Hello again, Volvo forums.
It is 11:26 in Pennsylvania and my car is currently dead on the side of the road about eight miles from my house. The battery would not charge while the engine ran. I inspected the alternator and noticed (not thinking to get a picture) a thin red wire with some exposed copper and a blue insulator/boot thing with nothing connected to it on the alternator. Is it safe to assume this thin red wire came out while driving and resulted in the alternator's failure? I plan to try to repair it tomorrow morning, but I would hate for this to only be part of the problem..

 

If that wire came loose while driving, your battery light on the dash should have lit up. If that is the case, then I would just put a new connector on and try it out. The battery light on the dash should be illuminated when the key is turned to the II position (engine not running). If it doesn't, then the alternator will not charge.

 

If I'm going to check the battery light, should I jump charge the battery first or just turn the key in the car as it sits?

 

wow okay... so repair the wires and see what happens. Are you asking a question?

How are you even determining the battery isn't being charged?

 

I jump started the car and allowed it to run, it died in a matter of minutes

 

if your battery is dead, it needs to be charged before you do anything else.

act1292, if the D+ wire is completely disconnected, the dashboard light won't light up. (AND the alternator won't work).