Should I change my 2015 Battery?...

Stewart18 · Post by **Stewart18** » 27 Jan 2021, 14:59

Or just leave it for now... I'm not sure. The temp here has not dipped to -20 C˚ yet but i expect that within 2 mths. My Multimeter currently says it's at 11.9V with the engine off. 14.3ish with the engine running idle with radio/AC off. 6mths ago the reading with the engine off was 12.3.) I have one of those 12V NOCO battery boosters (GB30). Can i just attach it to the battery cables right before i take out the old battery, and leave it attached to the cables while putting in the new battery to keep the current on so the electrical/codes don't get messed up? Hmm..

I don't drive the car that much.. Less than 15km a week. I've read i should drive around for 30min a few times a week to keep the current up which i will do. Yes i know they say 5 yrs time to replace as well, but i see too many vids on YT talking about just charging it with a trickle or proper charger (Overnight usually). Thing is i don't have anywhere to leave the car where i can plug it in right now. (street parking)

*The Car is a 2006 S60 2.5T.

Post by **oragex** » 27 Jan 2021, 15:20

I give some information in this video, however the test can only be done in warm weather - in winter the alternator never really drops under 14v
To measure the battery, drive the car, park, undo a post, let sit 1h then measure before connecting back
To swap the battery, just have the key in POSII with the headlights on, disconnect the old one, connect new one
15km/week is not a lot but it shouldn't be a problem if there is not current drain. That would be my main concern because it will damage your new battery as well. The alarm siren goes typically bad after 10-12 years , may want to remove the fuse (see youtube)

Post by **abscate** » 27 Jan 2021, 20:09

15km a week?

Buy a good jump pack and keep it handy and run that battery to Spring

Make Neil and Me proud!

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Jan 2021, 21:17

Stewart18 wrote: ↑27 Jan 2021, 14:59 I don't drive the car that much.. Less than 15km a week.

Get a battery maintainer. Install it permanently on the car. Leave it plugged in when it is parked at home. A battery maintainer is ~$15.00 - $30.00. A whole lot less than a replacing batteries prematurely.

Rigging it so the car will not start when the battery maintainer is plugged in will keep you from driving off and doing damage.

Post by **darrylrobert** » 27 Jan 2021, 22:53

just park on a hill, or employ a team of strong men/women to help you push start the car. 11.9v is low, get a new battery.
An OBD2 trickle charger for the dash...hmm

: obd2 charger; obd2 charger.jpg (96.94 KiB) Viewed 1127 times

Post by **volvolugnut** » 28 Jan 2021, 09:59

My advice: If you have Triple A or other prepaid rescue service, maybe roll the dice and keep the old battery. If you drive far from help, don't want to worry, and can afford it now, get a new quality battery.
volovlugnut

Stewart18 · Post by **Stewart18** » 28 Jan 2021, 14:58

Yeah i've been looking online for one of those OB2 connectors and can't seem to find one that fits this car.. Also think i'll need to just bite it and get the new battery cause there is obviously not even enough power to keep my Garmin Nav on now. That went off on me the other day right in the middle of a trip and i had to pull over and use my phone one (Magic Earth).. Only the Garmin gives me the 'low battery' message while it is shutting off when i turn off the engine. The car dash gives me no message so far.

Also i see myself hopefully selling this car within 2 yrs.. Hmm.. The appt is scheduled for tomorrow morn. Maybe they could just charge it overnight for me and from there i'll just keep an eye on the level and do that half hr drive around every week.

I've also just came across a vid showing how to leave the car parked with the battery disconnected. Since i have the car just sitting most of the time i'll try that maybe..

*Comments on the first vid says the gadget/switch should be on the positive side instead..

Stewart18 · Post by **Stewart18** » 28 Jan 2021, 21:46

abscate wrote: ↑27 Jan 2021, 20:09 15km a week?

Buy a good jump pack and keep it handy and run that battery to Spring

Make Neil and Me proud!

So i took it for a spin for a little over an hr (The Garmin Nav was fine the whole time) and checked the Battery with a Multimeter as soon as i got it back home..

The reading i got after that drive after turning off the engine is 12.4v!! (Up from 11.9 before the drive) So that tells me the alternator is good and to take it for a 30+ min drive at least twice a week instead of just letting it sit too much..

Going forward i will also keep the NOCO Booster in the car, keep my eye on the voltage level and hold off on getting the new battery for now.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 29 Jan 2021, 00:22

*
The last battery I changed out in February from Costco lasted 7 years but now they are only warranted for 3 years with free replacement. 5 is about what I use to get out of Costco Batteries so instead of fiddling around with it get a new one and if it does not hold a charge at least you know it's something else in the system or a new defective battery after you swap it out. Regardless you are due for a battery especially with such cold winters.

By the way, that battery wouldn't start just one time last winter. After a jump it lasted the entire winter. Just changed it in case it left us stranded.

*

Post by **SuperHerman** » 29 Jan 2021, 00:39

Batteries when properly maintained last a long time. As they cycle they build up a sulfur compound on the plates. As I understand it if perfectly maintained a battery will not develop this condition for a very long time. But that is a perfect environment which does not exist.

So as a battery in normal operation cycles from low voltage to high the sulfate compound gets worse and worse. A depleted battery suffers much worse than a new one. Once a battery starts showing problems it usually means end of life. During this aging the lead plates also start to crack and get worse and worse.

At 6 years you are past normal life expectancy. My experience - why risk it. The battery will always bite when it is the worst possible time.