What's Happened?

NewV40owner · May 10th, 2011, 17:59

Hi Everyone, I have a 2001 V40
As I drove back from work today my battery light came on. When I went out again today the battery light was still on then all the dials failed. On top of this all the dashboard lights came on...my headlights and indicators were flashing like crazy and I was gradually losing power. I managed to get home (just) and now the car wont start not even turning over.
Any help and advice would be much appreciated
Kind Regards

scottishvolvo · May 10th, 2011, 18:08

Alternator gone on the blink, I'm guessing you have checked the auxiliary(fan) belt. Have you tried jump starting it?

caiw123 · May 10th, 2011, 18:10

99% it's the alternator.

tommy t4 · May 10th, 2011, 18:12

alternator....

gatos · May 10th, 2011, 18:33

Could it be the alternator?............ lol

It seems to be unanimous. Simple way to test it too if you have a multimeter.

Turn off all electrical accessories in car, ie lights, aircon, stereo etc
Set the multimeter to read DC voltage, and connect the red lead on the positive terminal
and the black on the negative one. You can measure the voltage across your battery. If your battery is fully charged it should read about 12.6V.

Now start the engine and rev it to about 2000+ RPM (well actually someone else will have to it for you). If the alternator is working you should be getting a reading of about 14V. It is higher in order to charge the battery

If however the reading does not change since you started the engine and revved it, then it is definitely the alernator

NewV40owner · May 10th, 2011, 18:43

Ok thanks eveyone,
I'll check over the things you have mentioned. Is it an expensive job to get fixed?
Kind regards

960kg · May 10th, 2011, 19:34

.....it is indeed the alternator and also now a flat battery.......happended to me in my GDI, the dash lights were like christmas trees all flashing.......touched the window switch and that was that nothing.....

Dubstar · May 10th, 2011, 20:57

Also check your battery earth strap is ok. Similar thing happened on a Peugeot I had a few years ago, and the earth strap wire had come out of the connector, but not all the way and was sparking out which is how I spotted it.

gatos · May 10th, 2011, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewV40owner

Ok thanks eveyone,
I'll check over the things you have mentioned. Is it an expensive job to get fixed?
Kind regards

If you can source a cheap one from ebay or from this forum and do it yourself, you can get it done for very little. It is a bit fiddly job requiring the removal of a few bits but it is doable. Not sure how much it would cost to do it at an indi.

If you decide to diy, let me know and I can post the Vadis instructions.

NewV40owner · May 10th, 2011, 22:17

Ok cheers gatos

May 10th, 2011, 17:59	#1
NewV40owner New Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2012 16:42 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: scotland	What's Happened? Hi Everyone, I have a 2001 V40 As I drove back from work today my battery light came on. When I went out again today the battery light was still on then all the dials failed. On top of this all the dashboard lights came on...my headlights and indicators were flashing like crazy and I was gradually losing power. I managed to get home (just) and now the car wont start not even turning over. Any help and advice would be much appreciated Kind Regards

May 10th, 2011, 18:08	#2
scottishvolvo Premier Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2023 00:15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow	Alternator gone on the blink, I'm guessing you have checked the auxiliary(fan) belt. Have you tried jump starting it? __________________ Chris '98 S40 2.0T..Gone. 2000 S40 2.0 SE Auto and loving it. 2014 V40 Cross Country Please consider registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust, you could save a life.

May 10th, 2011, 18:10	#3
caiw123 Master Member Last Online: Sep 16th, 2022 16:46 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cupar fife	99% it's the alternator. __________________ volvo s40 2001 t4 manual

May 10th, 2011, 18:43	#6
NewV40owner New Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2012 16:42 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: scotland	Cheers Ok thanks eveyone, I'll check over the things you have mentioned. Is it an expensive job to get fixed? Kind regards

May 10th, 2011, 19:34	#7
960kg Premier Member Last Online: Dec 28th, 2022 12:25 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mercville	.....it is indeed the alternator and also now a flat battery.......happended to me in my GDI, the dash lights were like christmas trees all flashing.......touched the window switch and that was that nothing..... __________________ Mercedes C320CDI Sport Estate 3 litre V6 7 Gear Auto Remap 290bhp 628Nm torque @ 1600revs 45.1mpg

May 10th, 2011, 18:12	#4
tommy t4 Premier Member Last Online: Jul 10th, 2021 22:47 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: gravesend kent View Photos By: tommy t4	alternator....

May 10th, 2011, 18:33	#5
gatos Premier Member Last Online: Nov 15th, 2022 21:34 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London / Essex	Could it be the alternator?............ lol It seems to be unanimous. Simple way to test it too if you have a multimeter. Turn off all electrical accessories in car, ie lights, aircon, stereo etc Set the multimeter to read DC voltage, and connect the red lead on the positive terminal and the black on the negative one. You can measure the voltage across your battery. If your battery is fully charged it should read about 12.6V. Now start the engine and rev it to about 2000+ RPM (well actually someone else will have to it for you). If the alternator is working you should be getting a reading of about 14V. It is higher in order to charge the battery If however the reading does not change since you started the engine and revved it, then it is definitely the alernator

May 10th, 2011, 20:57	#8
Dubstar Junior Member Last Online: Dec 19th, 2011 21:37 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Manchester	Also check your battery earth strap is ok. Similar thing happened on a Peugeot I had a few years ago, and the earth strap wire had come out of the connector, but not all the way and was sparking out which is how I spotted it.

May 10th, 2011, 22:17	#10
NewV40owner New Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2012 16:42 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: scotland	Ok cheers gatos

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