Volvo AWD 850 Forum

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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

I have a '96 850 with auto transmission. We have been having a problem for some time where after starting the ABS light stays on and the shiftlock does not release. When we shut the car off and start it again everything works fine.

The other day my wife had the problem and started driving and the blinkers also stopped working for a while.

Called the dealer yesterday and he said it could be some switch in the braking systems but they could research codes to find out. AFter having an alternator replaced last week I am broke....so I don't want to pay him a half hour labor to read the codes if I don't need to. The problem was happening before and after the alternator was replaced....the alternator was definitely putting out a low output.

After some reading I am suspecting the ignition switch. I haven't tried jiggling the key to see if that helps things or not. Anything else I can try to diagnose this?

Garth








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

We have a 96 850T wagon and had the same problem a few years ago. Yes it was the ignition switch (after the dealership tried changing everything else). My wife figured the problem out one day in our garage (after the dealership gave up) because the headlights came on briefly and then went off when the engine was running. She found that by backing the key of slightly they came back on . . . also the shift-lock swtiched off.

Apparently there is a fault in the ignition switch where it doesn't come back to its rest position properly . . . but as usual there's no recall from Volvo about this.

Gary








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

My car has been doing the same thing recently, and I'm almost sure it's the ignition switch. If i wiggle it, the ABS lights will go off, and I can move the shifter without using the override button. In addition, I've already replaced the ABS unit a few months back because it was defective, which fixed the problem. Now this one has cropped up... just great.








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

Try wiggling the ignition key around after starting the car and when the ABS light is stuck on. If wiggling the key turns the light off, there is a good change the ignition switch is at fault.

www.alloemvolvoparts.com has the switches for under $50. Good instructions on the replacement can be found on the www.volvospeed.com website. I plan to install a new one on my '96 later today to deal with the same intermittent symptoms you have described. In my case, wiggling the switch will turn the ABS light off, so I'm hopefull that this will be the fix.

John








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

As a follow up, I did the installation yesterday and it fixed my problems as advertised. The only hassle was finding a long #15 torx bit, which I located at our nearest Orchard Supply Hardware.

Now the gremlins are put to rest!

John








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

Thanks for the validation John. It stopped happening for a while so I just sat in the driveway starting and shutting off and about the fifth time it happened again....ABS light on and shiftlock still engaged....jiggled the key and everything fixed itself and also noticed that the daytime running lights came on as well. So I am almost certain it is the ignition switch.

So I ordered the part and it should be here by early next week... I expect given the hourly rate for our local Volvo dealer I probably will save about $100 to $150 if I can get this fixed myself!

Garth








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Is this an ignition switch problem or ? 850 1996

I have just had the same problem with my 1996 850 R, I bought the electrical portion of the switch over the internet for about $45 and then had my local shop install it for $35. The instructions on Volvospeed are really simple but I did not have the time to start taking things apart nor did I have the long 15 Torx screwdriver. My symptoms were that the daytime running lights would not come on, the Tracs and ABS light would not go off and you could not get it into gear. In addition the ignition switch became really difficult to turn the car off (that is what made me do it). I had lived with the "key wiggle" for about 6 months.
Good luck,
John Scales.







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