1995 -850....Sorry I didn't continue the old thread...couldn't find it.
So, the battery is draining...must be charged each startup. I pulled the + terminal off the battery and put my multimeter in series to complete the circuit. Now, I know nothing about electricity...just doing what was suggested to try to locate the drain. The meter read 18.7 (what ever that means...and it would fluctuate up and down from 18.6-19.00). I pulled every fuse. When I pulled #10, the central locking circuit, the meter dropped to 8.5. Did it again to verify. Does this mean that somehow the Central locking system is draining the battery? Or did I do nothing in the hunt for this problem.
If it is the Central Locking System...what now? Remember, be gentle, I am not volt savvy.

I was just about to post a question about battery drain.
Here's how to isolate battery drain:

Everything off, key out, hood open, no one in the car....
remove the neg battery terminal and put your DC ammeter in series with the lead you removed- one leg on the empty basttery anode and the other on the neg cable end.
Thats a series connection and all current flowing goes through the meter.

I found .005- .007 DC amps or 5-7ma (milliamps)
then I opened the drivers door and read .085A because the door light
and whetever courtesy lights were on.

Then I closed the door and I was reading about .037A
For whatever reason the door switch or courtesy light circuit is the culprit
since I removed fuses until the currernt draw went back to .005
and that was the courtesy light fuse.

Now I need a schematic for the courtesy lights
I unplugged the driver door lamp and that helped some but I want to see whats in the circuit- I couldn't find the usual door switch and think it might be buried in the door latch which is a nasty piece of work to remove and replace.

Did that help? pull fuses until the current flow is tiny about .005-007
DCAmps thats the ECU and the clock... more is trouble.

Hopefully you'll isolate the critter drawing current.

Bill

The door lights are on a timed relay. It takes about 30-45 seconds to switch off.

Pulling the fuses in the fuse tray is the ONLY way to check for voltage usage.

Klaus
--
Why are Volvos so endearing? Its just a car.

You might try looking at the wiring diagrams at MVS.
Hope that helps!
--Bud


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'96 850 and '83 244 DL both at about 200K; gone but not forgotten '81 245 and '64 Amazon

This is usually caused by the glove box door warping and leaving the light on all the time. If you just take short trips the battery will go dead.

Had similar problem last year. Taped a nickel to the glove compartment door, and no more problems.