Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 2/2003 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

posted by  hawkeye on  Sat Mar 22 00:35 CST 2014
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Wed Oct 22 16:44 CST 2014
[RELATED]

I am semi stranded with a bad alternator, I needed a battery anyway so I bought a Walmart special. Any ideas how long I can go on the interstate in day light? I am about 4 hours from home. 90 model 5 speed. May or may not need wipers.

Thanks,
Hawk.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

    posted by  hawkeye on  Sun Mar 23 16:00 CST 2014
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Wed Oct 22 16:44 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Here's the result.

    I put the walmart battery in and drove 30 minutes with the parking lights only on Friday. Got up this morning and drove 3 hours 40 minutes home on that same battery. We roll started it every time (good job for the daughter and son-in-law), used the parking brake like Art said, no radio, no fan.

    When we go home the battery was putting out 11.7 volts. When we left it was putting out 12.5. 11.7 will not start the car using the starter.

    So now I guess we know. A 240 will run about 4 hours running only the fuel pumps, the coil, and the computer.

    And after all this a guy in a 72 VW bug tried to buy the car when we stopped to eat lunch, and that was after watching us push it to start it.

    Pretty interesting, thanks for the help.

    Hawk








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

      posted by  pageda on  Sun Mar 23 16:46 CST 2014
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Fri Oct 24 13:18 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      I had a similar problem with one of my daughters a few months ago, she was coming home from school for the weekend and got about half way when the engine quit.

      Road warriors stopped and jumped the battery and followed her to the next exit. I left immediately with a charged junk yard spare, a volt meter, and trunk full of tools. Found the alternator was not putting out volts, swapped in a fresh battery and I followed her home. The last few miles were getting dark so I followed closely enough to be her tail lights, we got there in fine shape.

      I found worn out brushes and swapped in a voltage regulator, recharged the original battery and it was good as new.

      Dan








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

        posted by  3peat on  Sun Mar 23 20:07 CST 2014
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Mon Oct 6 18:32 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        This is one of the great posts and goes right into the binder.

        I've had cars that have had alternators die that have given me a full one hour heads up before officially dying and others, like the OEM on my '90 245, that literally only gave me a 10 minute heads up before completely shutting down.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

    uid 27's pic
    posted by  Art Benstein on  Sat Mar 22 04:41 CST 2014
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 17 20:10 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Alternator failure is #1 on my list of Volvo Road Trouble experienced. Volvo is #1 on my list of Road Trouble in General.

    Happened to me 50 miles from home early evening, summertime before 9/11. No wipers or lights needed. Went straight to a Walmart. Put battery in the trunk after finding the dilemma whether to crank on the new battery, or use the remainder of the old, not knowing for sure the state of charge of the new.

    Made it home with the Walmart battery still in the trunk. Drove eyes on the dashboard voltmeter sagging past 10, using the p-brake when safe, such as when stopped at a traffic signal, hoping it wouldn't quit right there while rush hour was in final phase. I'm not a toolkit carrier, so I was dependent on the Volvo kit to swap the battery to avoid a tow.

    Car was an 84 244 (LH2.0). I think the electricity used by the fuel system and ignition is comparable to yours.
    --
    Art Benstein near Baltimore

    With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Battery life w/o an alternator? 200

    posted by  Will740turbo on  Sat Mar 22 03:14 CST 2014
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Wed Oct 22 16:09 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    About an hour at best. If you're running wipers, you should be running lights too.

    Is this a bosch with the brushes that wear out? The brushes are like $5, and you might be able to gerry rig something out of some intended for an electric drill to replace them. Ace hardware usually carries a selection of brushes. FCP does too, but you have to wait on shipping. You need decent soldering skills.

    I once got a new voltage regulator (the brushes are mounted in it) for ~$70 and was on my merry way when my brushes ran out. It's only 2 phillips-head screws to remove.

    Good luck!







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.