Alternator most likely? 2006 S60 2.5T

usernam3 · Post by **usernam3** » 19 Feb 2025, 20:53

Car needed to be jumped yesterday, it started, and then died within about 2 seconds. The dying involves about one stutter/cough after it reaches the full starting rpm and then drops completely, turning off. I tried this two more times and then gave up, immediately after that it has lost all power and putting the key in position 2 turns nothing on, no key fob lock function, etc. The fact that the power is now completely out pushes me away from fuel system issues. Is this likely the alternator due to that stall-like failure, or would y'all diagnose other possibilities beforehand? I would test the alternator if the car ran. Thank you in advance and let me know if I didn't provide enough info.

Post by **jonesg** » 20 Feb 2025, 00:40

You need enough charge on the battery to find out.
I mean it could be the serpentine belt flew the coup, or the voltage regulator failed or the signal wire isn't energizing the field windings.
What are the warning lights you see on the dash, red warning light ?
Any message in the driver info window.?
Do you own a battery charger or jump pack ?

Post by **abscate** » 20 Feb 2025, 02:30

Check battery voltage at rest first. A good alternator and bad battery often won’t run

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Feb 2025, 08:35

Low hanging fruit = battery, credit Abscate. 12.x volts at rest, 13.x volts running (I know... it's not running, just putting that there for the record).

12.6 volts I use as a benchmark.

Your user profile location doesn't say where you live, but the US is experiencing a significant dip in temperatures this week and low temps are the Final Judgement of any battery. If its time is up, it's going to give up now. Do you know the battery's age?

Post by **br0dy519** » 20 Feb 2025, 13:11

Mine started doing the exact same thing last week, but think I have a vacuum leak too. I have a jump pack in the car now.

usernam3 · Post by **usernam3** » 20 Feb 2025, 13:25

jonesg wrote: ↑20 Feb 2025, 00:40 You need enough charge on the battery to find out.
I mean it could be the serpentine belt flew the coup, or the voltage regulator failed or the signal wire isn't energizing the field windings.
What are the warning lights you see on the dash, red warning light ?
Any message in the driver info window.?
Do you own a battery charger or jump pack ?

I'll go ahead and try to charge it with a jump. No lights out of the ordinary, I've had "brake failure stop safely" and "engine system service required" on the Dim intermittently for over a year now, but nothing new. I'll check for anything new again if I can get it charged. Thank you for the response!

usernam3 · Post by **usernam3** » 20 Feb 2025, 13:26

abscate wrote: ↑20 Feb 2025, 02:30 Check battery voltage at rest first. A good alternator and bad battery often won’t run

Thank you, I'll get on that first.

usernam3 · Post by **usernam3** » 20 Feb 2025, 13:28

matthew1 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2025, 08:35 Low hanging fruit = battery, credit Abscate. 12.x volts at rest, 13.x volts running (I know... it's not running, just putting that there for the record).

12.6 volts I use as a benchmark.

Your user profile location doesn't say where you live, but the US is experiencing a significant dip in temperatures this week and low temps are the Final Judgement of any battery. If its time is up, it's going to give up now. Do you know the battery's age?

I appreciate it, and yes I've had the same temperature dip in Texas where I'm at, I'll have to look at the battery sticker again but it's gotta be near the end either way (2-3) and I should just bite the bullet. Thank you.

Post by **jonesg** » 21 Feb 2025, 07:52

usernam3 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2025, 13:28 I appreciate it, and yes I've had the same temperature dip in Texas where I'm at, I'll have to look at the battery sticker again but it's gotta be near the end either way (2-3) and I should just bite the bullet. Thank you.

I ordered a battery from amazon, $149 , it came in 2 days, right to my garage door.
it has been 3 below zero up in Maine, fires right up.

I charged the old battery but it quickly dropped to 10v, thats a bad cell, so it was done. It was 8 yrs old.
Considering you're not seeing any red warning light or "battery low" in the information window, it kinda points to the battery.

imaV70Rdriver · Post by **imaV70Rdriver** » 22 Feb 2025, 10:56

When you say “the power is completely out”, do you mean no power to the seats, windows, dash gauges, and pretty much everything else, except the radio and the fuel pump (which you may hear whirring in the background)?
If so, from my extensive experience with this type of issue with my 04 V70R, it is a battery problem. I would recommend charging the battery completely, and leave it for a while longer, and see if everything powers up. You might have a parasitic drain like I do (or did, hopefully).
I installed a new battery and it still didn’t power up the car until I put it on the charger for a long while.