2001 V70 Won't Crank

cleaverc · Post by **cleaverc** » 12 Mar 2012, 09:59

I went to start my Volvo this morning and the doors opened with the key for, but went I turned the key to crank, I got a click and everything just died - no lights, key would not lock/unlock doors, nothing. It's as though the battery was taken out. I checked the battery and it showed 12.3 volts. I also disconnected the pos/neg terminals from the battery and reconnected 15 min later, and I could get the dashboard lights until I tried to crank, and same thing happened - a click and everything dies. Tried a different key as well without success. I actually had it in a Volvo shop with some odd electrical problems (low battery voltage after leaving the radio on for 3 min, all lights slight dimming when an additional load it applied - turn signal, wipers, etc). They put the battery on a charger, and checked the electrical system and said everything looked fine.

Looking for any ideas on what could be the problem could be.

Thanks

Chris in Norfolk, VA

RaymanSean · Post by **RaymanSean** » 12 Mar 2012, 10:43

Chris,
Hopefully you have another car, try jumping off the Volvo and see if it starts (my bet is that it will). Then drive the volvo to your local auto-parts store and have them test the battery and charging system. You may also look at your battery connections but, I doubt that they are the problem (they could be but it does not explain the quick draw down from the radio). You could also remove the battery and take it to the autoparts store but that will lead to a less thorough test as they will not be able to check the charging system as well.

cleaverc · Post by **cleaverc** » 12 Mar 2012, 11:09

Thanks for the reply. Supposedly, the Volvo shop I had it at a month ago checked the battery/charging system and they said it was okay. I've got it on a trickle charge right now, but good idea about jumping it from my other car. The battery (Volvo brand) is only 4-5 years old, and I expected it to last as long as the first one (about 6 years). Maybe not. As a side note, I never got any charging or electrical cautions, outside the low battery voltage message, so does that mean the alternator is okay?

cleaverc · Post by **cleaverc** » 12 Mar 2012, 11:19

Well, so much for trying to jump. There is no power being distributed to anything - it's a "dead" car electrically. No dashboard lights, locks don't work with any of our fobs.The voltage with the jumper cables hooked up was close to 14 volts, so I think that is good. I checked the fuses that had anything to do with starting, as well as the electronic module(?) and they are all good. What can I look at next?

Here's an oddity - I went to disconnect the negative battery terminal and as I started to take it off, I heard a little click/buzz and now there is power to dashboard lights and locks. It still dies when I try to crank the engine. More curious as the day goes on.

cleaverc · Post by **cleaverc** » 12 Mar 2012, 11:48

Problem Solved.

I guess when the Volvo shop was checking the electrical system out, they must have loosened the negative terminal cable where it connects to the frame since the bolt was a bit loose. I tightened it up and it starts with out any problems. Perhaps it was just loose enough that it could't draw starting voltage - or maybe not. We'll see if it lasts. Wonder if that will cure the low battery voltage problem when just the radio is on. Time will tell.

Well, so far it has cured the low voltage message with just the radio. I just don't know very much about electricity to explain this one.