Dead C30

[JMack]

I’ve had a C30 1.6 2010 RDesign for eighteen months now and have liked it a lot except this morning it is dead as a dodo. The key fob wouldn’t unlock it so I had to dig out the manual key to get in. Absolutely nothing happened when I tried to start it: no sound, no lights, no turnover, zilch.

Yesterday, I’d had both front low-beam bulbs replaced at Halfords as one had blown, and realized this morning that the light switch on the dash was in the middle position not the top so wondered if the parking lights had been on all night and run down the battery. I tried jump starting it from another vehicle with absolutely zero effect, even after 20 minutes of letting it sit there with the other engine running before I tried again. Put a battery charger on it which appeared to start charging from 6.3V but a few minutes later showed 5.2V and then lower still. I can't find anything on that would be draining power.

A few months ago I had an issue with the CEM which I suspect was a combination of one of the clips holding the CEM in place having become dislodged (I think a passenger had shoved too much stuff in the footwell) plus the car being a bit damp inside. I secured the clip and dried out the car thoroughly and had no further issue. It isn’t damp now and is firmly in place.
I rang my garage chap who is too busy to come out at the moment and he was at something of a loss as his first thought had been simply flat battery.

I wondered battery, starter or alternator but I’ve always found there’s usually some sign of life with any one of those failing and in this case there’s not a murmur or the tiniest amount of light. I’m still thinking electrical though.

Any bright ideas what I might try next? I am pretty ignorant about cars and pretty skint too, the car is currently stuck on my driveway, and my breakdown recovery doesn’t cover home. There’s a Volvo dealership a couple of miles away but as they wanted to charge me a ludicrous amount of money for the little plastic cap that sits on the back of the handbrake handle last year I haven’t been back since, even if I could get it there. Might checking all the fuses reveal something (I hesitate to start yanking fuses to be honest)? Diagnostics?

[Teddy1975]

First try with a battery that hasn't been drained until death like yours appears to have. It doesn't have to be a brand new one, just one that has a full charge.

6.3v on a 12v battery means it isn't just flat, but dead and can't be revived.

Insert key and turn to pos II before attaching the leads to the replacement battery and then try to crank the engine.

[precisionguesswork]

Originally Posted by JMack

I’ve had a C30 1.6 2010 RDesign for eighteen months now and have liked it a lot except this morning it is dead as a dodo. The key fob wouldn’t unlock it so I had to dig out the manual key to get in. Absolutely nothing happened when I tried to start it: no sound, no lights, no turnover, zilch.

Yesterday, I’d had both front low-beam bulbs replaced at Halfords as one had blown, and realized this morning that the light switch on the dash was in the middle position not the top so wondered if the parking lights had been on all night and run down the battery. I tried jump starting it from another vehicle with absolutely zero effect, even after 20 minutes of letting it sit there with the other engine running before I tried again. Put a battery charger on it which appeared to start charging from 6.3V but a few minutes later showed 5.2V and then lower still. I can't find anything on that would be draining power.

A few months ago I had an issue with the CEM which I suspect was a combination of one of the clips holding the CEM in place having become dislodged (I think a passenger had shoved too much stuff in the footwell) plus the car being a bit damp inside. I secured the clip and dried out the car thoroughly and had no further issue. It isn’t damp now and is firmly in place.
I rang my garage chap who is too busy to come out at the moment and he was at something of a loss as his first thought had been simply flat battery.

I wondered battery, starter or alternator but I’ve always found there’s usually some sign of life with any one of those failing and in this case there’s not a murmur or the tiniest amount of light. I’m still thinking electrical though.

Any bright ideas what I might try next? I am pretty ignorant about cars and pretty skint too, the car is currently stuck on my driveway, and my breakdown recovery doesn’t cover home. There’s a Volvo dealership a couple of miles away but as they wanted to charge me a ludicrous amount of money for the little plastic cap that sits on the back of the handbrake handle last year I haven’t been back since, even if I could get it there. Might checking all the fuses reveal something (I hesitate to start yanking fuses to be honest)? Diagnostics?

Clean the battery terminals and make sure they are snug. Battery terminal cleaning tool or some sand paper in a pinch. Grounds are tres important