ongoing fun with the v70

[rspi]

There is a chance that your alternator is bad. If you got the car started the alternator should have been charging the battery and keeping the car running. Usually when the alternator goes out it will cause the dash to light up like a Christmas tree.

Also, 9 time of 10 the key gets stuck in the ignition because the button on the shifter didm't pop all the way out when you put it in park. Make sure the button on the shifter knob is all the way out, you can pull it with your fingers.

[mwilkerso]

so today we replaced the b+ cable with a solid 6g heavy wire and great terminal connections. Also, we sanded down all of the grounds that we could unbolt and sand down. When following the ground wire from the battery, we discovered one of the grounds were hanging free and there is a bolt broken off where it should have gone into the engine underneath where the throttle is located. So we took that ground and bolted it to the top of the engine. After all of this, we start up the car with the battery charged up to 12v ( this is a new battery that we had to recharge since its been rundown so much), the voltage drops to 10.8. I turn on the lights and rev the car to 2000 rpms. The voltage drops to 10.3 and levels off for about 2 mins. After that, i get an abs light, brake light, then another 15 seconds i get an srs light, then another minute goes by and the voltage drops to 7v and the car dies.

Is this definitely the alternator or should i be looking at something else?

Also, I planned on doing the ABS fix, but Im wondering if I would get ABS symtpoms because of the low voltage?

[jblackburn]

Is the battery dead now after this happened?

If so, there's your answer. But yeah, it sounds like it.

You can pull it out and any auto parts store will test it for you.

[Pauloil]

so today we replaced the b+ cable with a solid 6g heavy wire and great terminal connections. Also, we sanded down all of the grounds that we could unbolt and sand down. When following the ground wire from the battery, we discovered one of the grounds were hanging free and there is a bolt broken off where it should have gone into the engine underneath where the throttle is located. So we took that ground and bolted it to the top of the engine. After all of this, we start up the car with the battery charged up to 12v ( this is a new battery that we had to recharge since its been rundown so much), the voltage drops to 10.8. I turn on the lights and rev the car to 2000 rpms. The voltage drops to 10.3 and levels off for about 2 mins. After that, i get an abs light, brake light, then another 15 seconds i get an srs light, then another minute goes by and the voltage drops to 7v and the car dies.

Is this definitely the alternator or should i be looking at something else?

Also, I planned on doing the ABS fix, but Im wondering if I would get ABS symtpoms because of the low voltage?

can't check alt. until have good battery. abs could've been from low voltage i'd leave that batt on charger overnight and charge at slow rate. do voltage drop on starter cable or just replace it ipdusa has a good generic one for our car

[mwilkerso]

So i suppose my next step will be replacing the battery-alternator cable and removing the alternator so i can bring it to oreilly and have it tested. Any thoughts on rebuilding vs. Buying rebuilt alternator?

[mwilkerso]

so i took my alternator out today and brought it to oreilly for testing. it failed the test and reade 11.6 volts. so now i ask should i rebuild or buy a remanufactured alternator? also, ebay offers reman. alternators for the volvo for around $120...are these trustworthy?? or should i just get a new one from oreilly for 250? i feel comfortable rebuilding but i want the solution with the best results whatever that may be.

thanks,
matt

[oldcarfools]

Good Lord, you seem to have the same luck as we have with buying our '98 V70 that obviously had NO maintenance over 155K miles. We paid $3700 and have nearly $2000 into it so far, and it's still up on jacks! Don't know what any of these other owners are so thrilled about constantly fixing their cars. We are getting too old and tired of car repairs! Hope you fare better than us when it's all done! Good Luck!!

[Pauloil]

so i took my alternator out today and brought it to oreilly for testing. it failed the test and reade 11.6 volts. so now i ask should i rebuild or buy a remanufactured alternator? also, ebay offers reman. alternators for the volvo for around $120...are these trustworthy?? or should i just get a new one from oreilly for 250? i feel comfortable rebuilding but i want the solution with the best results whatever that may be.

thanks,
matt

get the reman. at oreilly for the lifetime warranty, and the new starter cable from ipdusa

[mwilkerso]

I've actually spent quite a bit of time now looking for a supplier of the component parts inside of the alternator based on the bosch and volvo numbers on the alternator itself. I cant seem to find any reliable provider of these parts. If anyone knows where to find the brush holders, bearings, etc. could you let me know? If not I suppose the $250 oreilly part is the solution although Im running myself to the poorhouse here with every new problem the volvo presents.

Thanks again,
Matt

P.S. To the post above with the v70 at 155k miles, what has gone wrong with your volvo so far?

[jblackburn]

Got a junkyard around you? That has Volvos?

You can pick up a working alternator for $25 with a $10 core charge at the one by me.

They're actually not something that goes bad too often on these cars. Mine has been putting out low voltage for 3 years/50,000 miles and hasn't died yet.