Volvo C30 Automatic Ignition

G_Clef_C30
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:53:52 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

I purchased a 2008 Volvo C30 T5 last year on the Overseas Delivery Program. (By the way, this is a great way to get a significant discount and a free trip to Europe!).

In November 2009, after the car was here for about 5 months, the auto ignition feature suddenly ceased functioning. To start the car, one is supposed to simply turn the ignition switch to Position III, then immediately release the ignition, whereupon the starter motor takes over and finishes the job.

I have taken the car back to the Volvo dealer 4 times now. Each time they have attempted to fix it, they’ve done some fiddling, such as replacing some switches and sensors in the clutch, then reprogramming the engine control module, and, this last time, replacing something they called the electronics control module. With the exception of this last parts replacement, the ignition would work again for one day, then quit working. On this last attempt, the problem was resolved for 2 weeks, then quit working again.

The auto ignition feature, in itself, isn’t that important to me. The car will start, if I simply use the traditional method of holding the switch until the engine starts. However, it does leave me with that little voice in my head wondering whether or not I have some underlying electrical problem in the car that may come back to haunt me unless they really fix this. The Volvo dealer has kicked this up to the level of having the Volvo regional rep direct testing of my car. He was the individual who suggested replacing the electronics module. Now I’m looking at a 5th visit to the dealer.

Anyone got an idea why this is happening, and how I can get it resolved?

5 posts - 4 participants