My ‘96 850GLT [170K] has started to kill batteries. It’s on the fourth one this year and when they’re dead, an overnight charge doesn’t revive them. Putting a load on shows they don’t hold a charge anymore. So periodically I find the car totally dead. Here’s what’s been tried so far to stop whatever’s drawing current:

Fuse in towing harness removed
Alternator replaced
Light bulbs in glovebox removed
Search for other lights that might be stuck or left on conducted

During this time period, the check engine light comes on repeatedly. Plugged in and read, I’ve been told it is either the low speed fan switch or something related to pollution controls. I don’t know if either situation is related to the battery problem.

Has anyone encountered this before?

I’m not a hands-on technical person and the experts who’ve tackled this so far haven’t been able to track down the problem so I thought I’d ask The Forum for help.

 

It could be a million things, anything from a bare wire to a bad alt..

What were the codes it threw?
Also you have a 96 glt, that means you have an air pump... Does it work?

 

Here is a DIY link from the 850 section.
https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...g-101-a-42655/

 

I was looking for that....
I didnt follow my own advise.... I didnt search! LOL

 

I don't search much past the DIY thread.

 

Next time you have the codes read, write them down. Check your receipts to see if they wrote them down for you. The codes can be a big help. There is a chance the cooling fan relay might be sticking on keeping the fan on and drawing the battery down. That would relate to what you think the code said.

When the battery dies you can't charge it up but when you take it in can they charge it back up? When a battery gets totally discharged it should still be able to be charged back up. Well unless it freezes and bloats the case. Home chargers sometimes don't have the power to get a battery going from completely dead but the expensive commercial ones do. If you drop it off at an auto parts store they should be able to put the life back in it. Most can also do a check engine light reading free so you can get the codes. Hard to believe you've paid for four or that anyone has warrantied three

 

Thanks. I'll track down the codes. The last battery, after an overnight charge in the shop, would not hold up under a load. All replacements have been warranty swaps so far, but it's definitely over the top.

 

Thanks. I'm tracking down the codes and will ask about the air pump.