Volvo RWD 900 Forum

This happened once before to me but IIRC, that time the shifter did work (not recalling exactly at this moment). Due to the shifter not shifting and the dash lights not coming on, does this indicate an electrical fault somewhere or a faulty ground?

I did clean off the main battery ground wire to the frame a few months ago when I was dealing with another problem.

What do the above symptoms seem to indicate to you?

Thanks.

Dear Chris S.,

Hope this finds you well. It sounds as if the battery has gone dead or has been completely drained.

Having set a voltmeter to the 10-20 volt range, I'd put the voltmeter's probes on the battery posts (red to positive post; black to negative post). A healthy battery should give a reading of 12.4-12.6 volts.

A reading of 11-12 volts would move me to put the battery on a charger. A reading below 11 volts would move me to replace the battery: a cell has died. No amount of re-charging will revive a dead cell.

If you have a fully-charged battery, install it, and see if the car starts. If it does, and if the alternator is putting out 14-14.5 volts, the removed battery likely is the problem, especially if it is five or more years old.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Spook, thank you for the response.

As mentioned this happened once before, but I neglected to say that the battery was charged at that time and has worked for a number of weeks without fault. I'm wondering if something is a drain on the battery while the car is not in use. However, I have my doubts about that last theory as well, since the car sat for no more than 12 hours before the attempted start.

When the car is running, how to check the output of the alternator?

This sounds EXACTLY like the problems on my 1991. The car had been sitting for a year, and even with a new battery, I wasn't able to shift out of park, no dash lights (only ones were on the aircon controls), and no turnover of the starter.

My guess is that something is making the car think it's not in park, and thus won't let you crank the starter, but also won't engage the shifter solenoid to let you shift from park?

If I bypassed the ignition and went right from battery to the starter solenoid, the car fires right up, and using the shiftlock override, I can get the car into gear. Brakelights work fine, which I would assume means the brakelight switch is ok. But still no lights for the dash, and still trying to find the root cause.

My alternator is fine, and I'm betting it's the same for you. I'm digging through here today to see if any other suggestions - I'm guessing it's either related to fuses (7 and/or 12), something with the shifter solenoid, or the neutral safety switch.

If you have any further information, please let me know.
--
Adam
1997 Volvo 850 Wagon Auto
1991 Volvo 240 Wagon Auto
2004 Saab 9.5 Aero 5sp

Adam, after fooling around with the shift lock, the fuses and the grounds, I looked at the battery: the neg cable was loose. Yes, loose. I tightened it up and everything has been OK since (crosses fingers). Your first hunch is correct, though, and is exactly what I was looking for: a faulty ground or connection. I just didn't expect m;ine to be so obvious - or so dumb.

Don't beat yourself up too much over that. There isn't a single wrench bender out there that hasn't overlooked that simple check. Glad you got your problem fixed.