time to change the battery? Any advice where to buy?

[Andries82]

Hi,

I have a couple of questions regarding the battery of my beloved Volvo.

My '05 S80 D5 doesn't start very smoothly anymore, it doesn't crank as powerfully as it used to do. Once it starts, I have driven the car and I have to restart, the restarting with a warm engine after a ride is always quite a bit more smooth; cranking feels more powerful.

That's why today I called up the "secret" diagnostic menu on the RTI screen and had a look at the voltages. The car had been standing for 2 weeks (last trip being a 330 mile trip with 1 stop during the trip), and before starting the car the readings were:

CEM voltage: 11.625 v (I think when I first turned the key the voltage started at 10.xxx v)
ECU voltage: 10.59 v

When I started the car where - as expected - the cranking sounded like the starter motor had to make quite an effort to turn the engine, the readings quickly stabilised on:

CEM voltage: 14,500v
ECU voltage: 13.31v

Q1: Would that indicate the battery (which has been in the car for years and years) is losing its edge?

Many say changing the battery is a breeze, just order one and fit it yourself. I like to believe this is true. The current battery (original Volvo 8645083) has the following specification: 12 volt, 800 A and 170 min.

Q2. And advice on what to replace it with? Would - in your humble opion - an original Volvo battery provide better quality than a Varta ordered online?

Q3. Some more expensive and "premium" batteries like Varta silver Batteries have 830 A cranking amps, 30 amps more that my current battery. Is that OK or could that overcook the starter motor?

Thanks for your help!

[dacvolvo]

Buy a Volvo original from the dealership. I bought one for my '07 D5 last month for £95

Takes 2 minutes to fit. Dispose of the old battery responsibly.

[Dancake]

The original Volvo batteries can be bought for under £100 from a Volvo dealer. Original quality spec and cheaper than a lot of aftermarket brands. There's really nothing to changing a battery. With the key out of the ignition, leave the car for 10 minutes before disconnecting the negative lead, followed by the positive. Insert new battery and connect the positive lead followed by the negative.

Some recommend having the key in position 2 when connecting the negative lead again. It's supposed to stop voltage spikes. This has been tested by many on the forums and it appears to be unnecessary. Reconnecting the negative lead without the key in the ignition doesn't seem to have any negative effects whatsoever.

[Georgeandkira]

In the name of good service or plain salesmanship a dealership might even include installation.

I love the hometown names of the contributors to this thread; London, Glasgow, Belfast and now Hackensack.

[CJL]

Agree, Volvo probably the best place, but I've also these people. Next day delivery too.

www.tayna.co.uk/Car-Batteries-C48.html

Just take care to keep the earth out of the way once you've disconnected it. You don't want it touching the terminal again. Undo the positive carefully and don't allow the spanner to touch anywhere else or you could get a shock.

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

I love the hometown names of the contributors to this thread; London, Glasgow, Belfast and now Hackensack.

I'm from Essex. Isn't there an Essex Road in Hackensack?

[luggsey]

I just changed my battery for a 100Ah Exide from Tayna, very good service from them.
They gave me a 25% discount code, FACEBOOK25
Try it if you want to?