Year 2000 S70 Battery Problem

May 03, 2005 4 Replies

A good friend of mine has a year 2000 S70 AWD with a mere 35,000 miles on it. They live here (Pittsburgh) but spent 6 months in Florida, hence the low miles. While they are in Fla each year the Volvo sits in their garage here. My job is to start it and drive it occasionally. In 2003, the battery died in spite of me driving it. I put in a DIEHARD for them. Again two weeks ago, I went to start the car to prepare for their return and, in spite of starting and driving all winter thru some bitter cold spells, the battery was dead and would not recharge after a jump and drive.



Is there something in that car that drains the battery when it sits for, say, 2 weeks without being driven? And is there any reason NOT to disconnect the positive terminal next winter and perhaps move the battery into the warmer house? What about a trickle charger? Any danger of leaving one of those on with no one home and maybe for 2 weeks without inspection? Any ideas/thoughts on this relatively minor but annoying problem would be appreciated.


I used to take the battery out of my bike during the cold months and store it inside, periodically recharging it. The I bought a battery tender

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and now leave the battery in the bike and that connected all winter. Other than using fuel stabilizer, that's all I do to winterize it, and with a quick check of tire pressure it's ready to go immediately in spring.

I've had a variety of Volvos since 1980, and on every one of them, the original equipment battery dies in two years (and I simply replace it with a DieHard and seldom have any further problem. If yours has lasted 5 yrs, you are either very fortunate or perhaps it's because you put it on the float charger from time to time.

what about putting a simple electrical timer on the trickle charger ,they are only about $7.00 Australian dollars and it will stop over charging the battery .You could set the timer for 2hours a day or what ever you wish with out risk .As they run for 24 hours a day just set it for the time you need power .

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