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Low Battery voltage message warning S60

Help !!

The car got this message with a warning: low battery voltage. A yellow warning lamp on the dash. By the time the car got to it's destination the car lost all dash led's and lights , No ABS brakes. Driver was able to start the car but now there is a red warning light.

I can't believe a low battery alone would cause this. I'm thinking voltage regulator and/or alternator. It's stuck 200 miles away and I need to go get it tomorrow. Any ideas ??








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    Low Battery voltage message warning S60

    re: "...The car got this message with a warning: low battery voltage. A yellow warning lamp on the dash. By the time the car got to it's destination the car lost all dash led's and lights , No ABS brakes. Driver was able to start the car but now there is a red warning light...."

    From that description, you truly had a low voltage problem. You're lucky that the engine didn't just die on the road -- it would have, eventually, when the system didn't have enough voltage for an adequate spark.

    re: "...I can't believe a low battery alone would cause this. I'm thinking voltage regulator and/or alternator. It's stuck 200 miles away and I need to go get it tomorrow. Any ideas ??..."

    As for the cause, there are many possibilities:

    First, don't discount that the battery has failed -- you didn't mention the model year of your car, or how old your battery is. While a well-cared-for battery (depending on summer and winter climate, and how often you use the car, viz. weekends only vs daily) can last 5 to 7 or 8 years, there are exceptions. Usually, a "dying" battery fails on restarts, rather than while running, but it could (rarely) develop an internal short that can destroy the battery quickly.

    Much more likely, though, is a very corroded battery cable connection -- the resulting resistance not only prevents adequate voltage (and current) from serving the car's needs, but also prevents the charging system from keeping it charged -- the battery can gradually run down, even while driving!

    And yes, you could have charging system problems, varying from a loose belt that lets the alternator's pulley slip under load (e.g., were your headlights and A/C on?) -- did you hear belt squeal -- to a bad voltage regulator or a bad (again, corroded) connection for the alternator's wires (grounds, etc.). Again, we have no idea about the age of the car or the driving/ownership history (e.g., was the P.O. a dunce?).

    The main trouble for you, however, is diagnosing and correcting the problem. I regret that there isn't any answer that can be provided by an armchair guess -- you have to give us more info, preferrably from some diagnostic work on your part, with hands on the car. First, do you see corrosion around the battery terminals? Second, do you have a VOM (meter that measures volts and ohms, etc.) with which you can hook it up and do some tests? This is the only way you're going to get at the problem without simply throwing a lot of money at the car (e.g., buying a battery, buying an alternator, etc.).

    I know this is frustrating, but your description only provided the gross symptoms, not any clues to the diagnosis. You'll have to first get back to the car and check it out.
    Alternatively, just have it towed to a shop, and hope that they're honest and knowledgeable.

    Good luck.









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      Low Battery voltage message warning S60

      Supposedly it was the alternator, at least that's what the volvo dealer told my wife. It was towed by AAA and the Volvo dealer replaced it. My local high priced dealer would have done it for less than 2/3's the price and the local independent volvo mechanic for 1/2 the price or a lot less if it was the regulator. But it was stranded 200+ miles away and the Volvo dealer had the opportunity to steal from a woman and that they did. I would have liked to have tested it with my DMM or at least pulled the regulator and looked at the brushes and tested the diodes...

      I'm not done with that dealer by a long shot...







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