01 XC70 w/75k miles: Need new battery

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 18 Dec 2006, 08:34

For past few wks, my car hasn't been starting up on first crank in the mornings, so I asked Volvo Service to check my battery (original), and they said I need a new one, "you can spend $170 on ours or go to Walmart and get a similar one much cheaper," ... hmmmm, is he right? If so, which battery? And until I make that purchase, what other symptoms could I expect?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Dec 2006, 10:08

Yes, they are right...get a decent one though...cold cranking amps- at lease 700, more is preferred. If your battery runs down too much you start experiencing strange electrical glitches that makes you think your car is going bonkers...dash lights not lighting up or blinking, etc., even your radio going off and asking for a code to turn it back on. Get it changed sooner than later.

Steely · Post by **Steely** » 18 Dec 2006, 15:03

What HE said. The battery on our '01 V70 went out about 75K. Being a purist, I like seeing "Volvo" in blue when I open the lid in the rear.

Post by **JRL** » 18 Dec 2006, 15:31

$170 for a battery??
What's it made of GOLD?
Buy a good battery for about $100 almost anywhere,
just make sure it's the right size and amperage and not smaller

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 18 Dec 2006, 16:45

MadeInJapan wrote:Yes, they are right...get a decent one though...cold cranking amps- at lease 700, more is preferred. If your battery runs down too much you start experiencing strange electrical glitches that makes you think your car is going bonkers...dash lights not lighting up or blinking, etc., even your radio going off and asking for a code to turn it back on. Get it changed sooner than later.

Whew! good to know I can get a cheaper one elsewhere! Thanx! Taking your advice and others below, to do sooner than later, I drove to nearby Autozone, sure 'nuff, they had an 800amp (cold crank) battery for $69 bucks! BUT, it's been drizzling all day here, so they suggested I come back on a dry day due to "precautions removing/replacing battery for Volvo," and not knowing otherwise, I just said, "okay, I'll come back."

Post by **JRL** » 18 Dec 2006, 16:59

Wise move and there you go, 80 bucks for a battery

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Dec 2006, 18:50

Probably would have been okay changing it in the rain but they are probably smart not to do it for you with wet surroundings. I've noticed that more and more these guys are erring on the conservative side of things. For instance, they might read codes for you but most likely won't reset them for you.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 18 Dec 2006, 19:18

JRL wrote:Wise move and there you go, 80 bucks for a battery

yep! so good news all around.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 18 Dec 2006, 19:27

MadeInJapan wrote:Probably would have been okay changing it in the rain but they are probably smart not to do it for you with wet surroundings. I've noticed that more and more these guys are erring on the conservative side of things...

Erring on the conservative side of things is good for me... I can wait a day or two--not as if my headlights are dimming out (knock on wood!!)

Btw, getting to that battery isn't a snap... what were they [swedes] thinkin????

ciao!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Dec 2006, 21:01

Spoleto wrote:Btw, getting to that battery isn't a snap... what were they [swedes] thinkin????

I might add, "about a lot of things" to your comment. And...Yeah, remember if you ever need to jump the car, you do it from under the hood at "jacking points." Do not connect the jumper cables to the battery at the back of the car.