2000 V70R electrical issue continues

[manovlov]

Ignition coil ?

[abscate]

If the battery is on light duty you want the maintainer , not the solar option.

Those Sonic Blues sell easily.

Have a couple of DIM units down here. I’m not sure where the unit mileage is stored.

[scot850]

I do have a battery tender which while I do not use all the time, I do use on a regular basis to keep the battery topped up. When I was not using the car for a while I removed the battery and charged it before storing it in a warm room. I guess this is not sufficient as you say Rick. I will be taking the car off the road over the winter to do repairs and to save it from the anti-icing agents they use on the roads here. I will put the battery on the trickle charge over the winter now I have space and enough outlets in the garage to do so.

I do have a 'smart' charger that supposedly can break down sulphate build up. It may be better to just bite the bullet and swap it out even though it is less than 2 year old Interstate.

Thanks Rick and Abscate for input and education!

Neil.

[scot850]

Manov, I did see your not on ignition coil, but the 99-00 have the individual coils not the single one like the ones before 98. Thanks for helping though!

Neil.

[RickHaleParker]

When I was not using the car for a while I removed the battery and charged it before storing it in a warm room.

Batteries do self discharge. That what a battery maintainer is for. The maintainer continuously replaces what the battery self discharges.

There use to be a myth that the electricity escaped out the bottom to ground. That why you should not store batteries on a the ground. Keep the bottom away from ground and electricity won't get away, was the supposed wisdom behind the myth.

One note on self discharge. Dirt on top of the battery can conduct electricity between the battery terminals increasing the self discharge rate. If you have a battery that is filthy and "keeps going dead" cleaning the top of the battery may help. Keeping the top of the battery clean will not reduce self discharge to zero but it will contribute to keeping self discharge to a manageable rate.

[scot850]

Thanks for the wisdom. I do try to keep the engine bay clean and regularly wipe the top of the battery and clean the contacts,

Those old myths are amazing, and who knows it may have some credence if there is some conductive dust in the air. You can get electrical shorts from dirt on circuit boards if they were not originally cleaned properly during manufacture.

Anyway, the DIM at PnP was still there in the 99 S70 and also pulled the hazard switch as it was one of the few electrical parts I don't have in my stash. Not usually a problem part unless you do something stupid!

Neil.

[RickHaleParker]

Those old myths are amazing, and who knows it may have some credence if there is some conductive dust in the air. You can get electrical shorts from dirt on circuit boards if they were not originally cleaned properly during manufacture.

The dust on the battery mixes with oil and water from the air. The fluids are what makes makes it conductive. The dust provides mechanical structure to hold the fluids in place.

Self discharge is due to internal leakage in the battery. Which enables electrons to flow between the positive and negative plates. As this happens the stored energy is converted to heat and disputed in to the air. Every battery on the market has some internal leakage. A Lead Acid battery with ultra low leakage would be too expensive and never make in in the market place.

Most circuit boards are coated with a Conformal coating which would isolate the electronics from any conductive grime on the surface.

[manovlov]

Neil,
Do your battery cables in good state, especially the + one ?

[abscate]

Make sure the car is level otherwise the electrons tip out the side and rappel down the side on tiny wires, too thin to see.

There, another contribution to an internet myth.

[scot850]

There is the problem! Garage floor is sloped to the front! That explains it all! Thanks Abscate.

Manov, cables should be fairly good. All cables were replaced about 7-8 years ago with new Volvo cables, including the B+. Again good thinking and appreciated. Dealer has checked the charging system and said it is all good. I'm assuming that means the cables as well but I will ask to be sure. Cables have done about 12,000km in total max.

Neil.