Engine System Warning Light

kirwand

I just bought a 1999 Volvo S80T and within 1000 miles the following warning lights have come on, ABS, SRS, Traction Control. I had the ABS control module replaced and warning lights were gone for about 200 miles. Now I get an orange warning triangle indicating I need to safely pull over and restart engine. When I do the light goes off. Engine runs smooth although transmission at times seems confused about whether to up or down shift. Any ideas???

dabaer

kirwand

I have a 99 s80 with the 2.9 engine. My warning lights have come on more than a red light at a whore house on a saturday night. I should say I have over 143,000 miles but it has been a reoccuring problem and expense for as long as I can remeber owning the car. I have replaced the emissions systems modules three times in the last threee months at a cost of $300 a piece. I love the car ride and handling but it has been very expensive to operate. I am geting a new car soon. but I am afraid the S80 is to problematic.

I could write a book on the problems. the weirdest is the dip stick knob broke. and the replacement is a new design and Ineed to replace the dipstick tube to the oil pan...I could'nt believe it. so I am still looking at junk yards for a replacement and draw it out with surgical clamps! (probably because I check the oil so much, did I mention I burn a quart every 500 to 600 miles? that's another story )

i am very suprised on what I thought was a manfacturer who's cars could go the distance...200 to 300 thousand miles but not this one.

julus

For those of you who are experiencing problems with those little, red warning lights, buy a bottle of black touch up paint. Have one of your kids trace between the lines. You will never see that little red light again. If you have determined that there is really nothing wrong with your brakes or your engine, that can be the best solution.

0patience

That is NOT a solution.
But do what you want with your vehicle.
As I tell folks who come to me for CEL problems when I tell them that I can fix it, but I charge hourly for diagnostic time and they say they'll just put black tape over it. I tell them, that is their choice. They can pay me now to fix it, or pay me later. Later is much more expensive though.

If you understand the how and why the light comes on, you will understand the problems it can create.
If the light comes on once, for a little bit, clearing the code and it doesn't come back, then it may be a false code. If it comes back, there is a problem.
Now, understand that if the light keeps coming on or stays on, there is no reason a reputable mechanic can't figure it out and repair it correctly. Ignoring it can end up costing you a catalytic converter, pistons or other various problems.
Again, do what YOU want, but don't tell folks to paint over it. That is totally unacceptable advice, not to mention not a help.

swschrad

NO, NO, NO... it's a joke folks.

the light and code number say, "look at stuff that affects THIS feature," it doesn't say "replace everything we stock that fits near this sensor, will that be visa or mastercard?"

there is a difference, and the difference includes most likely doing some more investigation following the trouble tree.

ain't no five-second solutions any more.

julus

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Black tape is but a temporary fix for those aggravating red warning lights. For that reason I recommend the black paint, and use a good, flat enamel.

0patience

You are joking, right?
Glad you aren't working on my vehicles or working for me. The problem with dispensing advice like that is folks will listen. When they are sitting on the side of the road because they actually believed someone at an automotive website, not only does it affect their views of the internet, but their views of this site, other automotive sites and mechanics. That ain't cool.

swschrad

not a black-paint guy.

seriously, I think folks who gravitate to a site like edmunds would almost universally not believe that you cover up warnings and hide from problems.

for the benefit of the visitors who are just starting their wondrous relationships with cars... there are here, like all sites on Da ISH, experts and pikers.

0patience, alcan, oldharry, and a few others are serious wrenches with years of experience, and who have stayed current. they tend to take it seriously.

a lot more of us have a little experience and have successfully done repairs at one level or another, munged one or two things up along the line and been rescued or bought another car, and sometimes manage to find an acorn.

as always, if you see something that looks bogus, ask a question about it. or two. and see what kind of responses you get.

sooner or later, everybody's BS filter kicks in, and they should be able to distinguish lame attempts at a joke from uninformed ramblings in a closet from somebody who won't admit they didn't find the door to the street.

general rules number one and two remain: nasty evil noises that shake a car are bad, and warnings in the red on gauges or as idiot lights should send you to the owners' manual.