This is my first post, but MVS has already helped me immensely. Feel free to skip to the Issue or Summary if you just want to be a kind, helpful soul but don't care to read my babble.
Personal Background:
I get the feeling that a lot of people here enjoy knowing who they're helping (and don't mind a sense of humor), so I thought I'd share a bit if you're interested. (Indeed I found myself enjoying learning more about you amazingly helpful people in this community as I did my PCV system research.)
Earlier this year I was in the market for a new Volvo wagon. I've only ever owned Volvo wagons since I started driving 10 years ago, and probably won't ever be without one. Had a 745, and after scrapping that, a wonderful 2000 XC V70 SE that I adored. Unfortunately, earlier this year, I was in my first car accident courtesy of a small animal and my bleeding heart. That ended with some concrete, surprise, and one poor gentleman not getting his mail for a couple days (his mailbox got thrashed). In the end, the price to repair the damage was too much, and I decided to scrap it (oh how I wish I was smarter then and would have dropped it in my driveway instead).
Enter my 1998 V70 T5 wagon. Found this car with some searching and sheer luck and got it for under $1000. I did have to put $2000 into it to get it up to inspection standards, but if I'd have had more time and confidence I could have done it myself and got an inspection-worthy 98 T5 for under $2000. (Not sure if that's still good nowadays, but it thrills me anyway, I really like this car)
Unfortunately, even after all that work put into it, it still had some issues. Being down to a couple hundred dollars and an oil-covered garage floor, I realized I had to suck it up and finally learn to mechanic. I've always been a rather mechanically inclined person, but cars always seemed overwhelming to me.
Over the course of 4-5 days, many things were cleaned, several things were repaired, four bolts were stripped (sigh
), and one PCV system/oil trap/oil separator/whatever the heck they're correctly called, was replaced. Was quite proud of myself when I watched my car pass the glove test so well I was afraid it was about to get sucked into the engine. Much thanks is due to Robert (rspi on this forum I believe), and his awesome PCV system video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEZzqyu2a6c), as well as several other tutorial/write-up contributors on this website and more. Thank you.Since my oil leak was resolved, and my amateur mechanic confidence secured, my lovely T5 decided it was time to teach me something scarier more challenging: electrical systems.
Car Background:
I'll keep this section simpler.
1998 V70 T5
230,000 miles
General:
-Engine runs great excluding occasional idle-dips ever since I cleaned the IAC (afraid I broke it
).-Transmission feels smooth.
-Occasional Power Steering fluid leak, delayed for now with regular checking/topping off.
-Before PCV system replacement it was throwing these codes: P0102, P0455, P0410. Haven't had a chance to reset and re-test.
-TRACS and ABS lights on, planning on dealing with this later.
Electrical Related:
-Headlights have been amazingly dim since I got it. We're talking like 4-5 feet of light, driving 30 mph in 45+ mph zones at night when off lit highways, candles in my headlights dim. (Imagine it's the apocalypse, only you and your Volvo survived, with nothing but some dirty fog lights to find your way, that's what it looks like for me.) For safety, I generally just avoid night driving. Not sure how it passed inspection (is that an inspection item?), but I had the indie Volvo shop check the light-height adjustment again and they said that was okay at least.
-I noticed some instrument flickering before. Very mild, almost unnoticeable while idling. This has gotten progressively worse.
-Along with the instrument flickering, some mild cabin light dimming would sometimes happen as well.
-It has been getting colder here, down in the 30sF, even colder is coming.
-There appears to be 2.5 (ohms?) of resistance(?) in the headlight bulb socket.
-The headlight itself seems to have approximately 2.5 (ohms?) of resistance(?) itself.
-When I did the PCV system, I did do some wire recovering and plug cleaning with electrical contact cleaner, maybe I damaged something?
- BatteryTestsPic.jpg (24.11 KiB) Viewed 2157 times
-I'm scared of the dark.
-The sun sets at eff-ing 5pm now.
-Last night whenever I revved the engine, after removing my foot from the gas, ALL the lights would dim, dang near going out. Clearly I can't get by any longer.
Resolution:
My research thus far has lead me to several possibilities, none of which I am skilled enough to diagnose/pursue alone:
-Training a small nocturnal animal to drive for me.
-The used Battery the shop gave me for free has ceased to be.
-Alternator has expired and gone to meet its maker.
-Voltage Regular is pushing up the daises.
-B+ cable/other electrical wires have shuffled off the mortal coil.
-Continue quoting Monty Python's Parrot Sketch.
I really appreciate any help/advice/direction that you all could provide.
I have this:
- Multimeter.jpg (71.57 KiB) Viewed 2160 times
- MultimeterContacts.jpg (11.12 KiB) Viewed 2160 times
Summary/TLDR:
-Extremely dim headlights.
-It has been getting colder here, down in the 30sF, even colder is coming.
-Drastic internal light dimming after revving engine and taking foot off gas.
-There appears to be 2.5 (ohms?) of resistance(?) in the headlight bulb socket.
-The headlight itself seems to have approximately 2.5 (ohms?) of resistance(?) itself.
- BatteryTestsPic.jpg (24.11 KiB) Viewed 2157 times
