Multiple-Issue S80 (Can you say Exorcism?)

[thetandycollector]

Hello all,

I have a confusing Volvo issue in the shop today. Or, should I say, issues.

A frequent customer came in claiming her car is "possessed", and honestly, after driving the car I pretty much believe her. I have never worked on a Volvo S80 that was as strange as this one.


Here are the issues:

2000 Volvo S-80 2.9 NA AUTO

Lunging - at idle with brakes on, sometimes lunging at idling when rolling at low speeds.

Service Light - Service light is always on, however, check engine light is on occasionally, never stays on. Whenever I have tried to pull codes on this car, my scanner will only communicate with it in "generic global OBDII" mode, and shows no codes, current or pending.

Constant "light out" indicator issues.

ALARM: The security alarm will trigger itself at random. Sometimes she will come out of her work to find the lights flashing and "alarm triggered" on the drivers information center. This happens all the time. When the car was purchased, the alarm was triggered and the siren worked, however, as time progressed the sound dwindled to extremely quiet, now not at all. Typically does not trigger while the vehicle is in motion.

POWER: The vehicle recently started losing power on accelleration, and gas mileage fell drastically. We checked the plugs and found them to be original or OEM replacements, but they do seem to be in reasonably good shape, for a vehicle having 109,xxx miles on it. All filters are good, and timing belt, while do for replacement, is in fact in decent shape.

Radiator Cooling Fan: Comes on at random when car is unattended. I know I have had a couple of Porsche's that occasionally had cooling fan run-on problems when the run-on relay would stick, but otherwise I've never seen this issue before. However, not only does the fan run-on after car is turned off, it will occasionally come on hours after the car was turned off.

Sunroof: Randomly stops working for no reason, sometimes starts working like normal pretty quickly, then randomly will take forever. Doesn't seem to have any issue with laboring and being stiff.

Seats - Memory seat does not work, but electric seat motors do. Heated seat on the drivers seat doesn't work, but others do.

A few days ago, customer reported that when she turned the car on, she heard a loud click from under the hood, repeatedly, every four seconds. It did not stop, she started the car and drove here, it stopped immediately as she pulled in.

Any clue what this is guys? Regal Sales that sold my customer the car is suggesting that the alarm system has something to do with it, and Superior Volvo in Kansas City is pointing us in the direction of a Central Electronic Module. Any suggestions?

Bill - Eagle Auto

Regal Sales where the car was purchased