Oo-er! 'Steering Wheel Lock Service Required' message!

[jasonb]

If there is a 3yr warranty and it's just expired, you can continue to complain and expect Volvo to assist....there is always the "fit for purpose" clause in everything we buy ;-)

[froggyted]

Originally Posted by jasonb

If there is a 3yr warranty and it's just expired, you can continue to complain and expect Volvo to assist....there is always the "fit for purpose" clause in everything we buy ;-)

Thanks jasonb. If i read it correctly the radio problem is covered under the Select Used Car warranty (it isn't listed in the exclusions), but if i have any problems i'll bear that in mind.

[v.florin1]

Hi,
Last week when I made a visit to the local dealear because of the messages regarding Steering, they found the following fault codes on my car :
CEM-6C44 Steering column lock module (SCL) Faulty signal.
CEM-DD10 Communication with SCL control module Signal missing
ECM-C326 Control module communication Signal missing
EPS-0071 Power supply Signal too low.
The messages regarding steering apperead only twice : first was two months ago and second time was last week. Looking for your opinion. Thank you in advance.

[froggyted]

Hi vflorin1, i wasn't given any codes so can't help you, hopefully somebody else can.

The electrics in the ignition are certainly a bit eccentric! Today i took the key out, and all the approach lights, mirror downlights and front fogs came on. I couldn't turn them off with the remote. I put the key back in the ignition, removed it again and all was back to normal. If i was paranoid i would suspect that the onboard computer was trying to take control. Maybe it's a guy and it's angry that i called the car Vivienne!

[tayandre]

That's the home safe lights. Sure you didn't catch the main beam flash when you took the key out? That's how it's activated.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by froggyted

Thanks jasonb. If i read it correctly the radio problem is covered under the Select Used Car warranty (it isn't listed in the exclusions), but if i have any problems i'll bear that in mind.

You will need a new radio for the AM problem and you shouldnt be expected to pay .

Volvo are on their third generation ignition switch now , second attempt at making it 100% reliable , yours will be the second generation one so insist on a new ignition switch ( SCU ) beore you get stranded beaing unable to start the car or steer it ...

[froggyted]

Hi tayandre, no, i know about the safe home lights, but it was the approach lights that came on (courtesy lights, front and rear sidelights, mirror downlights) plus, strangely enough, front foglights, which are not part of either the home light or approach light circuit (or at least, the fog led in the fascia came on, i didn't actually go around the front to check, simply got out of the car, noticed the lights on at the side and rear then tried to switch them off with the approach light switch on the remote).

I wish i'd tried locking the car at that point, maybe they would have all gone off. If not then that's worrying because i could have come back to a flat battery.

All a bit weird that lights could be activated by removing the key from the ignition in the first place. It seems the electronics on this vehicle are very complex and a bit idiosyncratic. It's not impossible that i hit the approach light switch on the remote as i pulled the key out, although i tend to pull the key out using the key ring (like pulling a pin out of a grenade!). It's unlikely though, because: i) the front fog led shouldn't have lit, and ii) it should have been possible to deactivate the lights by the approach light switch on the fob.

[froggyted]

Hi Clan, thanks for your useful input, as always.

Re the radio: this is presumably a common problem. What on earth has happened, has the AM circuit just died? I've never had such a problem in all the radios i've ever owned, solid state circuitry is usually so reliable. I will certainly resist any attempt to charge me anything for this. I have placed and removed window stickers in the rear window, but only at the bottom. If i understand correctly the aerial elements are the top 3 bands so assume this couldn't have any bearing on the issue, particularly since the FM radio still works perfectly.

Re the ignition switch: i initially reported the 'steering lock service required' message in May and had it inspected then by a main dealer. They couldn't find any fault codes (or thats what they told me), and said something along the lines of 'if it fails after the guarantee expires it will be chargeable'. To be fair i've had no problems since, until the strange affair with the lights yesterday. Do you think that could be linked? I will certainly mention it to the dealer on Wednesday when i take the car to them to investigate the radio fault (plus the electric seat memory not holding the memory position in button 3, despite the other two positions working). I'll ask them to check the ignition switch for fault codes again and make sure it's recorded on the vehicle history, just in case it fails outside of guarantee so i have some ammunition to argue the case with Volvo UK.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by froggyted

Hi Clan, thanks for your useful input, as always.

Re the radio: this is presumably a common problem. What on earth has happened, has the AM circuit just died? I've never had such a problem in all the radios i've ever owned, solid state circuitry is usually so reliable. I will certainly resist any attempt to charge me anything for this. I have placed and removed window stickers in the rear window, but only at the bottom. If i understand correctly the aerial elements are the top 3 bands so assume this couldn't have any bearing on the issue, particularly since the FM radio still works perfectly.

Re the ignition switch: i initially reported the 'steering lock service required' message in May and had it inspected then by a main dealer. They couldn't find any fault codes (or thats what they told me), and said something along the lines of 'if it fails after the guarantee expires it will be chargeable'. To be fair i've had no problems since, until the strange affair with the lights yesterday. Do you think that could be linked? I will certainly mention it to the dealer on Wednesday when i take the car to them to investigate the radio fault (plus the electric seat memory not holding the memory position in button 3, despite the other two positions working). I'll ask them to check the ignition switch for fault codes again and make sure it's recorded on the vehicle history, just in case it fails outside of guarantee so i have some ammunition to argue the case with Volvo UK.

The radio is one of those rare problems , it is the ladder filter in the AM section which fails resulting in no sound at all when on AM . If it were an aerial problem you would have some hissing of course .

[tayandre]

Originally Posted by froggyted

ii) it should have been possible to deactivate the lights by the approach light switch on the fob.

Just switched on my home safe lights, got out the car and locked up. The approach light button on the keyfob does not de-activate the home safe lights. Oh and the foglights do come on with homesafe but not approach. I'll let you make your own conclusion...