T3 Auto, ignition didn't start, but digital dials implied it was trying

[JMR]

Hi,

Twice now my car has failed to start when "start button" pressed. All the digital dials come on, as do lights (at night), but no noise, no ignition.

When this first happened, after trying to get the car to respond several times, I phoned Volvo Assist, who arranged for a mechanic to collect the car and take it to the local dealership. I waited with the car, and after about 30 mins, happen to try again. The car started. I cancelled the mechanic and Volvo assist suggested taking the car to the dealership the following morning when it opened.

The next day, after checking that the car still started (it did), I phoned the dealership and was told that "this can happen", and the best idea is to leave the car locked for 15 minutes after the last attempt to start, so the computers onboard close down properly and reset, then try again and it should be fine. They advised that there was little point in taking the car in unless it was "in the locked out state and wouldn't start".

The car worked fine for several days, then it failed to start in exactly the same way. I waited 15 minutes, and it still wouldn't start (as before, all the dials lit up, radio came on, but just didn't fire). I then waited 30 mins, and it worked!

I've been thinking this trough and on both the occasions the car failed to start, we are using the second key fob. I wonder if this has anything to do with this (I've changed the battery in this fob, but am rather hesitant to try it as we need to use the blinking car!

I'm going to take the car ro the dealers before it's 3 years old and ask for a full diagnostic check, but .......

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any ideas please?

Many thanks for any helpful thoughts or guidance

[Snow man]

My B 4 has done this a couple off times,as above turn it off lock it wait a min or so and it starts,seems to happen when I am bit quick pressing start messing about putting seat belt on and trying to rush,a deliberate push seems to work.

[Felindre]

If it happens again, you could try placing the key in the position in the arm rest as it says in the manual, it may not be getting a signal from the key intermittently.

[poleposition]

I think the car should tell you if it does not detect a valid key in the car?

[eugen61]

In my case it did say “Car key not found”. I placed the key next to the backup reader, but the key battery was dead from the cold. After warming up the key in my hands for 10 min I was able to drive away.

[Felindre]

If you place it in the armrest reader then the state of the battery is irrelevant as it reads the chip in the key by RFID, the same as happens when a keyed vehicle has the key in the ignition lock.

[eugen61]

I must have placed the key in the wrong spot. I wasn’t entirely sure where the precise location was, but now it’s clear.