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Volvo S40 The S40 is Volvo's most affordable sedan with all the amenities of a luxury sports car. Community Links Pictures & Albums Members Search Forums Show Threads Show Posts Tag Search Advanced Search Find All Liked Posts Go to Page... 2006 S40 Electrical Issues Please Help!!!! Reply Subscribe Thread Tools Search this Thread Oct 22, 2018 | 12:05 PM Share Share Options #1 I love these cars Thread Starter | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 2006 S40 Electrical Issues Please Help!!!! I have a 2006 S40, that is having some severe electrical problems. These problems seem to occur when the car has been driven for a minimum if 20 min. The same sequence of problems occurs each time the car is driven over 20 min. The first thing that happens is the headlights lights brightness seems to fluctuate and the radio cuts in and out. Then their is a message on the cluster that says urgent alternator system repair with the battery symbol illuminated. Then after a few more minutes I get an ABS light in the cluster the Power steering stops working and the car dies and cannot be started or driven. But after about 20 min the car can be started and driven a shot distance. after leaving the car overnight the car will run great until the 20 min mark when it all starts again. I have taken it in to our local dealership, they seem to be stumped, they replaced the CEM ($1000), which had no effect. Please help as I cannot afford to sink more $ into this car Reply 0 0 I love these cars View Public Profile Send a private message to I love these cars Find all posts by I love these cars Oct 22, 2018 | 12:19 PM Share Share Options #2 habbyguy Senior Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,372 Likes: 110 From: Mesa, AZ Sure sounds like a generic alternator failure. Yes, it could be something that feeds / controls the alternator, but alternators DO wear out and DO fail, while electronics tend to not be the problem. I hope you were able to recover the $1000 for the non-repair - yikes! This shouldn't really be a tough problem for a good shop to fix, if it's repeating consistently, maybe you could pull into the shop while the car is misbehaving so they can take a couple simple (read "cheap") measurements which will tell them definitively whether it's the alternator, or something else (wiring / connector / battery / computer). Reply 0 0 habbyguy View Public Profile Send a private message to habbyguy Find all posts by habbyguy Oct 22, 2018 | 12:52 PM Share Share Options #3 I love these cars Thread Starter | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 OK Thanks, I just thought the alternator was fine because it seems to be charging fine, and the battery hasn't lost a step. But, I guess it could be a communication error between the computer and the alternator. I do have an OBD2 scanner and it doesn't tell me anything. Thanks, I will try to take it in when the problems are occurring, the only problem is I live about 45 min from the dealership. Reply 0 0 I love these cars View Public Profile Send a private message to I love these cars Find all posts by I love these cars Oct 22, 2018 | 01:31 PM Share Share Options #4 habbyguy Senior Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,372 Likes: 110 From: Mesa, AZ Life is a lot easier if you have a voltmeter (and know the basics about how to use it). That way, you could just check the voltage at the battery and see if the alternator is putting out close to 14 volts. If it isn't, it's a bit more complicated to check out if the voltage sensing circuit is working right (or not). Voltmeters can be had dirt cheap from Harbor Freight (for example), and in fact, they often run a special where you can get a free voltmeter (you need a coupon - just keep your eyes open for one). They're not great meters, but are great to keep in the glovebox or trunk for an emergency. Barring that, there are small cigarette lighter plug-in voltmeters that can be had for a few bucks, and would let you keep an eye on the charging system real-time (so you'd have more notice when it was going south). Here's the cheapest amazon meter I found in a very quick search (not endorsing this particular one, but it should be adequate for your needs)… Amazon Amazon Reply 0 0 habbyguy View Public Profile Send a private message to habbyguy Find all posts by habbyguy Feb 25, 2019 | 11:56 AM Share Share Options #5 I love these cars Thread Starter | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 so, here is an update, I did not drive the car because it has been unreliable and I was waiting to get the cigarette lighter volt meter from Amazon. It has now come and I have some more information, for the first 15 min. of the ride the voltmeter reads anywhere from 14.8-15.2 volts (seems a little high). Then after 15min. the volts drop to about 12 and eventually lower about 11 then the dash lights come on about the alternator. while this is occurring the headlights seem to become dim