Battery drains after a few days

[John Kubler]

We have a 1996 850 Turbo wagon with 60,000 miles. The car has always
been maintained according to the manual by a Volvo service department.

The problem we have is that the battery is drained completely after not
driving the car for a week. We have a new battery (1 yr old), had the
charging system checked at three different places (Volvo dealer and two
independant service stations), and all three tell us that everything
checks out fine. I checked the power draw when the car is parked with
the ignition off and measured only a few milli amps, too low to drain a
battery after only one week.
The only potential source for using battery power could be the
self-leveling shocks, but I assume that they should not work when the
engine is nt running.
Anyone any ideas, suggestions what else to check?

 

[Bingo]

I had a similar problem a few months back - newish battery going flat, not
much drain.

It turned out that it WAS the battery - it was not holding charge on one of
the cells, and would go flat if I left the car for 2 days.

If you have a voltmeter, check the voltage when it is drained. In my case it
dropped from 12v(-ish) to 10v(-ish)
I don't remember the real figures, but it was clear that it had dropped by
one sixth (=1 cell).

Anyway - do NOT discount the battery (can you borrow one from another car
??)


Good luck

Bob

 

[Gary Heston]

We have a 1996 850 Turbo wagon with 60,000 miles. The car has always
been maintained according to the manual by a Volvo service department.

The problem we have is that the battery is drained completely after not
driving the car for a week. We have a new battery (1 yr old), had the
charging system checked at three different places (Volvo dealer and two
independant service stations), and all three tell us that everything
checks out fine. I checked the power draw when the car is parked with
the ignition off and measured only a few milli amps, too low to drain a
battery after only one week.

I wouldn't be sure of that; it doesn't take much load if it's there
for a week.

The only potential source for using battery power could be the
self-leveling shocks, but I assume that they should not work when the
engine is nt running.
Anyone any ideas, suggestions what else to check?

Glove compartment light. I ended up pulling the bulb out of mine; the
catch kept slipping and letting it drop open.


Gary

 

[bigjon]

John Kubler decided to add:

We have a 1996 850 Turbo wagon with 60,000 miles. The car has always
been maintained according to the manual by a Volvo service department.

The problem we have is that the battery is drained completely after not
driving the car for a week. We have a new battery (1 yr old), had the
charging system checked at three different places (Volvo dealer and two
independant service stations), and all three tell us that everything
checks out fine. I checked the power draw when the car is parked with
the ignition off and measured only a few milli amps, too low to drain a
battery after only one week.
The only potential source for using battery power could be the
self-leveling shocks, but I assume that they should not work when the
engine is nt running.
Anyone any ideas, suggestions what else to check?

Boot (trunk) light on my 940

 

[Darby O'Gill]

If you accurately measured drain, when off, at a few milliamps, I would
think your new battery is no good. Have someone load test it...parts stores
can do this.

 

[Ron]

Glove box door on mine is warped and did not push the switch enough to
turn the light off. I put a rubber bumper on the door to push the
switch, and no more battery drain.

I wouldn't be sure of that; it doesn't take much load if it's there
for a week.


Glove compartment light. I ended up pulling the bulb out of mine; the
catch kept slipping and letting it drop open.


Gary

Ron/Champ 6

1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6)
1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang)
1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk)
1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley)
1973 Volvo 1800 ES (An Clar)

 

[Mike F]

Glove box door on mine is warped and did not push the switch enough to
turn the light off. I put a rubber bumper on the door to push the
switch, and no more battery drain.

There are those that glue a penny to the glove box door where it
contacts the switch to accomplish the same thing. A 1¢ Volvo part!

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

[John Kubler]

We have a 1996 850 Turbo wagon with 60,000 miles. The car has always
been maintained according to the manual by a Volvo service department.

The problem we have is that the battery is drained completely after not
driving the car for a week. We have a new battery (1 yr old), had the
charging system checked at three different places (Volvo dealer and two
independant service stations), and all three tell us that everything
checks out fine. I checked the power draw when the car is parked with
the ignition off and measured only a few milli amps, too low to drain a
battery after only one week.
The only potential source for using battery power could be the
self-leveling shocks, but I assume that they should not work when the
engine is nt running.
Anyone any ideas, suggestions what else to check?

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will try the glove box swict fix and
I will have the battery checked.

 

[John Kubler]

We have a 1996 850 Turbo wagon with 60,000 miles. The car has always
been maintained according to the manual by a Volvo service department.

The problem we have is that the battery is drained completely after not
driving the car for a week. We have a new battery (1 yr old), had the
charging system checked at three different places (Volvo dealer and two
independant service stations), and all three tell us that everything
checks out fine. I checked the power draw when the car is parked with
the ignition off and measured only a few milli amps, too low to drain a
battery after only one week.
The only potential source for using battery power could be the
self-leveling shocks, but I assume that they should not work when the
engine is nt running.
Anyone any ideas, suggestions what else to check?

Thanks everyone for the feedback and tips.

I have used the Nickel to increase the tension on the door light switch
and will have the battery checked.

 

[Pi]

If you have a voltmeter, check the voltage when it is drained. In my case it
dropped from 12v(-ish) to 10v(-ish)
I don't remember the real figures, but it was clear that it had dropped by
one sixth (=1 cell).
Anyway - do NOT discount the battery (can you borrow one from another car
??)

A 90% charged battery (=full) is 13.8 Volts. With a short-circuited
cell 11.5 Volts.
Pieter