'97 850 volvo bad alternator symtoms?

tenbaby · Post by **tenbaby** » 06 Apr 2011, 17:46

my "97 850 died without to much warning....suddenly the panel lites went crazy and gages stopped working, ie, odometer, radiator register and RPM was struck in a downward postion,,as if the car was not running. a few minutes later the car lost acceleration, ie, it stopped moving regardless how hard the press the gas pedal. after sitting for few minutes, I tried starting it again...but the hazard flasher lite started and wouldn't stop. anyone have any idea what's going on here?

Post by **kcodyjr** » 06 Apr 2011, 18:02

That sounds pretty odd, but I went for a good 10K on a failing alternator. It made a whizzing sound that sounded like a huge supercharger bolted to a hungry tiger. I was 100 miles away from home on the highway when it finally let go, and it's like you say - the dash started going crazy, lighting up like a Christmas tree and then going dark; the external lights were doing it too. I still don't know how I didn't get pulled over.

That night, my 96 855 parked itself in its own driveway under its own power. It also started the next morning and drove a mile, firing the plugs on battery the whole way, to the shop that installed a reman alternator.

It sounds to me like you've got an wiring or electronics fault. The hazard flasher is probably from your alarm circuit.

tenbaby · Post by **tenbaby** » 06 Apr 2011, 19:04

kcodyjr,
did the remanufacture alternator fix your problem? my symtoms are very simular to your, why do you think it's a wiring or electronic problem?

Thanks for the reply!

Post by **kcodyjr** » 06 Apr 2011, 19:10

It did solve my woes.

Two reasons I'm suspicious;

1, you didn't get the hour of drive time after it failed like I did. This could be a weak battery in yours or a partial failure in mine, but I don't think so: you still had juice in the battery after it stopped running.

2, the flashing hazard lights, only the alarm or the switch can do that (normally).

tenbaby · Post by **tenbaby** » 06 Apr 2011, 19:46

kcodyjr, thanks for the reply...I agree the flashing hazard lite is tied to the alarm system. I am not sure when this all
started, but I probably did not see the earlier warning signs.....Again thanks for the INFO...

Post by **vjaneczko** » 06 Apr 2011, 22:23

If the alternator was toast, it wouldn't charge the battery or power the electronics in the car. When the alternator goes, the car gets it's power from the battery until that dies. So if the alt. is dead, the battery would go as well and you wouldn't get any juice at all. I'd first check the battery connections to make sure they're clean - and tight - then follow the wires to make sure they're in good condition. After that, check the alternator output to make sure it's up to spec.