Flat Battery

[Konst]

I never have low battery warnings.
But the XC90 is always on charge at home with a CTEK charger like I always made with all my previous car with auxiliary heater.
Back at home after short trips with pre-heating the CTEK shows half charged battery. This let me assume the alternator can't fully charge the two batteries in those conditions. Even with two brand new AGM batteries, there is no way to avoid a home charger for me, at least during winter.

[Lexman8]

Main battery: H7 AGM
Voltage: 12V
Cold start capacity: 800A
Size: L×W×H (mm) 315×175×190
Capacity: 80Ah

Support battery: AGM
Voltage: 12V
Cold start capacity: 170A
Size , L×W×H (mm) 150×90×130
Capacity: 10Ah

An 80Ah main battery doesn't seem particularly large given all the systems in an XC90 (particularly the electric heaters) but it would depend upon the alternator's output and its capacity to feed all these especially if the car is only travelling slowly. I don't know the output of the XC90 alternator but for comparison my Merc (with a lower electrical load) had a 110Ah battery and a 150A alternator.

[nu11eaf]

Thats why they have this in their options list, disgraceful. Why do they not make a car fit for purpose. Dealers must be getting worried about future sales now as people lose faith in Volvo.

http://accessories.volvocars.com/en-...6/D5/Automatic[/QUOTE]

[Lexman8]

Curiously, it's not available in the UK anyway.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Boatie

Sorry but, No,No. The ONLY way the voltage could be checked accurately would be direct from the battery terminals with an accurate meter. Flea Bay type gauges are simply too inaccurate, Measuring voltage from any point other than battery would not work Nor would measuring voltage from the under bonnet terminal.(V90,not sure if the XC has the same set up) In both instances volt drop in the cables or connections would distort the reading. As an indication a 12 volt lead acid battery fully charged (100%) would read 12.73v whilst one at 70%, voltage would be 12.37v

Just to complicate matters further AGM battery values are slightly different on many sites. However, it's a mute point as to what is or is not a true AGM battery. It's not just down to the use of glass matting to hold the electrolyte.

I wrote you can check the possible difference between the gauge and the battery so you can learn how inaccurate it is.
It won't show a major larger area if the voltage is not much different than the one when the comparison was done.
A digital meter isn't more accurate than an analog one by definition, you just can't make a parallax error reading a figure on a screen.
To have an accurate reading from a digital meter, do you then propose people will by a Fluke of some kind?
I don't think they will, given the cost. Perhaps it is even more important to follow the trend of the voltage than to have an accurate
figure, it is easy to see if the charging system can cope by monitoring if the voltage goes up or down.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Driver Dave

I think it would be difficult to see the plug in meter from the drivers seat given the position of the socket in the XC90.

There are angled models:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-JEB.../dp/B01826Q3TU

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by gaby

There are angled models:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-JEB.../dp/B01826Q3TU

Probably plug it in and end up with a flat battery the way things are going, dont think the xc90 can cope with such a big m/amp drain on its sytem, it cant cope with a phone charger. Lol.

[neon]

Again yesterday my auxiliary heater stopped after straight after starting with the message to save battery power. Not sure what the use is of my expensive option when on cold mornings it will not work. More discussions with the dealer.

[Razer]

Over on swedespeed they are saying volvo have admitted that the low battery issue is a known problem and its a software issue introduced in the november update, so if youve had that update then you are likely to have the problem. Of course if you drive a good few miles a day, every day then you wont see it pop up.

It also indicates a software update was issued for it a few days ago in the US at least:

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthr...-message/page2

[AB-UK]

You'd think the DoT and VOSA might be interested - or at the very least Trading Standards (re sale of goods not fit for purpose - I am assuming the XC90 isn't sold with the advisory that it is suitable for long journeys only?)