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Alarm System Service Required V70-XC70 2003

What does it mean when the subject message is displayed for a few seconds after I turn the key on and start the car? About 3 seconds after the engine starts the message and amber triangle disappear. Is the alarm battery going dead? This all just started today.

In addition, for the last week or so, the key is occasionally hard to turn. It seems to occur when getting in the car on a hot afternoon - like Texas hot. The DIM's temperature gauge has been reading about 111 deg when I get in the car. It drops a few degrees once I start rolling down the road. No problem turning the key when it's cooler out.








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    Alarm System Service Required V70-XC70 2003

    If the battery is going dead, it will only get worse when the weather gets colder. You have been warned!

    As to the key, heat could contribute to metal expansion inside the key lock. One of these days the lock pin will break off and lodge in the worst place making it impossible to turn the key.
    --
    Keeping it running is better than buying new








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      Alarm System Service Required V70-XC70 2003

      I have been ignoring this warning on my '01 S60. I didn't realize this could be a problem in the making. Where is this battery located?








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        Alarm System Service Required V70-XC70 2003

        It's hidden by the RH front inner fender liner, near the W/W reservoir:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SH_eDLJJ-c


        These videos talk about cutting the alarm box open to get to the battery:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm_qGUegzw8&t=702s

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lPLCx1PLYw


        I'm thinking about doing a relocation like this. Not sure if I'll move the whole siren box or just the battery pack. (I didn't know someone already had a Youtube video showing the relocation:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx24_rhkIh0&t=453s

        I'm supposed to pick up the battery pack from Batteries+ this afternoon will probably do the fix this weekend.
        --
        Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)








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      Alarm System Service Required V70-XC70 2003

      Speaking of being warned, I also posted over on MVS and a guy there warned me to not wait until the battery leaks acid all over the circuit board. I did a little internet searching and found the OE power source is a stack of (3) x 2.4V, 240 mAh NiMH large button batteries (approx 1" dia x 3/8" deep) = 7.2V total. Apparently that type of battery is difficult to find stateside.

      So I have a "plan". I went by Batteries+ and I'm having the guy package (6) AA rechargeable NiCads in series (= 7.2v) with pig tail leads. They spot weld the bridges between the batteries rather than solder and then shrink wrap it all together. He's charging me $25 which includes batteries and packaging. I'm guessing the new battery pack is unlikely to fit inside the siren box, so the "plan" is to mount it remotely inside the ECM/TCM box with a disconnect there to facilitate subsequent replacements. It will only be about a 12" run down to the siren box. I'm thinking that should be a fairly good environment with the cooling fan. According to him the NiCads will discharge faster than NiHydrides if the alarm goes off, but overall they'll last longer before needing replacement. It will be interesting.







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