May not be the battery (Totally) after all
Asked by Kimberly Jun 26, 2012 at 10:14 AM about the 1984 Volvo 245
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I had posted before about my kids car dying and not wanting to start - had some helpful answer but now I have this better description -
The problem is that I absolutely CAN jump it. Then I drive it out into traffic, and it dies in the middle of the street. There is something other than a battery draining going on. It is running, and then there is a click, my lights go crazy, and then nothing. Engine dead. No turn-over.
Ideas???
4 Answers
The car will run of the battery for a little while. With the car running read the voltage at battery. should read 13.5 v or higher at idle. if its less than 12.6 v it is safe to assume that your alternator is not charging.
Hey guys thanks - they managed to get it towed to a garage without paying an arm and a leg (only $40 in SF that's great). They just told me that the garage said the Idle too low and it just needed a tune up. We will see tomorrow how much this "Tune Up" cost me... because of course they didn't ask. It's hard having your kids living on a different coast than you are....Thanks for you input - it gave me hope that it wasn't going to be something AWFUL!! :D
hotrod28027 answered 7 years ago
Purchased a 2 year battery at University Volvo Charlotte NC APR 2016...Got in my Volvo and started to crank it nothing but clicking..Could not jump start it...Called my Mechanic Ray;s mobile Mechanic and he came over...I bought a starter thought that might be what it was ....LOL not hardly...He jumped with a jump start device and it cracked right up....Found the receipt where I purchased the battery 159.00 2 year ..My mechanic stated it was a dead cell....I called the dealership and The service advisor Tonya told me to have the car towed in...I ask her why? She said they would have to test the battery with it in the car...LOL....I told her Volvo could test it without it being in the car..She stated it might be the alternator...I told her that was bull if that was the case as soon as the jumper leads were removed it would die...I told her the alternator keeps the battery maintained if the battery is bad the alternator can't do its job...All in All the Volvo dealership wanted me to tow the car in so they could say the alternator was bad to charge me double ..I finally told her I would bring the battery in and she could replace it...Another stick in the spokes the warranty will be voided once I exchange the battery LOL...You think the dealerships are honest??? Think again..... Find a Mechanic and stick with him ......
hah! 2 volvo xc90s with similar problems. time consuming & costly "repairs". BUT, today battery was DEAD. then i remembered that we'd just replaced aged headlamp. removed locally purchased - "suspect" - bulb, jumped the battery and car is PERFECT but minus one daytime running lamp. now sourcing 3 prior dead battery phases with CONFIRMED "suspect bulb" theories & removals. (dude at dealership confirmed bulbs as cause/removal & swap as solution.) i know this sounds simplistic, but lightbulb activity preceded EVERY dead/ drained/ zombie battery issue i've ever had.
