Electrics: V70 Power System issue, fixed but can't turn off red light

[R3dbvll]

I have a 2005 V70 petrol with about 230k on the clock.

Yesterday, the alternator failed, and I found myself in a carpark waiting for the RAC. The nice man checked the battery and found that it was toast, and that the alternator was not giving out any power.

The battery has been replaced and my local garage has replaced the alternator. All measurements are showing the alt. is working fine, the battery is charging BUT nothing will get rid of the red CEL, the red battery icon and the 'Power System service' message.

Does anybody know why this is? Is there a special way of turning those messages off, or is there something special about the alternator?

Many thanks
Chris.

[R3dbvll]

I'll (hopefully) answer my own question here.

I suspect the garage has fitted the wrong alternator, as reading around I see that for my car year, the electrics changed, and the alt. needs to send a signal to the computer to say it operating.

I just rang the garage to tell them this, but they were already ahead on that, and had realised the wrong one had been fitted.
So fingers crossed, the new one (coming on Monday) will sort this out.

If anyone else comes across this post, I found this other post to be useful:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...SERVICE+URGENT

[Longhouse21]

Good on the garage for admitting their mistake and acting.

[BlueRubber]

I also live in Reading so would you mind if I asked how much they charged to replace the alternator and what garage it was?

Also, I have VIDA DICE so if you ever need your car scanned or a warning reset for free drop me a PM.

[R3dbvll]

Yep, they're a good bunch. A small, local garage, used them for some years and trust them.

[R3dbvll]

Originally Posted by BlueRubber

I also live in Reading so would you mind if I asked how much they charged to replace the alternator and what garage it was?

Also, I have VIDA DICE so if you ever need your car scanned or a warning reset for free drop me a PM.

Ooh, that is an offer I will gladly keep hold of, thank you! I have a bluetooth reader, and use Torque on my phone, but it only shows generic issues.
I do have this persistent yellow warning coming up, which I'm pretty sure is telling me that the cat is going, although that has been the case for at least 2 years now, and I've not experienced any performance issues, drop in fuel economy etc, so may not be that (but that is a subject for another post!).

Price for replacing the alternator (parts and labour) was £250 inc VAT. The garage is Arbor Lane in Winnersh. Honestly, I don't know if that is a good price, and I feel that if I had my wits about me, I could perhaps have replaced it myself.

[BlueRubber]

You are welcome to pop in some time for me to scan the car.
Drop me a PM if you would like to do so.

Thanks for the info about the garage.

Funnily enough, there used to be a Volvo specialist garage run by an ex Volvo master tech at that address.
He has now moved to:
King Street Motors
35 King St Ln, Winnersh, Wokingham RG41 5AX

I have my car booked in with him to replace the brake hoses on my v70 next week.

Edit: Thinking about it I may be wrong about them being based at that location previously, clearly I've not drunk enough tea today

[R3dbvll]

I'd definitely like to know your Volvo specialist.
I really like Arbor Lane, but they aren't specialists. I used to take my V70 to Martin Matthewson in Basingstoke. Absolutely brilliant, and I'd still be going there, but it is quite a trek.

[BlueRubber]

Originally Posted by R3dbvll

I'd definitely like to know your Volvo specialist

King Street Motors
35 King St Ln, Winnersh, Wokingham RG41 5AX
07887 876719
He basically just works from his home rather than a business address.

I can let you know if he is any good after I get my brake hoses replaced next week.

[R3dbvll]

Just picked up the car - correct alternator fitted now, now red lights, all good.
(Also had them replace anti-roll bar links, as they were knocking).