The message to which you are about to reply is shown first. GO TO REPLY FORM



 VIEW    REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Frequent need to jump start (current draw test/check, charging system check) 700 1990

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.






USERNAME
Use "claim to be" below if you don't want to log in.
PASSWORD
I don't have an account. Sign me up.
CLAIM TO BE
Use only if you don't want to login (post anonymously).
ENTER CAPTCHA CODE
This is required for posting anonymously.
OPTIONS notify by email
Available only to user accounts.
SUBJECT
MODEL/YEAR
MESSAGE

DICTIONARY
LABEL(S) +
IMAGE URL *
[IMAGE LIBRARY (UPLOAD/SELECT)]

* = Field is optional.

+ = Enter space delimited labels for this post. An example entry: 240 muffler


©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.