'Low battery' dash warning on 2010 C30 T5
 

Was planning on doing a couple of hundred miles this weekend but just remembered this warning flashed up on Sunday (not driven it since). Is this a regulator/alternator problem? Not got a multimeter to check the battery but it's seemed strong to date.

Guess my question is has anyone had this warning and what was the problem?

I had it once and it was spot on....Low battery.....:P

I took it to Volvo for a cambelt change and mentioned it, I was told they were amazed it even started it was that flat. I'd get it swapped out ASAP.

Remember, an OK voltage doesn't represent current (charge) inside the battery so a multimeter won't always help unless it's very flat. Get it on a proper battery loading system to check if you're worried about it.

PS, from previous threads I've read, if it was your alternator you'd have christmas tree lights on your dash and potentially, depending how it's failed, smoke coming through the cabin :D

Jeez, no smoke thankfully! :shocked:

Cold weather and only used at weekends might be taking it's toll on it, and no idea how old it is. Will give it a good run this weekend and keep my fingers crossed then – and take my battery charger with me...! :teeth_smile:

Anything I need to watch out for if I do need to charge it with Volvos? Will read the handbook just in case there's something unique to these cars...

Not really no.

If you end up replacing, remember to check a price with Volvo first, people just assume they'll costs hundreds because it's Volvo but their battery prices are quite often only a tenner more than an after market one and they really do last well.

Less likely to be the alternator as I think it's a Volvo spec unit on on the 5 bangers, if it was the 1.6D or 2.0D it would be a Fixed Or Repaired Daily spec item and almost certainly the culprit...

As it's a 2010 car - are you still on the original Volvo battery - they average 7 years but 10 years is not uncommon.

As has been said - best get the battery checked (and not by KwikFit).

The Low Battery isn't an uncommon warning on these cars, the next stage is a power saving mode where it turns the radio and other stuff off.

Often when a battery has a failing cell the voltage will fall off quite quickly when its under a small load but not being charged (i.e. engine off and radio on).

Thanks Tannaton. I'll have a check if it's a Volvo battery in there this weekend. Just remembered I did indeed have load on the battery with the car off just before the message actually:I'd just checked/topped up tyre pressures on all 4 wheels plus the spacesaver... hopefully a long run this weekend will help matters.

Sorry this is a really silly question. When I first saw this, I thought it referred to the Fob battery. Can anyone remember what it does say when it is the Fob. :confused_smile:

'Remote battery low' or 'Remote battery low'

Cant remember which but its something like that, it's pretty obvious :)

Yep, my googling earlier confirms this: it definitely states 'REMOTE' within the message when referring to car key battery.

Got battery low on mine in July 2017. Had topped mine up in Plymouth and drove 200 miles to Hopwood services on M42. Went to toilets, got back in car and dropped my window down while having a sandwich. Didn't turn ignition off and warning came on inside 2 mins(before anyone says anything it's my age). Car started ok and drove home another 100miles. No problem starting but was going 100miles that day so went and had a new one fitted as it was 7 years old. That was when I found out it was leaking. No problems since.
A couple of weeks ago I was checking the caravan battery in the garage (been there 3 months and was 12.5 volts) and decided to check the car battery while I was at it. It was 12.1 volts. Checked while the engine was running and it was showing 14.9. Have only done 250 miles in the 3 months since it was serviced so put it down to that. Put it on charge for about an hour and a half, charger showing full and voltage 12.9. Will check it again next weekend and give it another top up charge. Have made a late New Year resolution of giving it a trickle charge every winter month from now on.