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Volvo V70 22.4 B5244S 2.0 - Battery discharge #

Posted by Bryan Smith on April 2, 2011, 4:44 pm

Year of Manufacture *: 2000
Engine Size and Code *: 2.4 B5244S

Hi all,
I have this Volvo in that has had a flat batery twice in the last couple of weeks. The car is owned by a pensioner couple who seem a bit unsure about what they are doing but I suspect it is having lots of short journeys. The first time I tested the battery which although it didn't fail was a bit suspect so it was replaced with a Varta 540A EN, which is the correct size according to a Platinum catalogue that I have although Varta say it should be 680A EN. The diode ripple looks ok to me and it is a genuine alternator that doesn't look very old. The current output is fine and increases with all consumers switched on but the volts will only go up to 13.9. I would have thought this was ok but wanted another opinion. I have also tested for a drain and although the main relay takes a few minutes to switch off (switched earth from the PCM), when it does the current draw is only 22ma. The headlights have been set in day running mode but I can't see that being much of a factor.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Bryan

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Shaun Dale <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=UKAT2719' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 2, 2011, 7:51 pm, in reply to "Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Shaun Dale

Hi Bryan,
Battery charging voltage seems a bit stingy to me, was that from cold or when warmed up? I would like to see 14.5v cold, 14.0v hot.
Check volt drops with lights on from alternator frame to battery negative and from alternator output terminal to battery positive. I had one of these where after about four start cycles one of the battery terminals got too hot to touch, a new terminal cured all the problems.
Shaun

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by James <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=ukat3047' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 2, 2011, 8:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
James Scott

The siren on the these are prone for failure. i had one that had a few batteries just by chance i caught a high drain from one once. they are in the osf wheel arch may be worth disconecting and using for a while??

James

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Bryan Smith on April 3, 2011, 12:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Message modified by board administrator April 4, 2011, 3:47 pm

Hi Shaun,
The charging voltage doesn't seem to change much, hot or cold it wont go over 14v but I will re-check this. I have done voltage drop from alt output to battery pos which is only about 100mv I think, but not from the alternator frame to neg. I will do this next. At one point I did feel that the battery pos lead was getting a bit hot near to the terminal but next time I checked it seemed ok. Perhaps I will change that anyway.
James,
Thanks for the suggestion. This car is normally left unlocked so I am not sure whether the siren will cause this problem or not, or indeed whether the car being unlocked is relevant? I will disconnect it anyway as they obviously dont need it, so anything has got to be worth a try. One advantage of this vehicle is that they are neighbours so I only have to walk across the road with my jump pack. The disadvantage is that they are pensioners and have absolutely no idea what they are doing at any time. The first time I connected my jump pack the hazzards started flashing which led me to think that was the cause, but he must have pushed the switch while trying to get it started even though it is in front of the gear stick.

They also park it front first into a very tight garage

even though I have suggested reversing it in.
Regards,
Bryan.

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Phil Huelin <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=ukat3254' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 3, 2011, 8:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Phil Huelin

Hi Bryan
'This car is normally left unlocked'
We had a V70 that had a high drain when locked with the remote but was fine when locked with key but with a low budget and Jersey's crime rate the customer took the cheap option so didn't investigate further. As suggested though, the alarm may be worth a look; also current draw unlocked/locked with key/locked with remote may help.
Kind Regards
Phil

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Bryan Smith <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=UKAT5330' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 4, 2011, 6:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Bryan Smith

Hi Phil,
I have tried all combinations of locking/unlocking etc and whatever I do the drain is always about 22ma. I have now taken volt readings when cold which is about 14.02v and when warm about 13.9. As per previous suggestions I have now disconnected the alarm sounder and will replace the pos battery terminal in the morning but I have carefully inspected both terminals and can see no faults. I have also now turned off the day running lights. I will then let the customer have it back and see what happens.
Many thanks for all the suggestions.
Bryan.

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Colin Hedger <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=UKAT1335' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 16, 2011, 9:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Colin Hedger

Hi Bryan,
Silly question but they're not leaving the keys in it when unlocked are they?

Colin

Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge

Posted by Bryan Smith <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/ukautotalk4/info/user=UKAT5330' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 17, 2011, 4:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Volvo V70 Battery Discharge"
Bryan Smith

Hi Colin,
Thanks for your response. No, I did check this early on. I think what they are doing is starting the car and moving it out of the garage, turning it off, going indoors, coming out again and driving about a mile to the supermarket, driving it home and turning it off again, unloading shopping, then putting car back in garage and at the same time as all this they probably have the HRW and the heater fan blowing full blast. I think you get the picture

. I just think that 14v from the alternator is not enough for this kind of use. I have now turned off the day running lights and tried to give the normal lecture which includes telling him to reverse IN to the garage so that I can get to it if it does go flat again. If it does I have told them I will probably need to replace the alternator. Time will tell.
Regards, Bryan.

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