Power system service urgent warning

[Jut]

Hi there, I'm looking to buy a last of the line 2006 mk1 S80 D5 which I've seen at a dealers but it has 2 issues which I was hoping for some advice on.

1) It has a POWER SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT warning on the dash - the dealer advised the car had a dead alternator which has been replaced and they've got the receipt for, the error message is still appearing though - could this simply be a fault code which needs clearing, or could it indicate something else has been damaged when the alternator failed?

2) The car has an HU-850 head unit which powers up but produces no sound - from reading around this seems fairly common, is the general consensus that the solder joints in the head unit have probably failed and I should swap it with another unit from a similar age vehicle?

Thanks

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Jut

Hi there, I'm looking to buy a last of the line 2006 mk1 S80 D5 which I've seen at a dealers but it has 2 issues which I was hoping for some advice on.

1) It has a POWER SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT warning on the dash - the dealer advised the car had a dead alternator which has been replaced and they've got the receipt for, the error message is still appearing though - could this simply be a fault code which needs clearing, or could it indicate something else has been damaged when the alternator failed?

2) The car has an HU-850 head unit which powers up but produces no sound - from reading around this seems fairly common, is the general consensus that the solder joints in the head unit have probably failed and I should swap it with another unit from a similar age vehicle?

Thanks

just get them to fix it before you buy it. I cant see a volvo dealer selling a car with known faults .

[Jut]

It's not a main dealer selling the car - I'm wondering if they don't have a suitable VIDA or similar to clear the fault code, or if the code is indicative of something else needing replacement.

[XC70Bob]

A 2006 car would require the later version of the alternator , if the earlier version is fitted it will not work.

Its possible they fitted the earlier version because the later version is more expensive.

[Jut]

Originally Posted by XC70Bob

A 2006 car would require the later version of the alternator , if the earlier version is fitted it will not work.

Its possible they fitted the earlier version because the later version is more expensive.

Is the earlier one the 140amp and the later the 160amp?

Used car dealers being used car dealers, I can entirely see them going with whatever option was cheapest...

[4x4]

When my alternator on the XC90 went caput and gave me the POWER SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT I had it rebuilt by my local Alternator guy, once it was put back on the car the message was gone and didn't require anything done or reset

HU-850 are common for breaking, from what I've read there are a couple of places that will resoled them but the cost is in the region of £200-£250

[XC70Bob]

Originally Posted by Jut

Is the earlier one the 140amp and the later the 160amp?

If my memory servers me right I think the alternator output varied with which engine your car has flitted and possibly which accessories are fitted,

the change after 2005 was that the later alternator uses an intelligent alternator controller which is connected to the data bus/CEM,

were as the earlier alternator just used the usual 12V feed to the alternator to power the excitation.

Regardless of the above I would want all the faults fixed before you even buy the car as there is no guarantee that replacing the alternator would fix the fault if the wrong one has been fitted/used for any length of time.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Jut

It's not a main dealer selling the car - I'm wondering if they don't have a suitable VIDA or similar to clear the fault code, or if the code is indicative of something else needing replacement.

I would forget it unless the faults are fixed before you decide to buy it.. It makes you wonder what else is Lurking waiting to show itself later. what kind of place offers a car like that for sale ? They cant be giving a warranty surely?