You’re proud of your Volvo. You bought it for a reason: its exceptional handling, safety features, and sleek look. As a result, you take good care of it. You bring it in for regular servicing and maintenance and keep it clean and neat. But even with all the TLC in the world, things just go wrong.
Dashboard failure is a common occurrence that can even happen to your precious Volvo. What do you do when this happens? Well, first off, don’t ignore it. Get it checked out by a trusted mechanic in Fort Worth that has specific experience working with Volvos of all kinds. It’s important to run a diagnostics check to get to the bottom of the issue, and they can perform that.
Tips For Handling Dashboard Failure in Your Volvo
Volvo, a popular and well-known car company, manufactures some of the best cars you will find on the automotive market today. Above all, they are known for their safety and longevity. But they’re not immune to some of the common problems that plague other cars, such as dashboard failure.
The causes for this can range from electronic failure and broken wires to failing gauges or visibility issues. This is when you can’t see the engine temperature, battery life, oil life or gas gauge due to a blank screen.
Your Volvo dashboard, like all dashboards, are meant to display important information and gauges and act as a central hub for all readings throughout the many sensors in the car. The most important of those include the speedometer, fuel gauge, tachometer, and engine temperature gauge. You will also find an odometer (how many miles you’ve driven), gear shift indicator and a turn signal icon.
Dashboard Failure Warning Signs
As we said above, it’s important not to ignore the warning signs. This will only serve to make the problem worse, which can affect performance and safety. There are many different signs that could clue you in to dashboard trouble. They include:
- When the speedometer or tachometer needle bounces around or gives inaccurate readings. The tachometer measures the working speed of an engine, usually in revolutions per minute (RPM), while the speedometer measures speed of the vehicle.
- The fuel gauge is working improperly, perhaps reading empty when it’s full or reading full when it’s actually empty.
- Your engine temperature gauge is giving faulty readings or is not working at all. This gauge measures the temperature of your engine’s coolant and will alert you if it’s cold or overheating, or when it’s normal.
Common Causes: Volvo Dashboard Malfunction
Unfortunately, there are lots of things that can result in a dashboard malfunction for your Volvo, from moisture to wire trouble. Here are the most common:
- The wires connecting the dash to the computer system can become broken or damaged, which will affect all or a portion of the visual output.
- The technology itself could be failing, such as in regards to the speedometer gauge. You may need a simple update to fix the problem or you may need to have the gauge replaced altogether. Your mechanic will be able to tell you which option is necessary.
- The dashboard can experience failure when wet or water logged, something that can happen if you drive through flooded streets or spill a liquid on the dash, such as coffee. If spills happen, wipe them off with a towel immediately so they don’t set in, or else they can affect the technology or wiring. Do not drive on flooded roads. Take an alternate route if it has been raining heavily and you are approaching an area that commonly encounters flooding. A good rule of thumb: when more than a quarter of your rims and tires are underwater, don’t drive through the puddle.
DIY Repair and Troubleshooting Options
No one likes to see their dashboard having trouble. You don’t have time for this, right? Well, there are a few things you can try at home before calling a mechanic, if you’re handy.
Check the fuse box for a blown fuse. The fuse box in Volvos is usually under the glove box. If you spot a blown fuse, you can replace it. If that doesn’t work, disconnect and reconnect the battery to essentially reset your dashboard. Just keep in mind, this will wipe out your radio settings and programming.
Many people don’t feel comfortable messing around with their Volvo’s electronics, and we don’t blame them. Not only are those electronics dangerous, a short circuit can damage the whole car, not to mention put you at a big risk for shock. If you’re not handy with vehicles or you don’t have the time, patience or supplies to troubleshoot the dashboard failure on your own, your best bet is to take your Volvo to an experienced, trusted Volvo mechanic in Fort Worth.
They can easily diagnose the root cause and get it repaired so you can get back on the road in no time.
In the meantime, before you can get your car to the mechanic, avoid driving long distances and driving in stop-and-go traffic until you can get it looked at by a professional.
Contact Rick and Ray’s Auto Plaza
If you’re having issues with the dashboard on your Volvo, don’t hesitate to take it to Rick and Ray’s Auto Plaza. We can troubleshoot the issue and recommend necessary repairs. You can trust our deep knowledge of Volvos because we work on them every single day.
To schedule your appointment, contact us in Fort Worth TX at (844) 942-0164. We are located at 2425 Cullen St. in Fort Worth, TX, and are open Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for your convenience.
