9 months to a year ago I started having trouble with my battery running down. Took it to a local garage for a new one; the mechanic checked it and very honestly told me that the battery seemed to be okay. Next day the battery was dead again, so I took it back and got a new battery anyway. The problem has persisted, though, if not quite to the same degree. I've still had to jump it several times since I got the new battery. The fact is that the car doesn't get driven very often; it can sit for two weeks at a time without being touched. (I just happened to buy a house very close to my work.) Is that the problem? DO i just need to fire it up more often? Or could there be something more sinister going on here? I either have to replace the car or get some other work done (drive shaft bearing and some other things). If it sounds like the alternator is going out too, that might move me in the direction of replacing it.

Your car shouldn't have any problem sitting for 2 weeks and then starting right up, so you are correct, -something is wrong. (going for a month or more with frequent and large temperature fluctuations can start to work a battery down, but two weeks shouldn't be a problem for a healthy battery)

Check the electrical system load when the car is off (using an inline current/amp meter that's rated for at least 5 or 10 amps). If the load is anything higher than 0.05 amps (with all electrical accessories off) you've got a problem. Pull the fuses one by one until you find the circuit that's drawing the power, and then trace it from there. (the Volvo wiring diagrams book for your car is quite helpful for this task, inquire of eBay and/or Skip Albright for a copy)

To avoid turning on the dome light and interior lights when you have a door open (while testing for current load, etc), push the door switch in halfway and turn it 90 degrees. It will lock in place, and keep the interior lights off. The switch will automatically reset itself to the normal working positions when you close the door.

As previously stated, make sure that your alternator is working properly. It might be worth $10 to have a certified mechanic with a diagnostic cart check out the charging system. (my local Sears autoshop will run a full diagnostic of the charging system for $9.95)

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 240 Wagon, 249k miles.
'88 Black 780, PRV-6, 146k miles.

Obviously, something is draining your battery which isn't fully charged. Try a cheap trickle charger for 48 hours. Or one of those solar powered ones from VW is you park outside. Much cheaper than a new car.
If your altenator is no longer putting out 14.2V, then try changing the brushes rather than a new unit.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 88 245(165K mi)

Sounds like something is draining your battery while the car is being unused. Have you checked all lights to make sure they are off ?

If you install a fully-charged battery in your car, leave it idle for a couple of days or even 1-2 months, and then find the battery is dead - that indicates something is draining the battery (cabin light, headlights etc left on) while the car was unused.

If however you find that you need jump-start after driving the car a lot, that would indicate a charging/alternator probllem.

Does your car have a voltage indicator on it ? What does it read when you are running the car without the headlights ? It should read around 14 volts.

Noel