A local auto parts chain has several batteries which they list as suitable for this 2007 XC90 3.2. The one I'm thinking about is a Bosch H6/L3/48 H6-760B, SKU 672432. Specs are 760 CCA/910 CA, Reserve 120 min. It is a standard flooded lead acid battery, not one of the sealed glass matt types.


Would this be a good choice?


The OE Volvo labeled battery has now been in service for 7.5 years and is rated 600 CCA, Reserve 120 min, 70 Ah. Maybe I should get the OE battery checked before I just go out and replace it. I have been told that the other day a message appeared on the radio display, "Battery Low Infotainment system about to shut down" while the radio was being played with the engine off.

 

The Volvo dealer is distant and I just went to a nearby retail battery store and got the battery tested. The result with a hand held digital tester was 480 CCA which the tester rated as acceptable (based on sticker stating 600 CCA), but the tech said was marginal by their standards. I had not intended to buy a battery without full consideration of choices, but I thought about a failure on a cold winter morning and just bought a battery on the spot. I watched the tech install it.


(After the old battery was removed from the car the tech tested it with the old fashioned analog tester with carbon pile resistor and got the same number for CCA.)

The battery is an ordinary quality battery labeled ProCell 24 made by EastPenn-Deka a known US manufacturer. The ticket stated SLI48H6 12 V 48 Procell 24, and the sticker on the battery 680 CCA. It has only a 24 month full replacement warranty. I paid 135 USD, including local and state sales tax.

I had the key out of the ignition during the whole process. Before disconnecting the old battery the tech connected a voltage source to the OBD port. I was uneasy about this but decided just to let them carry out their procedure and trust they had a procedure which would work on my car.

There was no drama (no sparking when the ground side was reconnected) and all systems of the XC90 work as before. I will say that I am trying to reduce the time and energy I spend on trying to always get to a certain level of quality for the goods and services I consume as a middle class American.

I decided to buy an "American made", battery thinking that this might reduce my environmental footprint. Only when I thought about it later did I realize that by acting hastily I got a lower quality battery than I would have gotten if I had carefully shopped for it.