as the volts drop and the radio intermittently cuts in and out. this seems to me to be a problem with the Regulator, thoughts... Reply 0 0 I love these cars View Public Profile Send a private message to I love these cars Find all posts by I love these cars Feb 25, 2019 | 01:53 PM Share Share Options #6 habbyguy Senior Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,372 Likes: 110 From: Mesa, AZ I agree with your assessment. Almost certainly a voltage regulator (or general alternator) issue. If it was a "loose wire" somewhere, chances are that it wouldn't be related to heat, or take 15 minutes to show up. It's still theoretically possible that there's a loose connection somewhere that's NOT in the alternator, but if it was my vehicle, I'd just swap out the alternator. Those cig plug voltage monitors are pretty cool, huh? ;-) Reply 0 0 habbyguy View Public Profile Send a private message to habbyguy Find all posts by habbyguy Feb 25, 2019 | 05:14 PM Share Share Options #7 mt6127 Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 9,585 Likes: 536 From: Burlington, VT +1 on the Voltage regulator. Sounds like one of the diodes warms up then open circuits and you start running off the battery. When that drains down below 12.5 volts, odd things start happening. I bet if you sprayed some cold on the regulator it'd come back to life. Does it go back to 14V after shutting off the engine and restarting? Note on some alternators you can replace the regulator and keep the rest of the altnerator. Not sure if that's an option for the 06. Reply 0 0 mt6127 View Public Profile Send a private message to mt6127 Find all posts by mt6127 Feb 25, 2019 | 08:21 PM Share Share Options #8 I love these cars Thread Starter | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Ok great thanks for the help, I will keep you posted. thanks again Reply 0 0 I love these cars View Public Profile Send a private message to I love these cars Find all posts by I love these cars Feb 26, 2019 | 01:11 PM Share Share Options #9 I love these cars Thread Starter | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Hey guys, sorry for all of the questions. Can I just replace the Voltage regulator or do I have to replace the entire alternator? Reply 0 0 I love these cars View Public Profile Send a private message to I love these cars Find all posts by I love these cars Feb 26, 2019 | 02:40 PM Share Share Options #10 habbyguy Senior Member Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,372 Likes: 110 From: Mesa, AZ Good question. I guess I'd be less likely to try that unless I was able to conclusively prove to myself that the problem WAS "just" the voltage regulator. In your case, this may well be possible by idling the car until you have the problem (or driving it, then pulling over) and then monitoring the output voltage of the regulator (aka "battery voltage") while you spray the voltage regulator (the part that the plastic connector plugs into on your alternator) with a cooling spray of some sort. If the voltage immediately returns to "full charge", you will know that you probably CAN get away with replacing just the VR. OTOH, there could be other failures that are causing the problem, internal to the alternator (intermittent diode, connections, brushes, etc.). If so, you'll spend quite a bit of money and time swapping out the VR for nothing. And let's face it, if your alternator has a boatload of miles on it, it might not make sense to put TOO much money into fixing the alternator instead of replacing it with a new or remanufactured unit (assuming it was reman'd by a good vendor, of course). Reply 0 0 habbyguy View Public Profile Send a private message to habbyguy Find all posts by habbyguy Mar 6, 2019 | 02:33 PM Share Share Options #11 Hudini Senior Member Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,839 Likes: 17 From: Shanghai, China If you can find a supplier I would love to know it. It's not that you can't replace the voltage regulator, it's just that no one sells it to the public. I found a local shop that does alternator rebuilding and had them use the better quality parts. Reply 0 0 Hudini View Public Profile Send a private message to Hudini Find all posts by Hudini Reply Subscribe Related Topics Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post my s40 electrical nightmare Mike Remmel Volvo S40 2 Aug 12, 2018 03:46 PM How sensitive is it to voltage? 05 s40 2.4i alternator/battery issues? AEndy Volvo S40 2 Dec 17, 2013 09:47 PM 2006 Electrical Issue jamesp Volvo S40 4 Aug 11, 2013 12:33 PM 1992 - 240 possible alternator problems. harebearva Volvo 240, 740 & 940 10 Aug 20, 2012 03:24 PM alternator wiring problem gman2 Volvo 240, 740 & 940 1 Mar 28, 2007 02:17 PM Back to Subforum Volvo S40 View Next Unread P0015 and Cam Seals Thread Tools Show Printable Version Search this Thread Advanced Search Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page Advanced Search Reply Closed Thread Share

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