I own a 2001 V70 wagon which is starting to get on my nerves - all sorts of little things. The latest is the dash lights which flicker all the time - this can be forced when the turn signals are used but happens on its own. The flickering can also be seen in the headlights when I pull into the garage and the beam is concentrated against the wall. When I am waiting in my car for my kids to emerge from somewhere I can't even listen to the radio - within one minute the message center reads "low battery voltage." The obvious answer is the battery so I took it in to a dealer after a 7 hour trip when the dash lights could have been used in a disco. I was told that the battery voltage was low but that the battery had been recharged and was fine. I asked two questions: How did this happen in the first place (he said "stop and start driving") and would the battery hold a charge given that it didn't seem to be doing so before (he assured me it would.) I no sooner get back in the car and go to make my first turn when what should happen? The dash lights start to flicker. I had to pick my children up from school so I couldn't turn back to the dealer - got to the school, turned the car off and the radio on - within one minute I got the "low battery voltage" message.

The car is due back in the dealer next week since the part for the broken tailgate lock will be in (it never ends - the brake rotors were also warped at 23,000 miles). Any ideas? Are Volvo batteries any good or should I just go elsewhere? The car is just 2 years and 2 months old. My last Volvo (1998 V70) needed a new battery after 3 1/2 years.

One further note - I am spending the next 6 months in Canada where the temp. is slightly colder than my car is used to and with two kids I can't afford to be stranded with a dead battery. I did mention this to the dealer but it obviously didn't make much of an impression.

Jane