Hello -

What is the year and model of your Volvo?

Then let me ask about your question.


You ask:

If I my battery light display itself and the battery is all drained on the dashboard what does that mean.


What I think you want to say:
If the battery light on the dashboard lights up, and the battery is drained (gone dead), what does that mean?


The battery light indicates that the alternator is not charging. There are several reasons for this to happen. Also an easy test.


Look on the back of the alternator at the wires connected to it. There should be three. One connects the alternator frame to the engine block. It seldom fails.

Another wire, a fat red one, connects from a stud on the alternator to the starter, that one seldom fails. It carries the heavy charging current.

The last is a thin one, usually red (on a 240) connects to a terminal or spade lug on the alternator and then goes into a harness. That one fails.

Make certain that it is well connected, wiggle it to check. I have had that connection look just fine, and when I touched it, it fell off as the connector on the end was rotted half away.

If any of these three wires is not properly connected, the alternator won't do the job and the battery will gradually go dead.


The second test is to look at the length of the brushes. Look in the FAQ's for informationi about that.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)