Battery problem?

tomto147 · Oct 12th, 2010, 13:00

Hi guys,

today in the morning my XC60 (2 months old) was found "dead" in my garage, after standing there for a bit over week time with no milage done. The battery was completely drained and I had to call Volvo Assistance to help me start the engine. I am sure that no interior lights were on during this time and the car was properly closed. The only thing that I left inside was my iPod connected to USB.

Do you think this small toy could cause the battery to drain completely?

Tom.

Wildoskar · Oct 12th, 2010, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomto147

Hi guys,

today in the morning my XC60 (2 months old) was found "dead" in my garage, after standing there for a bit over week time with no milage done. The battery was completely drained and I had to call Volvo Assistance to help me start the engine. I am sure that no interior lights were on during this time and the car was properly closed. The only thing that I left inside was my iPod connected to USB.

Do you think this small toy could cause the battery to drain completely?

Tom.

I would be suprised if the USB could drain the battery but am no expert.

I had a similar issue with my previous car (Freelander 2), about two years ago, I returned to the car after about 4 days to find out it was dead, so dead I could not even open the doors (nothing was conncted to the car and all doors were closed, no lights on etc). Landrover assit came out and got it started (battery was completley drained). Local dealer had car for a day to try and determine the fault which in the end related to a faulty tailgate switch. It seemed odd to me that a swicth could cause such a drain but they assured me that was the problem and I bever had the problems again

scooter79 · Oct 12th, 2010, 13:31

I have found with my v70 when i bought it i had a battery problem i don't do alot of miles a year maybe 1500-2000 miles so there was days i didn't use it and would have the same problem so i replaced the battery thinking that was it but after alot of research online and spoken to a mechanic friend he said because volvo are armed to the teeth they can drain batteries after a few days especially if they are fully armed and not driven for days so i went out and bought one of them solar chargers and stuck if in the rear window

wimorrison · Oct 12th, 2010, 15:25

I have left my car (XC60) at the airport for 3 weeks and it has started with no issues - and that is with the full alarm system running. I used to leave the v70 there for extended periods, longest was 6 weeks and the car always started without any issues - the handbrake wasn't as keen to release once, I suspect that was my fault as it had pulled it on a bit hard

The battery should not drain in such a short time - several months yes, but in a couple of days, no way - and I am sure that the USB and power sockets are switched off when you switch off the ignotion (except the boot power socket), therefore I don't see them as causing the issue either.

Get Volvo to check it out.

jsmallwood · Jan 15th, 2013, 16:01

Why not buy one of those solar powered trickle chargers (about £10 ebay)and just leave it plugged into the fag lighter when you don't use the car?
v70 d5

IanXC60 · Jan 15th, 2013, 22:28

Yes, several people have used that successfully to overcome the battery discharge; but the point is that they should fix what is obviously a fault with a car that was only a year old at the time. Fortunately, we've not had a recurrence since, so we've not had to resort to that.
I'm told by the garage that the same historical problem with the XC90 has also now been fixed.

carlh · Jan 17th, 2013, 13:02

With regards to the trickle charger - i thought the fag lighter is only active when the car is switched on?

tomto147 · Oct 12th, 2010, 21:46

So now I have double checked it... it was not the iPod to drain the battery. The power supply to USB port is beeing cut off when I stop the engine and open the door. There is now sign of charging battery on iPod screen. So it was not that. I'm sure its not normal to drain the battery in one week, I would understand a period of over 1 month but not a week. Will investige in this matter and let you know.

Thanks for all your hints.
Tom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomto147

Hi guys,

today in the morning my XC60 (2 months old) was found "dead" in my garage, after standing there for a bit over week time with no milage done. The battery was completely drained and I had to call Volvo Assistance to help me start the engine. I am sure that no interior lights were on during this time and the car was properly closed. The only thing that I left inside was my iPod connected to USB.

Do you think this small toy could cause the battery to drain completely?

