9 replies to this topic

[karthik]

for the past month, i've been having electrical problems with my 1997 850glt. first, i had a dead battery...even with jump starting, the car couldn't hold charge so i changed the battery. today (a month later), i found that my car wouldnt start at all. hazards...power locks...none of those worked either. i got a jump start (from, coincidentally, another 850 =D), and i was able to turn off and start the car without any other problems.

halfway home, waiting at a stoplight, the engine went very quiet for a second, shuddered, and then sounded as it it had just been started. it's turning on fine now, but i'm wondering what's going on...

any ideas?

[maiku]

did you replace the battery?

[karthik]

yeah, when the first battery died (it was 5 years old), i replaced it. today's problems are with the new one.

[MrWinkey]

Make sure your terminals are tight and clean.....if you can move the terminals with your hand their not tight enough

[karthik]

i checked out the terminals today morning, the connections are tight (not movable by hand) and the terminals are all nice and clean.

[Phaedrus]

Some 850's had a problem where the glove box door warped and the light inside stayed on, thereby killing the battery...

It's something that's easy enough to check, or yank the bulb...

~Jon

[icelandic]

It seems you may have an alternator problem. Perhaps it is charging intermitently or maybe not charging at all. Perhaps the brushes are worn out our the voltage regulator may not be working properly. I suggest you check with the car in operation (and warm) for the alternator output. Why engine warm? Because a failing voltage regulator sometimes operates erratically depending upon temperature. If it really is the voltage regulator, it is not very difficult or too expensive to replace.

Good Luck!

[maiku]

could be the battery connections
use a wire brush on them and clean them up good

Edited by anitanium, 20 February 2005 - 01:52 AM.

[Black Adder]

I'm not a professional Volvo mechanic. However, I know the 850 inside and out and have experienced and successfully repaired almost every problem mentioned on this board (so far). I've had two R cars at the same time (wagon and sedan), driving them all the way to 152K (still have the wagon). Electrical(!), turbo, starter, control arms, tie rods, ball joints, bushings, CV joints, driveshafts, brakes(!), rear sway bar, fuel pump, ECUs, wiper washer pump, dash bulbs, cat converter, muffler, PMP, seals, gaskets, just to name a handful.

So, as to your electrical issues. On the 850, I've found that the starter is a very crucial component to every electical function in the vehicle. Ditto for the ignition switch. Yes, your alternator is also crucial, but is not likely the problem unless every batt you install goes dead in a matter of hours or days. Replacing the starter and ignition switch would be a good thing to do in light of how you've described your problem. Both are a very easy fix to do yourself. Do the starter from below the car even though it's visible from the top.

As for for where to buy your parts, call Nick at FCP Groton in CT. Best prices I've found.

Next, believe it or not, the positive lead from the batt can get shmucked up in certain ways. Some Volvo mechanics I know have said this is a common issue given its proximity to other components, although there is seemingly no official Volvo diagnosis and repair process for it. After replacing PMP, micro switch, alternator, starter and ign switch...with no avail...I replaced the positive lead, improved the connections on both sides of both ends of each lead and all has been well for thousands of miles. Whodda thunk? Try the simplest repair first.

I don't claim that this is the answer to your problem. I'm merely sharing my experiences.

Good luck.

[karthik]

thanks to everybody for your replies...i'll take a look at some point this weekend and report back!