car battery

[SirBrickWagon]

Had a call from a Volvo buddy in town here. His 2000 V70 NA was throwing a bunch of coil issue codes and car would not start. It then started eventually and ran fine. Told him to bring it over and we could check it out.

First thing we did was check the battery voltage as we know how they don't like low voltage batteries. Battery only read 12.2V. When he tried to restart the car when still warm the battery would not even turn the engine over.

I heard that these cars need a minimum of 10.9V to start. As many of the long timers on here know electrical is not my strength, but I keep hearing that low voltage is an issue, but I think it is low current that is the issue. At 12V the car should turn over.

I asked him how old his Volvo battery was. He thought not that old until we found the date code. 2010!! Not only that it had sat for about 3 years in a garage after being removed from his son's crashed car. Fortunately he had a new one in the trunk as a back up for cold weather. Swapped it over and engine burst into life. All is good! Wish all issues were that easy to fix!

Neil.

i bought my volvo from a guy with a volvo v70, is his name mackenzie?

[scot850]

I have had batteries that have lasted 6 months and some like the one in out 06 XC70 that I changed as we had had the car for 8 years at that time and I could find no evidence of it having ever been changed, or a date of manufacture.

With the heat in Algeria, it can be almost as bad as the extreme cold we get here. Lots of short runs with A/C running will also drain a battery. I would suggest that 6-7 years is a good battery life as a guide. Have the battery tested to see if it is still good. One thing also in hot countries is to check that the battery acid has not drained. Many batteries can no longer be opened, but some you just need to peel a few stickers off the top to get to the cell plugs.

No.my friends name is not Mackenzie, but that is a good Scottish name!

Neil.

[MoVolvos]

I have had batteries that have lasted 6 months...
Neil.

Went with a friend that was a girl to purchase her first new car, a 1990 Dodge Colt. I think it was 6 or 7K out the door, been awhile. The battery died the first month and left her stranded . Had it towed to the dealer for a new battery. Told her and her parents it's a Mitsubishi Mirage, cheaper but still reliable .


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[abscate]

[/quote]

i bought my volvo from a guy with a volvo v70, is his name mackenzie?
[/quote]

I bought mine from Doug and Bob McKenzie - it was missing all the cooling hoses

[scot850]