Tom.

XC60KEV · Oct 13th, 2010, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomto147

So now I have double checked it... it was not the iPod to drain the battery. The power supply to USB port is beeing cut off when I stop the engine and open the door. There is now sign of charging battery on iPod screen. So it was not that. I'm sure its not normal to drain the battery in one week, I would understand a period of over 1 month but not a week. Will investige in this matter and let you know.

Thanks for all your hints.
Tom.

I've noticed that you need the ignition on to charge from the 12V socket in the front which is fair enough. You can however play the radio/CD/USB without the ignition on or key in at all. If an IPod or USB stick is in the USB socket and car is switched off I would imagine this would charge/read it but only as long as the radio was on. Does the radio cut out after a certain amount of time?

It does seem strange.......

wimorrison · Oct 13th, 2010, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by kj5cott

I've noticed that you need the ignition on to charge from the 12V socket in the front which is fair enough. You can however play the radio/CD/USB without the ignition on or key in at all. If an IPod or USB stick is in the USB socket and car is switched off I would imagine this would charge/read it but only as long as the radio was on. Does the radio cut out after a certain amount of time?

It does seem strange.......

yep - phone, radio, usb everything cuts aff after about 5 mins

Oct 12th, 2010, 13:00	#1
tomto147 Junior Member Last Online: Dec 19th, 2015 13:24 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Warszawa	Battery problem? Hi guys, today in the morning my XC60 (2 months old) was found "dead" in my garage, after standing there for a bit over week time with no milage done. The battery was completely drained and I had to call Volvo Assistance to help me start the engine. I am sure that no interior lights were on during this time and the car was properly closed. The only thing that I left inside was my iPod connected to USB. Do you think this small toy could cause the battery to drain completely? Tom.

Jan 15th, 2013, 16:01	#5
jsmallwood New Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2013 16:29 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: West Auckland	Why not buy one of those solar powered trickle chargers (about £10 ebay)and just leave it plugged into the fag lighter when you don't use the car? v70 d5 Last edited by jsmallwood; Jan 15th, 2013 at 16:06.

Oct 12th, 2010, 13:31	#3
scooter79 Member Last Online: Oct 17th, 2022 17:25 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: don't care	I have found with my v70 when i bought it i had a battery problem i don't do alot of miles a year maybe 1500-2000 miles so there was days i didn't use it and would have the same problem so i replaced the battery thinking that was it but after alot of research online and spoken to a mechanic friend he said because volvo are armed to the teeth they can drain batteries after a few days especially if they are fully armed and not driven for days so i went out and bought one of them solar chargers and stuck if in the rear window

Oct 12th, 2010, 15:25	#4
wimorrison Grumpy Old Sod Last Online: Dec 14th, 2021 15:39 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hampshire, nee Scotland	I have left my car (XC60) at the airport for 3 weeks and it has started with no issues - and that is with the full alarm system running. I used to leave the v70 there for extended periods, longest was 6 weeks and the car always started without any issues - the handbrake wasn't as keen to release once, I suspect that was my fault as it had pulled it on a bit hard The battery should not drain in such a short time - several months yes, but in a couple of days, no way - and I am sure that the USB and power sockets are switched off when you switch off the ignotion (except the boot power socket), therefore I don't see them as causing the issue either. Get Volvo to check it out.

Jan 15th, 2013, 22:28	#6
IanXC60 XC60 SE Lux 2010 Last Online: Feb 14th, 2015 17:07 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: York	Yes, several people have used that successfully to overcome the battery discharge; but the point is that they should fix what is obviously a fault with a car that was only a year old at the time. Fortunately, we've not had a recurrence since, so we've not had to resort to that. I'm told by the garage that the same historical problem with the XC90 has also now been fixed.

Jan 17th, 2013, 13:02	#7
carlh Junior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2016 18:43 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: London	With regards to the trickle charger - i thought the fag lighter is only active when the car is switched on?

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