Stop/start battery, V90CC

[RSK55]

I bought my early 19 V90CC from a Volvo dealer as a Selekt used car earlier this year. Around two months ago it threw a warning that the power steering assistance had reduced, which apparently can be connected with stop/start support battery issues. Although the warning disappeared and did not return, as the car was a month inside its factory three-year warranty period, I booked it in to be checked. The dealer checked the car over and pronounced everything to be fine.
5-6 weeks later (last week), we took the car to France on holiday. On day two, a warning notice appeared in the driver's display, telling me:

Start/stop support battery service required

This has now been in the middle of the driver's display, with various signs around it, for four days and shows no sign of going. The car is behaving normally, starting, running etc. with no apparent problems (apart from throwing a TPS warning at me twice yesterday for a tyre that is at the same pressure as all the others, despite two resets).

Any ideas on how to get rid of this warning sign? I always turn the stop/start off when I have started the engine so I don't think the battery is getting over-used.
If it means a new battery, I don't suppose it will be considered as part of the warranty despite my checking it before warranty-end. Can I fit this myself, or will the message remain?

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by RSK55

I always turn the stop/start off when I have started the engine so I don't think the battery is getting over-used.

The support battery is used all the time to ensure a 'clean' power supply to the car's essential systems by avoiding the voltage drop that occurs when the starter motor engages using the main battery as its source.

To get rid of the warnings you could try re-setting the car by disconnecting the main battery in the boot. Search this forum on how to do it. Don't disconnect the support battery.

I don't know if you can simply replace the supprt battery without 'telling' the car. In any case, you may struggle to find the exact battery required from anywhere other than a Volvo dealer.

[nu11eaf]

If you have a battery charger try putting the battery on charge at least overnight but best left charging 24 hrs using the the engine bay charge convectors.

[RSK55]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

If you have a battery charger try putting the battery on charge at least overnight but best left charging 24 hrs using the the engine bay charge convectors.

I have a few CTEKs, so I'll give that a try, thanks. If it does prove to be a low charge issue, I'd think there's a problem somewhere, as the warning appeared after three days of long autoroute driving. I'd have thought the battery(s) should have been fully charged by that.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by RSK55

the warning appeared after three days of long autoroute driving. I'd have thought the battery(s) should have been fully charged by that.

They would (or should) have been. More than likely it's the support battery but could also be a charge controller problem or just a loose connection.

[RSK55]

Just to check - charging the car via the points described in the manual will charge both batteries? Not advised to simply connect the CTEK across the support battery only?

[Wizzpop]

Originally Posted by RSK55

Just to check - charging the car via the points described in the manual will charge both batteries? Not advised to simply connect the CTEK across the support battery only?

Only charge using the points described. The electronics these days are rather more complicated than they used to be.

[RSK55]

Originally Posted by Wizzpop

The electronics these days are rather more complicated than they used to be.

Yes, the car next to the Volvo is from 1937 and you can connect a CTEK to pretty much anything on that...

[Cloth Ears]

Originally Posted by RSK55

I bought my early 19 V90CC from a Volvo dealer as a Selekt used car earlier this year. <snip> as the car was a month inside its factory three-year warranty period, I booked it in to be checked. The dealer checked the car over and pronounced everything to be fine.
5-6 weeks later (last week), we took the car to France on holiday. On day two, a warning notice appeared in the driver's display, telling me:

Start/stop support battery service required

<snip>
If it means a new battery, I don't suppose it will be considered as part of the warranty despite my checking it before warranty-end. Can I fit this myself, or will the message remain?

As a Selekt purchase you should have 12 months warranty from date of purchase anyway, surely?

[RSK55]

Maybe - I'll have to check the paperwork. Not sure a battery is usually covered by warranties, though.

As usual - the warning message was displayed constantly for four days whilst I was away. Just driven approx 200 miles and it didn't come on at all. The right side steering wheel button's stopped working again, though, the other thing the dealer checked and pronounced fine. Slightly annoying - I've never had electrical issues like these with all my BMWs or the Skoda that preceded the V90.