20 Most Recent 2006 Volvo S40 - Page 4 Questions & Answers

I suggest scanned the PCM in order to now exactly what fault code is stored there.

most vehicles have both mechanical interlocks and electric ones now.. be sure the car is in park fully and in some cases the brake pedal ust be pushed down, and e-brake engadged check these as well as turning the steering wheel from side to side a bit..see if something did not line up...repost with findings please..

This dashboard light on modern cars sometimes fills people with dread. In reality it is your friend as a car owner, and one of the best advances ever to appear on cars. The ECM computer which runs your engine has many sensors connected to it which tell the ECM about conditions in your car systems. For instance, it monitors the air temperature in your air filter, helping it to run your engine in the most efficient way.

When this light comes on it is telling you that the ECM has stored a diagnostic trouble code, or DTC, based on signals it is receiving. You could then go to a mechanic or auto electrician to have this code read out. In some countries (e.g. the USA) you can have this done for free at an auto parts store, or buy your own tool to read the code, called an OBD II scanner, for about $50.

However it goes, if you know the code, you will be much better able to judge what the mechanic tells you about the repairs needed, and the likely costs, The codes themselves are not very informative, and you will probably need to Google it or look up a maintenance manual. A code may appear as, for instance, P0131.

There are some codes which appear more frequently, and deserve special mention:

- Faulty oxygen sensor. There may be 2 or 3 of these in a car, and they do wear out.

- Faulty emissions system. The first thing to check is the fuel cap. It may be loose or require replacement.

- Faulty knock sensor. This enables the ECM to adapt to different grades of fuel.

- Faulty catalytic converter. This is part of the exhaust, next to the muffler.

- Fuel mixture too lean. This will usually be caused by an air leak in the intake, perhaps a loose air cleaner cover or cracked hose.

- Engine misfire. Often caused by old spark plugs or cracked plug leads.

The oil filter housing also houses the pcv system. What causes the noise is that there is a check valve in the pcv system that is supposed to regulate the pressure in the crankcase. The valve gets stuck and causes vacuum to build in the crankcase, which in turn sucks air wherever it can causing the noise, which is also why when you pull the dipstick it stops. This can also cause a check engine light with codes for fuel trim. The oil filter housing will need to be replaced. Good news is that Volvo extended the warranty on these to 100K miles so it should be free of charge at the dealer. One thing to watch for is oil leaks after the replacement from the camshaft seals. If air can get past a seal, usually oil can too. If the seals leak too long it can contaminate the timing belt and cause it to break, which causes a lot of damage.

Timing chain or belts need adjusted

There is a boot ajar sensor in the latch of the boot, replace or repair/adjust it.