Post 812772 by UKJamesV70 on 2017-07-04 17:30:01
OK, if anyone can help, it would be much appreciated.
For various reasons, my 97 V70 T5 (pre ME7) has sat on my drive since the end of November. From time to time I have started it up and let it idle for 30 minutes to get it up to temperature and to keep things moving.
Recently I left it perhaps too long and this last time, I found the battery completely flat, though not so much that the clock on the central display was still working.
After some new fuel and a jump, the car started and I ran it for an hour and a half to ensure that everything was as it should be.
Well, just about everything was with three exceptions.
1). The service light has come on and instead of going off after the prescribed two minutes of starting the car, it flashed intermittently for an hour and a half.
2). The temperature gauge did not work initially and then several times it raised and fell until finally it stayed at zero for the rest of the trip.
3). The speedo has not worked at all.
All of these are new problems to me, I have not seen them on the car before and actually nor have I read anything I can remember on any of these pages about such issues.
Is anyone out there who might have an idea what is causing these errors please??
Thanks in advance,
James.
Post 812779 by htomi on 2017-07-04 19:44:50
Perhaps time for a new battery or a proper re-charge of the old battery?
Post 812784 by UKJamesV70 on 2017-07-04 20:28:18
Thanks for the advice, I'll see how much of a change there is by charging the battery fully and then if the problem persists, I will get the codes read and take it from there.
Post 812786 by UKJamesV70 on 2017-07-04 20:28:54
You are probably right, but that possibly won't explain the inactive speedo?
Post 812791 by LeeT5 on 2017-07-04 20:47:42
[QUOTE=UKJamesV70;812784]Thanks for the advice, I'll see how much of a change there is by charging the battery fully and then if the problem persists, I will get the codes read and take it from there.[/QUOTE]
Charging the battery will make buggerall difference. If the car starts, as long as the alternator output is correct and the battery is not 'open circuit' or so heavily sulphated that it can't physically take any charge, then it won't be a battery issue.
Post any fault codes here and go from there.
Post 812817 by 960kg on 2017-07-05 13:57:00
I once owned the same model and it was the `97 one same as yours .
Didn`t use it much maybe twice a week around the block to keep things moving.
I bought a digital boost gauge which also had the battery indicator of amount of charge on the dial when first started.
The charge was always around 12.4v when using but if not used for a few day the voltage would drop to 10v and it would just about start.
One day i went just 2 miles then stopped at B&Q came out to start and it wouldn`t and the voltage was 8v ...it turned over but would not start...had to call out the breakdown for a jump and then ok.
After explaining that i always knew that the battery needed replacing more than it needed re charging as it would not hold any decent charge.
I think your answer is a new battery as even if the charging apparatus is working ok it will still not work the same as having a battery in good condition.
When you turn on the ignition it needs a good amount of electric to supply all the sensors before it can start and the alternator is not turning to supply anything.
Modern motors are all battery reliant not alternator reliant?
Post 812826 by UKJamesV70 on 2017-07-05 20:33:22
Thanks Lee, I'll do the codes when I next pass my garage. Cheers James.
Post 812827 by UKJamesV70 on 2017-07-05 20:37:06
Thanks for your comments; what you say makes a lot of sense and on the back of my post yesterday, I had the battery checked thoroughly today and it is charging properly from the alternator and holding the charge without a problem and like yours sits at about 12.4, so I will check it again in a couple of days and see where it is. The non-working speedo is defeating me though, I'll have that checked out too. Otherwise, thank you very much for your help and advice.