19 replies to this topic

[turboV70]

So i went out to start my car (98 V70GLT) this morning and it was dead. The lights would turn on but it wasn't getting enough power to turn over. I found this kinda strange because I had just put in a new battery (OEM Volvo) a few weeks ago. I figured I must have left the dome light on or my fogs, but i checked it and both were turned off. So i ended up hooking up a battery charger and I let it go for a couple hours. I went out again to start it and it fired up no problem. I wanted to make sure it got a good charge so i went on a 40 minute drive with alot of highway. I stopped at Napa autoparts while i was out. I hadn't left my car for more than 2 minutes and when i got back in to start it, it would hardly turn over. I tried it again and it eventually starteda. Nothing that i have turned on in the car could drain my battery in 2 minutes, right??? I'm now starting to think that i've got something else going on. Possibly the alternator is shot so it's not charging the battery? I have no other symptoms of a faulty alternator though. Headlights aren't dim, stereo works perfect, etc. I do however have my CEL on, but it's been on for about a month now, i just havn't had a chance to get the codes read. Any idea what could be goin on here?? I would appreciate any help. thanks.

Edited by DougK, 12 May 2005 - 06:49 PM.

[snorrih]

Get your codes read.

For the battery situation: Every Volvo owner needs a multimeter more than he needs any other single tool. You need to find out if the alternator is charging, should be at 13.5 volts or more at idle. If the alternator is not delivering, you need to replace the brushes/regulator.

The alternator doesn't die without a reason. A loose ground connection at the battery or in fact any bad connection between the battery, alternator and ground will fry it, and the replacement as well.

Ask me how I know.

[turboV70]

ok i checked it out with a volt meter. The battery is charged to 14.5 volts and with the car on I got a reading of 18 Volts. So it's not the alternator that's giving me trouble. I drove a lot today and it's been behaving better since this morning. Still hestitates a little before it will turn over, but it eventually does. I think i'll just leave everything alone for now.

[PullMyFinger]

The new battery could have a dead cel. I've had it happen with a new battery before, albeit many years ago. Might try taking the battery back to where you bought it and see if they can bench test it.

[snorrih]

ok i checked it out with a volt meter. The battery is charged to 14.5 volts and with the car on I got a reading of 18 Volts. So it's not the alternator that's giving me trouble. I drove a lot today and it's been behaving better since this morning. Still hestitates a little before it will turn over, but it eventually does. I think i'll just leave everything alone for now.

You have a faulty voltage regulator, it will dispatch your battery if you drive it like this.

The voltage should never go above 14.5 volts when running.

18 volts means that you will overcharge your battery and very possibly fry something with intercooler's.

The battery when fully charged should be a little above 13 volts. You are cooking it.

You should get this taken care of. This would probably cause a CEL, so that could go away as well.

Snorri H.

[MrWinkey]

       
You have a faulty voltage regulator, it will dispatch your battery if you drive it like this.

The voltage should never go above 14.5 volts when running.

18 volts means that you will overcharge your battery and very possibly fry something with IC's.

The battery when fully charged should be a little above 13 volts.  You are cooking it.

You should get this taken care of. This would probably cause a CEL, so that could go away as well.

Snorri H.

What????....

[MrWinkey]

Never mind..sorry snorri I read it wrong??....I would check your battrey terminal connections first though being that you just put a battery in it and describing your symptoms it sounds like a bad connection..the alternator could be working overtime trying to recharge a battery on a bad connection.

[snorrih]

Never mind..sorry snorri I read it wrong??....I would check your battrey terminal connections first though being that you just put a battery in it and describing your symptoms it sounds like a bad connection..the alternator could be working overtime trying to recharge a battery on a bad connection.

Could be, but I would suspect that the battery was changed because it was fried. But of course, a bad connection at the field wire (B+) alternator side could cause this. Anyway, he gets a very high voltage reading when not running, this indicates a constant overcharge situation.

The alternator not only tries to charge, it succeeds too well...

Snorri H.

[turboV70]

I cleaned the contacts on the battery and the battery cable yesterday, cause i too that that may be my problem. I went to start my car again thismorning...it was once again DOA. I've got a nother battery here, i'm gonna try swapping them out and see if that solves my problem. If that is indeed the problem, i'm taking my new battery back to my dealer because I paid $120 for a genuine volvo battery, and i'd expect it to last longer than a month! Thanks everyone for the help troubleshooting. I greatly appreciate it. Peace.

