Electrics: Battery Recommendation ???

[rkv]

I need to replace my Volvo supplied battery for the third time in my 2003 XC90. That will be my fourth battery.

I am disappointed by what I consider to be the poor life expectancy of the Volvo supplied parts. Does anyone have a recommendation as to a higher quality battery which will fit with no or only minor modifications?

Note, for one of the replacements, I take the blame for because the car was only driven once a month for about fifteen months. However, the others I blame on low capacity and fully loaded electronics with always on xenon lights.

I have two other cars with similar usage patterns and they have not had this problem. So I'm not willing to accept usage patterns as the sole issue. Dealer has never found a fault with alternator, so I believe charging is at factory spec.

[GJB]

Originally Posted by rkv

I need to replace my Volvo supplied battery for the third time in my 2003 XC90. That will be my fourth battery.

I am disappointed by what I consider to be the poor life expectancy of the Volvo supplied parts. Does anyone have a recommendation as to a higher quality battery which will fit with no or only minor modifications?

Note, for one of the replacements, I take the blame for because the car was only driven once a month for about fifteen months. However, the others I blame on low capacity and fully loaded electronics with always on xenon lights.

I have two other cars with similar usage patterns and they have not had this problem. So I'm not willing to accept usage patterns as the sole issue. Dealer has never found a fault with alternator, so I believe charging is at factory spec.

Xenon lights use 50% less power maybe you have another problem.
It might pay for you to have a small solar panel fitted to trickle charge the battery when car is left.
My XC90 has 6 year old XC90 original battery?

[rkv]

Originally Posted by GJB

Xenon lights use 50% less power maybe you have another problem as 6 year old XC90 original battery?

It's not a six year old battery, this is my third battery and this one is only 23 months old. Thus the new battery will be my fourth in six years.

At to the xenon lights, they may draw less power than halogen, however it is the "always on" which I am questioning. In general, I buy into the safety benefit of "always on". However, Volvo has not dealt appropriately with the need to have the ignition key on but the engine not running.

For example, you can not run radio while parked or the headlights will be on. You can put your light switch to parking lights, but then they stay on even if ignition key is removed. I've had the car battery go flat when car is being handwashed and the detailer left the ignition in the on setting. Note, this is for what is now a deteriorated battery.

It has always been serviced by Volvo and the dealers seem to just want to replace the batteries when they die. I personally suspect the batteries are under powered for the vehicle. I should have mentioned in original post that this is the petrol version of the '03 XC90 as well.

[Big Stew]

Get yourself a Varta Silver ,great batteries I won't fit anything else nowdays and have never had one fail .

[stuarthartley]

totally agree varta are the best by far

[rkv]

Due to recommendations, I checked out Varta. The recommended model from an online distributor is an E44 which at 77Ah and cold crank of 780A is less than the currently installed Volvo 90Ah and 800A battery. In checking the owners manual, it looks like the dealer installed the diesel spec battery the last time it was replaced.

In any event, I'm going to physically remove my current battery to see if the Varta I1 with 110Ah and 920A will fit. (Height and width wise it appears okay.)

Lastly, has anyone had any experience with Optima Yellow Top batteries. They claim to have a design which is superior for extended periods of non-use. I have one of those in a vehicle which I use only a few times a year. However, that vehicle has a battery disconnect switch so as to eliminate battery drain by alarms and the like.

[Rockhopper]

Originally Posted by rkv

For example, you can not run radio while parked or the headlights will be on.... the headlights are always on when the key is in any position other than off

Like Roy, this is not the case on mine (MY05 Xenons, DRL active). You can have the radio on at key position 'I' and no lights will come on - they only come on in key position 'II' in either 'off' or dipped beam settings on light switch. Side / parking lights are on at all light switch positions with ignition at 'II', remaining on with ignition off if the light switch position is at 'side/parking lights'.

Hope that makes sense? Does seem there's something odd with yours if your dipped beam is on at ign position 'I'

[RoyMacDonald]

I think the lights could be set to on all the time.....

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Daytime running lamps
The way in which low beam will be switched on can be programmed in three ways:
* Low beam on in all switch positions except the parking light position (Flexnoll)
* The light switch has three positions: off, parking light and low beam (Flex standard)
* Low beam always on regardless of the position of the light switch (Flex low).
The daytime running lamps are programmed via the vehicle communication socket under Central
Electronic Module (CEM), Programming The Control Module.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showpo...48&postcount=4

[Rockhopper]

These are the DRL settings that alter the light switch functions, but what about whether the dipped beam lights should be on in ignition key position 'I' ?