2001 V70 'challenges' -- could they be related?

We purchased a used 2001 V70 T5 in November. Love the car, but a few things
have cropped up and I thought I would ask the experts here before I did
anything. The car has about 61,000 miles but is in pristine shape.

Problem 1)

The car is possessed. Every time we lock the doors, and then get back in, it
tells us the alarm has been triggered. Sometimes when I happen to be looking
at the car, it really is going off. No horn, but the lights are flashing.
Perhaps related, the locks are possessed too. I've taken to leaving it
unlocked, but it will lock itself! I've actually heard it happen two or
three times.

Problem 2)

If you are sitting still, at a light or such, the car overheats. Not knowing
anything, I openned the hood while it was running and noticed the fan wasn't
running. Seems like it should be. In what may be a related symptom,
sometimes when the car is sitting in the driveway, the fan will come on.
Even after the car hasn't been driven for hours. Now I haven't heard the fan
come on recently, so perhaps it was a death symptom.

Problem 3)

When the car is cold in the morning, it really, really doesn't want to make
a shift from 2 to 3. It will, very roughly, at a high rpm. Usually I put it
in manual mode and do the shift myself, which it happily does. This only
happens on the first drive of the morning, as it works flawlessly the rest
of the day. I suspect it may just need to be serviced.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?

I have a great fear that some central computer is shot that is wildly
expensive. I'm hopeful that isn't the case. I would be happy if I could
easily just disable the alarm, as I don't care about it, but do want to keep
power locks and the remote fob.

Thanks in advance for any help and guidance.

Tom

 

Crazy lock behavior is usually related to faulty microswitches in the
door lock mechanisms. The switches may be telling the computer the door
are locked when they aren't, or vice versa. The only trick is figuring
out which one.

There's a recall on the fan - the controller is faulty and often turns
the fan on until the battery is dead, or doesn't turn the fan on at all.

Servicing can't hurt, but often this type of problem can be fixed with a
software update.

--
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.)

 

<answers snipped> Mike F.

Mike,

thanks for the fast response. I'll find out whether the recall repair has
ever been done. I'd bet it hasn't. On the microswitches, I assume you mean
the ones in the door themselves that cut 'pushed in' when the door closes?
What's the debugging solution? Replacing them one at a time?

Tom

 

For the tranny, it's probably about time for a fluid flush and a software
update. Friends I know with a V70 have had their tranny software updated a
few times, and software for the locks updated too (rear control module went,
under warranty... this caused some door lock issues on their car)

Even with synthetic tranny fluid it's a good idea to flush the tranny -
according to a lot of people lifetime fluid means lifetime of the warranty.

 

Do you have a light inside the car staying on?? This could help locate the
faulty door switch. Why does the horn not sound?? Try to lock the car with
the driver's window open, wait 1 minute and then open the door from the
inside. Does the alarm sound now?? The retailer can tell what the last alarm
cause was so maybe go see them.There is a cooling fan recall recently launched. Go to your retailer and if
you qualify, they will replace the fan no charge. But more so, notify VCNA
or wherever you are, that you have just purchased this car and would like to
update their database with your info so that if any thing else comes up
they can get in touch with you.
More than likely it needs to have the software updated. Again, go see the
retailer..

 

We had some probs with our V70 2001 2,4T locking system. It was a very
simple software update.

We had the very same thing. There's supposed to be a recall for the fan.
Ours was replaced an dpresto, it's been ok ver since.

??? Sorry )

 

The microswitches of which I speak are actually inside the lock
mechanisms. There aren't any of the classic plunger switches mounted on
door frames as in cars of old. Both my father (2001 V70) and brother
(2002 S80) have had lock mechanisms changed due to crazy door lock
behaviour.

--
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.)