Ele system

[woodways3]

Hi this message has come up in the window .Elec System Service required.What does it mean ? 2002 V70S auto.

[Georgeandkira]

I've never seen that message, nor one as brief. Perhaps others have.

Q1 is always: Were there any codes or "check engine light"? I'd assume you would've mentioned the latter at the very least.

The first thing I'd do is make sure the battery was fully charged.
After an overnight set, a starting battery should read 12.2V or more. Our cars are finicky with regards to low voltage.

Do you have a volt meter (or multimeter)?

You might benefit from removing the battery from the vehicle before charging.
Sometimes physical damage can reveal itself when the battery is removed.

Also, removal from the vehicle isolates the car's electrical system from amateurish charging procedures.
And remember, we're all amateurs here.

[woodways3]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

I've never seen that message, nor one as brief. Perhaps others have.

Q1 is always: Were there any codes or "check engine light"? I'd assume you would've mentioned the latter at the very least.

The first thing I'd do is make sure the battery was fully charged.
After an overnight set, a starting battery should read 12.2V or more. Our cars are finicky with regards to low voltage.

Do you have a volt meter (or multimeter)?

You might benefit from removing the battery from the vehicle before charging.
Sometimes physical damage can reveal itself when the battery is removed.

Also, removal from the vehicle isolates the car's electrical system from amateurish charging procedures.
And remember, we're all amateurs here.

HI the car is with my daughter in Portugal she's driven a few thousand miles .It starts fine and it had a recon alternater fitted a couple of years ago .Would codes show up in the window without a scanner ?

[stuart bowes]

Probably need a proper scanner not the usual cheap obd2 which I'm guessing would only show the basic engine faults at best (mine doesn't even connect)

These power system faults do get mentioned from time to time and the prevailing comments tend to be alternator related, there's a .. I want to say, resistor? Rectifier? .. on there that also could be the problem . Very vague from me sorry . Would start by searching on alternator faults and seeing what other people have said

That is once you've checked the battery as George rightly says

[Georgeandkira]

Hey s.b. I should plan a trip by making stops with my PPC reader to help members.

To woodways3: I believe the familiar format codes (P0442 etc.) do not appear on that screen but I have seen machine language codes, say, a "56" or the like, in it.
There might be a button press sequence which will reveal these numbers, but a more competent reader should be used.

Attaching a charger on the battery and cleaning the terminals -both posts and clamps...with baking soda and water- has always been Step #1.

Can your daughter do any of this herself? Likely she does not have a charger.

Also, as s.b. alluded, parts within the alternator can fail and are part of good quality rebuilds. The rectifier and voltage regulator can fail....even in relatively new rebuilds.

Before these problems occur is when a common "charging system check" can pay off. Sorry I'm an ocean away.

[stuart bowes]

Voltage regulator . That's what I was thinking of cheers

[woodways3]

Originally Posted by woodways3

HI the car is with my daughter in Portugal she's driven a few thousand miles .It starts fine and it had a recon alternater fitted a couple of years ago .Would codes show up in the window without a scanner ?

Would this message appear if the battery is on its lst legs ,its 4.5 years old which had a 3year warranty ?

[Georgeandkira]

"Would this message appear if the battery is on its lst legs ,its 4.5 years old which had a 3year warranty ?"

Today's vehicles cause the battery to work harder. Parasitic losses are a common phenomenon.

Also, if indeed there is something wrong with the charging system, the expected life of a battery can be disregarded. An abused battery will fail sooner.

Does your daughter know how to check electrolyte level, for example?

With regards to the message appearing if the battery is on its last legs.....
The answer is yes. The elaborate communications systems in vehicles now-a-days feels weak voltage, and likely detects slower operation times, in an array of nodes. They have performance algorithms which will trigger a variety of warnings if each measured item isn't performing well.

For example: "Communications Error" is one message you can see and it can be generated by weak voltage.

It's more complicated than I can explain....but I know it's happening.

STEP #1: See to it the battery is 'present and accounted for'.