PVC issue after battery change

BKR · Post by **BKR** » 15 Jul 2018, 10:55

My 6 year old Volvo battery finally gave out. Jumped the battery to get the car to the shop. Shop replaced with an Interstate battery. Picked up the car and went back to the shop within 5 minutes because of a high pitched noise. Told it was a PVC issue (there was no noise when I drove to the shop on the jumped battery). Any thoughts on PVC issues after a battery change? Also, when neighbor jumped the Volvo battery, he originally hooked the battery cables up wrong (smoke from the battery), not sure if that’s relevant. Thanks.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Jul 2018, 11:22

Yuck.. I would guess alternator diodes might be fried.

If you bang the brake ejector pump (vacuum for brakes ) moving batteries around , that could whine too.

Track down the noise source with a hose in your ear.

BKR · Post by **BKR** » 15 Jul 2018, 11:47

Wow, thanks for the quick feedback. The shop told me to (until I can get to the dealership) pull out the oil dipstick.....when this is done, the noise disappears.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jul 2018, 12:07

abscate wrote: 15 Jul 2018, 11:22 Yuck.. I would guess alternator diodes might be fried.

If you bang the brake ejector pump (vacuum for brakes ) moving batteries around , that could whine too.

Track down the noise source with a hose in your ear.

With the battery in the back its hard to bang other stuff.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jul 2018, 12:08

BKR wrote: 15 Jul 2018, 11:47 Wow, thanks for the quick feedback. The shop told me to (until I can get to the dealership) pull out the oil dipstick.....when this is done, the noise disappears.

Dip stick sounds like the PCV. That can't possibly be affected by the battery.

BKR · Post by **BKR** » 15 Jul 2018, 12:14

Thank you, that’s what I thought (but I have zero car knowledge). Thanks again for your input.

Post by **oragex** » 15 Jul 2018, 12:40

If the high pitching sound is from the PCV then pull the dipstick or untwist the oil cap and the sound will go away.

What gets my attention is when you say your 6 years old battery was completely flat. Don't blame it right away on the battery. It may very well be an issue with a parasitic drain or the alternator. Any good shop should have first tested the alternator. With a new battery, if the battery is fully charged (should be so most of the time when driving) the alternator will show some 13.7v. If the battery is a bit discharged, the alternator will show some 14.5v. You may try to discharge a bit the battery (radio on, headlights on for 10 minutes with the engine on), then fire up the engine and read the alternator.

Also see this topic viewtopic.php?f=9&t=85966

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jul 2018, 12:58

Six years is short for a battery. The exception being if driving mostly short trips and never charging it in between. That really wears them down.

BKR · Post by **BKR** » 15 Jul 2018, 13:05

Thank you very much for your feedback. Is a parisitic drain related to the PVC? My car has 173,000 miles on it.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jul 2018, 13:08

A positive crankcase pressure can cause oil leaks and the like but really shouldn't have anything to do with the cars electrics.