Hello (again[&:])

Still love my 98 V70 but the electrics are inclined to drive me nuts!

Like other owners, I have an issue with power drain on the battery.

With everything switched off, when the battery is disconnected and reconnected, there is a definite "snap" of spark indicating that there's a drain somewhere.

Occasionally, the car will behave as if it has a flat battery and requires a jump start but then will run for days/weeks on end with no problem.

Also, it has recently started resetting the digital clock when first started in the morning but this is intermittent.

Any ideas on where to start or experiences of the same issue.

Is it worth checking all the fuses with everything turned off and dis/reconnecting the battery to find out where the drain is?

Thanks (and thanks for all the help from others I've received so far - the forums are a life-saver!)

 

I would check the battery terminal first.
Do you have a digital meter that can read Amps?

 

Tech,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have digital multimeter with amps. Have checked terminals which are good and clean with no buildups on them and also have checked the battery which is in very good shape.

So... what to do next?

 

With the car running first check output from the Alt at the Alt. Take that reading. Then check output to the battery see how much of a difference there is.

If it is more that .3 to .5 difference then probe the wire before the positive terminal and see if it is alot more than at the terminal.
If so the terminal is corroded internally where the wire attaches. This is becoming very common lately.

Is you you can cut the terminal off and drill the old portion of the wires out and resolder the terminal back on.

But if that is all good then you will need to check for a parasitic draw.