Hi guys.....wifey's 1998 V70, was a bit sluggish when starting yesterday....as it was sitting for a week or so I ignored it, drove it just a minute down the street and parked it- I let it idle for few minutes, then shut it off.
Moments later I drove it home and halfway there lost all power, and limped it back into the driveway.

I have yet to jumpstart it to see if it indeed is the battery, which looks tired and is a "Volvo" unit- we got this car 2.5 years ago and have not done any electrical work so far (thankfully!)
So if it is a shot battery here, what do I need to do to replace the battery, specificvally as in the alarm re-set, the radio code, etc.
Not sure if we have the radio code handy, but I can source it at the local dealer, right?!

And if it is my alternator as well, do they rebuild these 1998 V70 units or does it need to be replaced with a new one $$$ ?!?

What else might cause such a power loss if it is not the battery/alt???

Thanks alot in advance guys....Mike

re: "... I drove it home and halfway there lost all power, and limped it back into the driveway...."

You need to clarify: "lost all power" means one thing, and "limped it back home" implies something else. They're contradictory.

I think that Klaus might have thought that "lost all power" referred to power steering, etc. (even though you were able to drive it home) -- hence he discussed your serpentine belt.

On the other hand, I think you mean that the engine simply lost its ability to propel the car in its usual "brisk" fashion, and you crawled home under (what's sometimes called) "limp-home" mode, where the engine barely is able to maintain street-speed. Is that right?

If so, it's got nothing to do with the battery -- it if was that low, you wouldn't have been able to restart the car.

I think you've got a fault in the engine control system, somewhere, that caused the ECU to go into limp-home mode. It coule be anything from a sensor to a things far more complicated.

For the most expedient diagnosis, you need to access the fault codes (OBD-II) to get at the heart of the matter. 99% of the time, the fault code will send you in the right direction.

Good luck.

If it is in fact the battery, then you would not have been able to start the car. Losing all power soulds like the Serp belt failed. If the Sbelt is OK and all of the dash lights are on, then it is the alternator.
Go for a rebuilt or a junk yard model with low miles on it. You are right about the dealers price for a brand new one.

As for the battery replacement, piece of cake. Except for the radio code, which the parts department can supply - you need to have the VIN. Dealers charge about $100 for a new battery. I just did that with my V70 about 2 weeks ago, drove to the dealer with my handy 10mm wrench. Removed the old battery and put in the new one and drove home. They wanted 30 minutes of labor!

Klaus
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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi