

thx

Marc
 
marcb said:
Our S40 2.0 auto model is refusing to start on occasion - just making a
clicking noise when the ignition key is turned. A few tries later it is
starting (so far). Just noticed that the radio has lost its code too.
Any thoughts welcome

thx

Marc
Click to expand...

The starter solenoid is not getting enough current to energise it. This is
due to all sorts of cause which might be: low/duff battery, poor
connections to battery, poor connections to starter terminal, poor
connections to solenoid terminal, poor connection to earth. Is the battery a
good one and fully charged? Try cleaning connections and see what happens.

Rob Graham
 
marcb said:
Our S40 2.0 auto model is refusing to start on occasion - just making
a clicking noise when the ignition key is turned. A few tries later
it is starting (so far). Just noticed that the radio has lost its
code too. Any thoughts welcome
Click to expand...

Low battery?
 
Rob said:
The starter solenoid is not getting enough current to energise it. This is
due to all sorts of cause which might be: low/duff battery, poor
connections to battery, poor connections to starter terminal, poor
connections to solenoid terminal, poor connection to earth. Is the battery a
good one and fully charged? Try cleaning connections and see what happens.

Rob Graham
Click to expand...

Thanks - does anyone know a firm in London that will deliver a car battery?

M.
 
The message <[email protected]>
from marcb said:
Thanks - does anyone know a firm in London that will deliver a car battery?
Click to expand...

From the description, it sounds far more likely to be a dodgy connection
than a dead battery. You'll feel a right prawn if you replace the
battery only to find when it doesn't help that a few minutes with a
spanner would have tightened the loose earth strap.

Of course, even if it isn't the battery, replacing it might work - it
might be the battery connection that's loose!
 
marcb said:
Our S40 2.0 auto model is refusing to start on occasion - just making a
clicking noise when the ignition key is turned. A few tries later it is
starting (so far). Just noticed that the radio has lost its code too.
Any thoughts welcome
Click to expand...


hmmm, beware..... this happened to my V40 a while ago.

Eventually (prolly after a week) it just cut out whilst being driven
(fortunately close to home) & had to be recovered. Alternator had packed
up & had to be replaced.

I think you need to check the voltage across the battery whilst the car is
running - hopefully someone here can say what it should read.
 
marcb said:
Rob said:
The starter solenoid is not getting enough current to energise it. This is
due to all sorts of causes
Click to expand...
[snip]

Thanks - does anyone know a firm in London that will deliver a car battery?
Click to expand...

If the battery was dud it seems unlikely to me that it would then start
a few tries later without charging the battery.
 
hmmm, beware..... this happened to my V40 a while ago.

Eventually (prolly after a week) it just cut out whilst being driven
(fortunately close to home) & had to be recovered. Alternator had
packed up & had to be replaced.

I think you need to check the voltage across the battery whilst the
car is running - hopefully someone here can say what it should read.
Click to expand...

Thansk for the warning - am charging the battery first (connections were a
bit crusty) and I have a multi-meter so if indeed I can find said
voltage...

M.
 
The message <[email protected]>
from marcb said:
Thansk for the warning - am charging the battery first (connections were a
bit crusty) and I have a multi-meter so if indeed I can find said
voltage...
Click to expand...

I'd check the other connections, too. Battery to body, body to engine,
battery to starter.
 
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