Power system service urgent

[rowdy]

Got this message come up twice in the last two days, accompanied by a strange electrical whirring sound that rises and falls with the engine speed, and the battery light illuminated.

It was fine on Sunday, but my wife had to go to France on Sunday night in the car as a matter of urgency. Some friends accompanied her and one of them drove while in France as my wife hasn't done so before and didn't feel confident (I don't have a valid passport at the moment), but since I have driven the car when they got home it has made the strange noise.

On Sunday morning I checked all fluid levels and removed the headlights so that I could slide the lever on them to convert them for driving abroad. I also noticed a nail in a tyre so took the car to kwik fit to get it replaced, I did not notice the noise then, only when it returned from France.

My wife did tell me that when they were boarding the ferry they were pulled to one side for a spot check and the customs officers had a dig round under the bonnet.

Any ideas? Sound like an earth wire may have been dislodged?

[Hadrian]

I would almost definitely say the alternators on it's last legs, get the battery voltage tested. Change it sooner rather than later or factor in the price of a new battery too..

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by Hadrian

I would almost definitely say the alternators on it's last legs, get the battery voltage tested. Change it sooner rather than later or factor in the price of a new battery too..

Cheers chap, searched on here and yes that seems to be the likely cause.

[Snipe]

Could it maybe just be the battery? I have a 2006 Volvo v50 and the Power system service urgent msg is illuminated but is it automatically the alternator or could it just be the battery is bad?

[dave79]

had the same message on c30 2 litre diesal about 2 weeks ago turn out to be dirty battery post and clamps cleaned and no problem since.

[x DTR x]

I was having this message on my 2005 2.0l D, changed the battery hasn't appeared since.

[Cornish Expat]

Had this warning shortly before my alternator died a couple of weeks ago.

[dave79]

Did this issue get sorted.

[volvo for ever]

start car up check charging rate ;if whirring noise used long screw driver for ear test

this is very common fault and easy job to replace yourself

[Resonance]

I got this message pop up a couple of weeks ago when on my way down to parents, 90% into the journey. Got to parents house with the message lit up. A couple of hours later I started the car and the message no longer there, drove home fine without any messages.
Another week later I get an anti-skid message, that disappeared a few minutes into the journey and on return it never popped up.
Last night, well it was Blackpool illuminations on the dash.
Almost all lights came on, a message about brake failure and to stop carefully. I didn't think to take the picture of the dash.
Anyway pulled into layby and stopped fine. Tried to turn engine off and the key didn't completely free itself in the lock, it was sort of locked. Started the engine and it started fine but again some lights but not all, and also the windscreen wipers started moving without engaging them. couldn't even turn them off. So after a few minutes of wishing and hoping the wipers turned off, I turned the enigne off, was able to remove the key. Rinserted and restarted the car, and all lights back to normal, reached home without any further issues.
Done a multimeter test on battery and I get 12.28 engine off, at idle I get 14.69 and loaded up with aircon/fans and lights etc I get 14.66.

Not meaning to hijack this thread but is that battery or alternator? From my brain cells levels and google searches, it looks like battery should be replaced.
I have no records of when the battery was last replaced.