99 S70 GLT Electrical Issues

[jblackburn]

The Autozone (et al.) chain stores can effectively test the alternator under load while it is still bolted up in the car and it is a free service. I would definitely go that route first.

...Lee

And if the Autozone worker tells you to rev the car to the moon to meet the amperage requirements...the alternator's a dud.

Mine had to go up to 3500 RPM to meet it, but they said it tested "good"...

[Slumbo]

Autozone says the alternator is fine. He had me crank the car and within 5 seconds said that it passed all of the tests that his little machine does. He also told me that to be 100% accurate, you have to remove the alternator and they'll hook it up to some big fancy equipment and really test it. But he said it looked good. I don't have any trouble with the car cranking (not due to the battery, anyway. But that's another issue...) so it makes sense that the alternator would test good.

So I guess now I'll start hunting for ground wires?

[Slumbo]

After driving the car a little more, I can tell a bit of a difference due to the B+ cable. Now I'm thinking that my headlight issue is mainly due to crappy old reflectors, and not so much an electrical issue. I'm putting a new MAF on the car today. Based on my results from that, I'll decide if it'll be worth sinking more money into the car.

Thank you to those who chimed in on this thread.

[jblackburn]

After driving the car a little more, I can tell a bit of a difference due to the B+ cable. Now I'm thinking that my headlight issue is mainly due to crappy old reflectors, and not so much an electrical issue. I'm putting a new MAF on the car today. Based on my results from that, I'll decide if it'll be worth sinking more money into the car.

Thank you to those who chimed in on this thread.

Most of the headlights on these cars once they get this old are absolute crap - your reflectors probably are indeed trashed.

Good luck!

[timmybdaddyof3]

You seem to know a bit, test voltage at the headlight connector.
You know alternator and battery voltage, hit the other end of the headlight circuit and see what you find - above 12.4 I say reflectors (usually the case)

[rmmagow]

Well, sorry for this, but I didn't see it mentioned. Remove and clean both battery terminals and connectors. Chase the negative cable to wherever it connects to the engine or frame and remove and super clean that connection. My battery connections weren't fuzzy looking or anything but cleaning them fixed my odd-ball electrical issues. Wasn't my Volvo but at that level they all pretty much work the same.

[kcodyjr]

Have them test your battery while you're there. Also free.

[abscate]

After they test your battery, just ignore the advice to replace your OXS sensor and your ECU