Volvo Help Please

[suffolkpete]

I've recently been involved in sorting out the estate of a deceased relative. In the garage was a 1995 Volvo 440 GLT which was in regular use up to 11 years ago when the owner suddenly died. I've tried starting it, but although all the warning lights light up and the ones I expect go out again, the engine will not turn over. The warning lights don't dim, so I assume the starter isn't being energised. The car is fitted with an alarm and immobiliser and the alarm warning light on the dashboard is permanently lit, which the handbook says indicates a fault. Any ideas how I can diagnose/bypass it?
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[TerryG]

Do you know if it is the factory immobiliser or an after market one?

[suffolkpete]

It's a factory immobiliser and alarm, linked to the central locking.

[TerryG]

I'm not much good with the factory stuff i'm afraid. There are some handy guides in this thread which may help:
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 14&t=19522

[megadethmaniac]

what about bypassing all the other bits and going straight from battery to Starter? It will then allow you to track back where the fault lies.

[suffolkpete]

Tried interrogating the diagnostic port but it didn't appear to be working. If it requires specialist equipment, probably not worth bothering with, as a couple of hours labour at a Volvo dealer would probably exceed the value of the car. Shame really as it's a top of the range GLT model with all the bells and whistles.

[TerryG]

It is a shame but looking about, I can find some with MOT and tax for £250-£400.
From what I have found online, opening the car with the keys does not disarm the immobiliser and leads to the light staying on. Opening the car with the plipper disarms it. I assume you have put some batteries in the key fob and tried that?

If the plipper isn't working then there are some instructions here on how to fix it:
http://www.am.torun.pl/~ja/volvo/alarm- ... izer.shtml
http://www.am.torun.pl/~ja/volvo/diagno ... stem.shtml

[suffolkpete]

Unfortunately those instructions all involve the diagnostic port, which doesn't seem to be working, which is why I think I'm stuffed. Does anybody familiar with this model know what the immobiliser actually immobilises? At various times I've come across systems that disable the ECU, the fuel pump or the starter motor. I'm sure that when I first connected a battery I heard the fuel pump running. It's a 90 mile round trip to where the car is kept, so I'll ponder it until the next time I have occasion to visit.