S40 engine start and shut off issue

I'm having a strange issue with my 2006 Volvo S40, gasoline engine, with about 96000 km on the clock. Sometimes the engine won't start, other times it shuts off while driving. And when it does run, it runs really rough. I've checked the dashboard lights, and everything seems normal. I'm wondering if maybe there's a defective fuse related to the ignition switch, but I can't seem to find one specifically for that. Any ideas where to start?

4 comment(s)

Sounds like what happened with my old Opel Corsa. Different car, I know, but the symptoms were the same. Have you checked the starter motor relay and the ignition coil connections? Might be a loose wire somewhere causing the intermittent problems.

Thanks! Where exactly are those located on the S40? Are they easy to get to, or am I looking at a major disassembly job?

On the Corsa they were under the hood, near the fuse box. I’m not sure about the Volvo, but you’ll probably need to check your service manual. If you don't find anything obvious, I would suggest to go to a workshop.

I took it to a shop, and it turns out the ignition switch was indeed faulty. They replaced it for 52€ and the problem is gone. Thanks a lot for pointing me in the right direction!

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