1991 740 GL wagon battery keeps on draining

e777 · Post by **e777** » 02 Sep 2007, 16:57

hello,

I bought my 740 gl wagon with 260K miles and have only added a couple of hundred. When I bought it I noticed that the battery was weak. The car would start fine, but turn over was not as strong as one would expect. Anyway, after a couple weeks of letting the car sit in cold weather without being driven, I found that it would not start the next time i went to drive it. I replaced the battery. I had no problems for a couple of months, during which time the car sat most of the time. I would drive it periodically, and it would start just fine. Now, with the battery 6 months old or so, I find that the battery drains rapidly when the car is allowed to sit for just a few days. There are no lights or anything else that have been accidentally left on. I can only wonder if the clock is producing a slow drain (not likely, but...)? I do not believe it is the alternator, given that once the car is being driven the battery remains strong indefinitely and is not drained. This only occurs when it sits even for a short while. Any thoughts?

thanks,

Eric

goldmember · Post by **goldmember** » 17 Sep 2007, 22:22

Hi I have the same 91 740 Volvo wagon (940 body) and had the same problem when I first bought it at about 180k km 5 years ago.

It was in fact the alternator, so get it checked out by an autoelectrician just in case and have it replaced if needed.

Sorry for the late reply.

Cheers

george

e777 · Post by **e777** » 18 Sep 2007, 17:07

Thanks, George. I had the alternator tested and it is OK. I wish it were the alternator...that would have been an easy fix. Looks like it might be something a bit more complicated.

thanks again,
Eric