I have a 2001 s60. This past week the car was dead, but after it was jumped it ran fine. Took battery in to have it tested and the core was completely dead. So installed new battery, noticed car seemed to drag after first starting but would eventually run fine. Two days after new battery being installed, battery light comes on. The next day car is dragging alot and after trying to take off from a red light a message that ABS service was needed, then to stop car for urgent service, all the lights for service are flashing and car is barely moving at this point...everything seems to shake or act like car wants to die out. So I pulled over and turned off the engine, and of course it will not start back. It does make a clicking type noise when you try to start. We try to jump it and doesn't work, (it starts but when jumper cables are removed it dies out). Took the new battery in and it is drained but core still good. Replaced newly charged, new battery and try to jump again but nothing but clicky noise. My questions finally, how do I know if it is the alternator or starter or possibly something else? Can I test the alternator if car won't start? Can I do that test with a multimeter? And is installing an alternator/starter easy? ANY help or advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

 

It does sound like a bad alternator.

First off, do you have or can you borrow a multimeter?
If so, put the leads across the battery, Make sure it's set to DC and it should read 12.4 volts or better.
Anything less, and it needs a charge.

Now to test the alternator, you need to have the car running. With those same leads on the battery, it should read around 14.5 Volts.
If you are still reading around 12.5 or less tha 14V, your alternator is bad and needs replacing.
If you do read 14.5 volts, then the alternator is fine, and you have some other issues.
BTW: Your starter is just that, starts the car, once it is started, it isn't used so it shouldn't be the problem.

Report back in what you come up with.

 

Check the basics (ie cables, connections, and so on) before you start throwing good money at it.

 

Hi i experienced the same problem. I am from malta new to volvo forums and i have d same model. Did u manage to solve the problem? If so can you tell me what was the result pls? Thanks in advance