My xc70 was driving great yesterday. This morning my wife said she turned it on and all the dashboard lights went off except the check engine light. The Engine was still running but in limp mode with almost no power.

Alternator gone?

Please help with diagnosis. Car went from running great to.... nothing. Sounds like the automatic locks aren't working either.

Please point me in the correct direction.

Thanks, you guys are great for the learning DIYS'er

 

I am having the same problem with my 2002 V70 XC. Out of the blue, the gauges started going haywire, then went out - windows and locks too. I had the alternator replaced. The car ran fine for a couple of weeks, but the same thing happened again. I took it back to the shop to check the new alternator and it checked out ok, as well as the battery. They thought the cluster might be going. The next day it worked fine while I ran some errands. At my (fortunately) last stop, I went to start the car and it was dead. I recharged the battery overnight again. The car starts but no dashboard action. I haven't driven it since because am afraid of breaking down again. I don't think it is the cluster going bad, or would that cause the battery to drain? I think something is draining the battery?