Battery issues

[GrahamHR]

Anyone in the UK with battery issues with their V60 ? A problem for some in the US apparently. Mine, a 2015 Polestar had a new battery fitted a few months after being registered, as it wasn't holding charge. The new battery is going the same way; it's never at the optimum voltage ( used 2 days ago, now at 12.4V). The alternator gives out a healthy voltage for charging. My smart charger will charge it up to a stable 12,8V, but once disconnected, the voltage immediately starts to drop. A clamp on ammeter shows negligible drain.

Are the OEM Volvo batteries absolute cr*p, or have I been unlucky ?

[NewVolvo]

Originally Posted by GrahamHR

Anyone in the UK with battery issues with their V60 ? A problem for some in the US apparently. Mine, a 2015 Polestar had a new battery fitted a few months after being registered, as it wasn't holding charge. The new battery is going the same way; it's never at the optimum voltage ( used 2 days ago, now at 12.4V). The alternator gives out a healthy voltage for charging. My smart charger will charge it up to a stable 12,8V, but once disconnected, the voltage immediately starts to drop. A clamp on ammeter shows negligible drain.

Are the OEM Volvo batteries absolute cr*p, or have I been unlucky ?

Do you do a lot of short journeys?

Wife's 2016 XC60 have had this message pop up a couple of times last year, only to go away. Popped up again just now in mid Feb. Even after her driving some 1200 mls to and from Poland! Funny thing is, the car stood still for 14 days while in Poland in freezing temps and lots of snow and no message after starting it....in fact, it didn't even hesitate!

Car was in today for a service and the dealer confirmed low voltage, but didn't change it but asked us to keep an eye on it.

From what I have read on a Swedish forum, this low battery warning seems software related.

[Electronix12]

Originally Posted by GrahamHR

Anyone in the UK with battery issues with their V60 ? A problem for some in the US apparently. Mine, a 2015 Polestar had a new battery fitted a few months after being registered, as it wasn't holding charge. The new battery is going the same way; it's never at the optimum voltage ( used 2 days ago, now at 12.4V). The alternator gives out a healthy voltage for charging. My smart charger will charge it up to a stable 12,8V, but once disconnected, the voltage immediately starts to drop. A clamp on ammeter shows negligible drain.

Are the OEM Volvo batteries absolute cr*p, or have I been unlucky ?

Does the car start OK? Does it show low battery warnings? Does stop/start work?

If everything above is OK - no problem!

I had to replace my V60 D5 battery at 120k miles and 4 years because it lost its ability to accept charge and hence never charged properly.

New battery 20k miles and 2 years later - A-OK!

[Mick787]

I had the warning message about the battery after I bought my used car. Despite the main dealership saying they would charge the battery before delivery it was blatantly obvious they didn’t. (They didn’t do a few other things either.)
I bought a CTEK 7 trickle charger, ever since I left it charging over night, I’ve never had the message again. I have no idea what make your charger is or if it is suited to your car.
In these weather conditions, the battery is going to take a hammering, so once a month I give the battery a quick boost, it can’t do any harm. I guess how you are using the car and any accessories will determine how often the battery may need a boost.

[GrahamHR]

Originally Posted by Mick787

I had the warning message about the battery after I bought my used car. Despite the main dealership saying they would charge the battery before delivery it was blatantly obvious they didn’t. (They didn’t do a few other things either.)
I bought a CTEK 7 trickle charger, ever since I left it charging over night, I’ve never had the message again. I have no idea what make your charger is or if it is suited to your car.
In these weather conditions, the battery is going to take a hammering, so once a month I give the battery a quick boost, it can’t do any harm. I guess how you are using the car and any accessories will determine how often the battery may need a boost.

I use a CTEK 7 as well, but I think I really shouldn't have to !

When the car was first delivered ( 190 mile trip), the following day the low voltage warning showed when I was sat in the car playing with the settings. The measured battery voltage was 11.8V. No problem with starting the car

The dealer/ Volvo fitted a new battery.

Now, 2 years later the same problem. A few days unused, less than 12V but the car always starts. Yes, I do a low yearly mileage but it averages at around 4 short trips and 2 high speed long ( 100 mile) trips per 2 weeks almost without fail. It's not a particularly arduous regime for a car battery, the original one in my 2006 Mondeo managed the same regime until I swapped it for the Volvo !.

[Rex65]

Sounds to me like the battery you have fitted is under rated for the car specification.
Either that, or your smart charging system is working properly.
I have a simple voltmeter plugged into my accessory socket to monitor battery voltage so I know if there are any problems looming!

[Mick787]

I think it may be the case that there are so many components talking to each other even whilst the ignition is off these days in modern cars.
I once saw a tech’ change a battery on a new Mini, he said he needed a laptop to do that and tell the ECU which battery had been fitted so it received the correct charge when the car was in use.