Volvo Owners Club Forum - View Single Post - Intermittent death

Foeux · May 23rd, 2022, 09:04

Dear Chums,

An update.

I have the Volvo back.

The man who has fixed it says he cannot replicate the fault. He has checked the car is charging the battery and not draining it even with full beam on, cooling fan on, adjusting electric seats and dropping all 4 windows at once. He said the car is most definitely healthy in terms of its ability to charge up.

What did he find and what did he do?

He cleaned negative batt terminal, removed any earth cable cleaned where it bolts down and re-attached. This included starter and alternator cables. He made a long list of voltages and resistances once he had done this, explaining he was happy with what he had achieved. He 'remade' one earth cable and in his cleaning and tightening regime he found two were a bit loose which would explain intermittent fault and why car was sometimes dead as a doornail and at other times, willing to start after being left or crucially towed which may have jiggled the earth back into contact.

As it is, I have done things that would have rendered it 'dead' (5v) like leaving the door open, adjusting seats with only ignition on etc and it starts first crank.

Another situation that has caused significant misbehaviour previously, heavy rain, has not had any adverse effect.

The chap that fixed it is very pleased that the car is over 200k mi and in use. He also liked the roof rack. He said he cannot guarantee that it is fixed but has spotted and rectified a few things he believes could have been intermittently problematic.

Thanks for all the input and willingness to help.

I will come back in 1 month to say everything is fine or before if it isn't.

P.S.
I now owe this car a bit more TLC. Camshaft oil seals are weepy which in turn drip onto water pump seal, eating it. Even though not due a cambelt yet, I will do that whilst in there (is there a forum locking tool doing the rounds?). Not sure if diff oil has ever been done so will do that (always undo top first in case it doesn't undo once you've drained diff). But most importantly, I will just keep using it.

May 23rd, 2022, 09:04	#19
Foeux Senior Member Last Online: Apr 27th, 2024 19:42 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wiltshire	Dear Chums, An update. I have the Volvo back. The man who has fixed it says he cannot replicate the fault. He has checked the car is charging the battery and not draining it even with full beam on, cooling fan on, adjusting electric seats and dropping all 4 windows at once. He said the car is most definitely healthy in terms of its ability to charge up. What did he find and what did he do? He cleaned negative batt terminal, removed any earth cable cleaned where it bolts down and re-attached. This included starter and alternator cables. He made a long list of voltages and resistances once he had done this, explaining he was happy with what he had achieved. He 'remade' one earth cable and in his cleaning and tightening regime he found two were a bit loose which would explain intermittent fault and why car was sometimes dead as a doornail and at other times, willing to start after being left or crucially towed which may have jiggled the earth back into contact. As it is, I have done things that would have rendered it 'dead' (5v) like leaving the door open, adjusting seats with only ignition on etc and it starts first crank. Another situation that has caused significant misbehaviour previously, heavy rain, has not had any adverse effect. The chap that fixed it is very pleased that the car is over 200k mi and in use. He also liked the roof rack. He said he cannot guarantee that it is fixed but has spotted and rectified a few things he believes could have been intermittently problematic. Thanks for all the input and willingness to help. I will come back in 1 month to say everything is fine or before if it isn't. P.S. I now owe this car a bit more TLC. Camshaft oil seals are weepy which in turn drip onto water pump seal, eating it. Even though not due a cambelt yet, I will do that whilst in there (is there a forum locking tool doing the rounds?). Not sure if diff oil has ever been done so will do that (always undo top first in case it doesn't undo once you've drained diff). But most importantly, I will just keep using it.