I have a 1996 850 Turbo Wagon. An orange dashboard light on the far left of the gauges came on after changing the battery today. It looks it has a light bulb image in it. It comes on and stays on when the engine is running. I don't have a owners manual. I just bought this car used. This is my first Volvo.

This morning my wife tried to start the car, and it wouldn't start. She called AAA, and they came to give her a jump. The AAA guy tested the battery, and he said it was completely dead, that it had a dead cell. So we replaced the battery. It starts fine now, but this light is staying on all the time now.

What does this mean, and should I be concerned that something is going to go out, or is out and I don't see it?

I assume you drive with your lights on all the time. Its either your low-beams (I assume you would have noticed a light was out while driving) your brake light, or your parking lamps. Have someone stand behind the car and tell you what light is not illuminating.


I'm under the impression that the lights go off when you turn off the car unless they're half-turned (so they're on parking lights). Keeping the lights in that mode will kill your battery.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

That light indicates a bulb failure, probably one of your corner lights.
It should be off when the car is off.
Enjoy your owner's manual: https://www.customers.volvocars.com/owners/docs/1996/1996_850/96850_000.htm
Ed

Sounds like it's a light that's out. And it may being a small draw. Enough to kill the battery. And did the AAA guy use a hydrometer how did he know it had a bad cell.