2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD Battery Issues +Terminal Cables
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2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD Battery Issues +Terminal Cables
Hi, I have a 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD and bought the car when it had many problems. I rebuilt the engine, replaced multiple sensors, put in new spark plugs, fuel injectors, etc. Everything in the car works perfectly except for one issue.
One day, when driving this car, I got back from work and was reversing up my driveway. My driveway is a steep hill but levels out towards the back end of it. Halfway up the hill, the car suddenly stops. Electricals are all on but I have a message telling me the immobilizer is activated. A few seconds after I read this and put the car into park, the car shuts off. The car is dead, with no electricals and no turning over of the engine. I guessed correctly that it had to do with my battery and after disconnecting the terminals and waiting for a little bit, I connected the terminals to the battery again and now the car has power. Weird...
Two more of the same incident happened after this. At the bank, I got out of the ATM and went back to a completely dead car. I luckily keep tools in the glovebox and was able to disconnect the terminals, reconnect them, and then start the car. Second time was when I got back from work, went up my same driveway and after trying to lock the car from the outside with the keyfob, the car didn't respond. A dead car once again. I opened the hood and then had an idea; what if it's the terminals themselves? I shook the positive terminal and the car all of a sudden has power.
So here's the important bit: what's my issue here? I'm guessing it's the terminal cables themselves and that I have to replace them but I've heard that replacing them is a total pain in the butt. Could it be anything else? Maybe replacing the battery? The last time that this happened to me (when I shook the positive terminal to start the car), the car was running roughly after turning on and would stabilize after more vigorous shaking of the positive terminal cable. I'll get the terminal cable replaced if I have to but I'm asking for help from others in this forum who know better than me.
Thank you.
TL;DR: Car dies randomly, even when driving. Shaking the positive terminal cable gives life to the car. Problem with the terminal cable or other issue?
One day, when driving this car, I got back from work and was reversing up my driveway. My driveway is a steep hill but levels out towards the back end of it. Halfway up the hill, the car suddenly stops. Electricals are all on but I have a message telling me the immobilizer is activated. A few seconds after I read this and put the car into park, the car shuts off. The car is dead, with no electricals and no turning over of the engine. I guessed correctly that it had to do with my battery and after disconnecting the terminals and waiting for a little bit, I connected the terminals to the battery again and now the car has power. Weird...
Two more of the same incident happened after this. At the bank, I got out of the ATM and went back to a completely dead car. I luckily keep tools in the glovebox and was able to disconnect the terminals, reconnect them, and then start the car. Second time was when I got back from work, went up my same driveway and after trying to lock the car from the outside with the keyfob, the car didn't respond. A dead car once again. I opened the hood and then had an idea; what if it's the terminals themselves? I shook the positive terminal and the car all of a sudden has power.
So here's the important bit: what's my issue here? I'm guessing it's the terminal cables themselves and that I have to replace them but I've heard that replacing them is a total pain in the butt. Could it be anything else? Maybe replacing the battery? The last time that this happened to me (when I shook the positive terminal to start the car), the car was running roughly after turning on and would stabilize after more vigorous shaking of the positive terminal cable. I'll get the terminal cable replaced if I have to but I'm asking for help from others in this forum who know better than me.
Thank you.
TL;DR: Car dies randomly, even when driving. Shaking the positive terminal cable gives life to the car. Problem with the terminal cable or other issue?
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Joined: May 2024
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Please tell me what the issue was?
Hi, I have a 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD and bought the car when it had many problems. I rebuilt the engine, replaced multiple sensors, put in new spark plugs, fuel injectors, etc. Everything in the car works perfectly except for one issue.
One day, when driving this car, I got back from work and was reversing up my driveway. My driveway is a steep hill but levels out towards the back end of it. Halfway up the hill, the car suddenly stops. Electricals are all on but I have a message telling me the immobilizer is activated. A few seconds after I read this and put the car into park, the car shuts off. The car is dead, with no electricals and no turning over of the engine. I guessed correctly that it had to do with my battery and after disconnecting the terminals and waiting for a little bit, I connected the terminals to the battery again and now the car has power. Weird...
Two more of the same incident happened after this. At the bank, I got out of the ATM and went back to a completely dead car. I luckily keep tools in the glovebox and was able to disconnect the terminals, reconnect them, and then start the car. Second time was when I got back from work, went up my same driveway and after trying to lock the car from the outside with the keyfob, the car didn't respond. A dead car once again. I opened the hood and then had an idea; what if it's the terminals themselves? I shook the positive terminal and the car all of a sudden has power.
So here's the important bit: what's my issue here? I'm guessing it's the terminal cables themselves and that I have to replace them but I've heard that replacing them is a total pain in the butt. Could it be anything else? Maybe replacing the battery? The last time that this happened to me (when I shook the positive terminal to start the car), the car was running roughly after turning on and would stabilize after more vigorous shaking of the positive terminal cable. I'll get the terminal cable replaced if I have to but I'm asking for help from others in this forum who know better than me.
Thank you.
TL;DR: Car dies randomly, even when driving. Shaking the positive terminal cable gives life to the car. Problem with the terminal cable or other issue?
One day, when driving this car, I got back from work and was reversing up my driveway. My driveway is a steep hill but levels out towards the back end of it. Halfway up the hill, the car suddenly stops. Electricals are all on but I have a message telling me the immobilizer is activated. A few seconds after I read this and put the car into park, the car shuts off. The car is dead, with no electricals and no turning over of the engine. I guessed correctly that it had to do with my battery and after disconnecting the terminals and waiting for a little bit, I connected the terminals to the battery again and now the car has power. Weird...
Two more of the same incident happened after this. At the bank, I got out of the ATM and went back to a completely dead car. I luckily keep tools in the glovebox and was able to disconnect the terminals, reconnect them, and then start the car. Second time was when I got back from work, went up my same driveway and after trying to lock the car from the outside with the keyfob, the car didn't respond. A dead car once again. I opened the hood and then had an idea; what if it's the terminals themselves? I shook the positive terminal and the car all of a sudden has power.
So here's the important bit: what's my issue here? I'm guessing it's the terminal cables themselves and that I have to replace them but I've heard that replacing them is a total pain in the butt. Could it be anything else? Maybe replacing the battery? The last time that this happened to me (when I shook the positive terminal to start the car), the car was running roughly after turning on and would stabilize after more vigorous shaking of the positive terminal cable. I'll get the terminal cable replaced if I have to but I'm asking for help from others in this forum who know better than me.
Thank you.
TL;DR: Car dies randomly, even when driving. Shaking the positive terminal cable gives life to the car. Problem with the terminal cable or other issue?
the same thing is happening with me. I just changed the battery when it started happening. Was it the cable and is there a guide on how to find it yourself? If it’s even easy?
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Burlington, VT
I'd also suspect the voltage regulator but it's hard to test when the fails are intermittant. You may be in luck that on some Volvos the voltage regulator can be replaced without removing/replacing the alternator. (Had an issue like this on my VW and caught the fail in real time with a meter. Unfortunately for that car, the regulator is part of the alternator so the whole unit had to be replaced :-(
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