I am trying to figure out why my volvo will not hold a charge on the battery (already tried alternator).

I have been pulling fuses to try and isolate, but the led light on the dash going crazy constantly really makes me think it is that. How can remove my alarm.

96 850 glt.

 

Sphynx,

The battery goes dead when car is off and parked? If so why would you think of the alternator? It only charges when car is running.

Pulling fuses probably does not make much difference unless you have an ammeter attached to battery and monitor current drain.

Describe the battery drain scenario for us on the forum to help you better.

Engine running or off & parked
How long does it sit?
Are you in a hot climate?
Do you have aftermarket stereo equipment, power inverter, cell phone charger etc?
Describe the blinking like crazy.

 

the car is a daily driver, and has been driven each time a battery has been replaced so we checked it to make sure it was charging fully, only after did we decide it was a draw.

My sister drives thecar every day and is arbitrary when it will not start.
the led alarm light doesn't have a slow steady blink like it use to, it is rapid and sometimes irregular, sometimes staying on for the entire duration of a trip.
no aftermarket anything.
I live in seattle, and it is hotter this summer, but this has been on going for a year.

The thing is if the car sits, it will die. If we jump it, it will start and if must keep it running for about 45 minutes in order for it to restart it self right after turning it off.

It sucks that I can rebuild and replace a motor, but I can't solve this issue. Its driving me crazy.

thanks

 

From your description it appears that you might be on the right track in pulling fuses. Is there a fuse listed for the alarm system? You could try removing that, but the LED could not possibly drain a battery like that in one day. When the car is off is ANYTHING running. Radiator fans, etc? The electrical portion of the ignition switch could be bad and sending power to things that it shouldn't.

If you can get your hands on an amp meter and check the draw when the car is off you might see what the draw is.

How many times has it done this? How many batteries have you replaced?

In lieu of an ammeter you could use some low amp fuses and disconnect the battery and place a low amp fuse like 1/2 amp inline and see if it blows. Drawing more than 500 milliamps when off is a big problem.

 

Well I do have an ampmeter so I guess I will start checking the any draw. This has done this over 50 times with 4 soon to be 5 batteries replaced.
I know when you completly drain a battery more than a couple times, it kills it so...

nothing appears to be on or at least making itself obvious when the car is off, which makes this a complicated issue.

thanks again.

 

Under the dash on the drivers side is a bunch of relays.
Most are marked. Find the one for the Alarm system and remove it.