[snorrih]

I cleaned the contacts on the battery and the battery cable yesterday, cause i too that that may be my problem. I went to start my car again thismorning...it was once again DOA. I've got a nother battery here, i'm gonna try swapping them out and see if that solves my problem. If that is indeed the problem, i'm taking my new battery back to my dealer because I paid $120 for a genuine volvo battery, and i'd expect it to last longer than a month!  Thanks everyone for the help troubleshooting. I greatly appreciate it. Peace.

If your alternator keeps putting out 18 volts, you will smoke the new battery too.

Edit: See this link for info on how and why batteries die when overcharged.

Edited by snorrih, 13 May 2005 - 02:25 PM.

[turboV70]

So you really think its the alternator givin me trouble? I don't understand how the alternator could be putting out more voltage that it's supposed to, but i guess it is unless my meter was lying to me.

[TSWisla]

The alternator might be bad (not charging the battery while you are driving)

[gdizzle]

Or, you could just simply have a dead short draining the battery....

[forestfarm]

So i went out to start my car (98 V70GLT) this morning and it was dead. The lights would turn on but it wasn't getting enough power to turn over. I found this kinda strange because I had just put in a new battery (OEM Volvo) a few weeks ago. I figured I must have left the dome light on or my fogs, but i checked it and both were turned off. So i ended up hooking up a battery charger and I let it go for a couple hours. I went out again to start it and it fired up no problem. I wanted to make sure it got a good charge so i went on a 40 minute drive with alot of highway. I stopped at Napa autoparts while i was out. I hadn't left my car for more than 2 minutes and when i got back in to start it, it would hardly turn over. I tried it again and it eventually starteda. Nothing that i have turned on in the car could drain my battery in 2 minutes, right??? I'm now starting to think that i've got something else going on. Possibly the alternator is shot so it's not charging the battery? I have no other symptoms of a faulty alternator though. Headlights aren't dim, stereo works perfect, etc. I do however have my CEL on, but it's been on for about a month now, i just havn't had a chance to get the codes read. Any idea what could be goin on here?? I would appreciate any help. thanks.

When the battery has juice lay down by the driver side front bumper and reach up and touch the air pump.If its hot then more than likely thats the culprit.Reach up and unplug the relay that controls pump.You will probably find it full of rusty water.I had this problem on my wifes 96 850.dispatched the battery every couple days.I hope this helps.Its a common problem from what i understand.You will need to replace pump/relay and sas valve,about $350 parts.

[merlin390]

"ok i checked it out with a volt meter. The battery is charged to 14.5 volts and with the car on I got a reading of 18 Volts. So it's not the alternator that's giving me trouble. I drove a lot today and it's been behaving better since this morning. Still hestitates a little before it will turn over, but it eventually does. I think i'll just leave everything alone for now."

The alternator is putting out too much voltage!!!!!!!

with the car running you should not be above ~14.4volts your alternator does NOT know when to stop charging because the voltage regulator is gone bad!! keep it up and you will blow up a battery or worse catch something on fire and lose the whole car. YOu have fried one battery already!!

[Bay13]

The alternator is putting out too much voltage

ditto

[turboV70]

ok. you guys have convinced me that my problem is the alternator. I just had no idea it could overcharge. Now I have to convince my dad of the diagnosis. I'll probably have to either fry a couple batteries or burn to death before he'll admit that you guys are right. Unfortunately i've gotta go through him (financial reasons) to fix this problem which means i have to do things his way. It sucks being a dependant highschool senior! Thanks to everyone that contributed. you'r time is greatly appreciated.

[MrWinkey]

Yeah if your connections were good you need an alternator..sorry

[rlnelson]

Yeah if your connections were good you need an alternator..sorry

If money is tight you could pull the alt and try to fix it. It sounds like it is putting out power[18v] but is not regulated. Replace the voltage regulator [40-50]for sure and check the brushes. Or have a Auto Electric place rebuild it for about 80-100 bucks . I have done this on my wifes BMW alternator. Same type alternator. The shop replaced bearings cleaned /checked winding, stator and contacts, replaced brushes, new regulator . 80 bucks Other thought is to replace alternator with a good used one.

[Bay13]

have you noticed with the engine running, does the positive cable get hot, if so the end need to be soldered, I see this all the time. One of the items I check on every car I pull in, when I lift the hood first thing I do is grab the positive cable and if it's hot or warm it has bad connections where the wire goes into the connector.