Volvo S40 car battery replacement & fitting

What does a car battery do?

The car battery is responsible for powering all of the electric components in your car. As well as the lights, stereo, windscreen wipers, etc. it is also responsible for powering the ignition system that starts your engine and keeps it running.

How often should a car battery need replacing?

A car battery is to have an expected lifespan of between 4 to 6 years. This is dependent on several factors, for example, the quality of the battery, weather conditions, vehicle type, driving habits, and vehicle type.

The law, vehicle regulations, and your MOT

The physical condition of your battery will not cause your car to fail an MOT, but if the car won’t start, run or operate the electrical components properly because of your battery, then that will.

What happens when we replace your car battery?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will inspect your battery for correct operation, signs of corrosion and will be load tested to ascertain its ability to retain charge.
• Wherever required your battery will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.
• You will also be advised of any other parts, for example, the cables, that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the battery has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure the correct running of your car and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

What causes a car battery to stop working correctly?

Your battery is continually being charged by your car’s alternator while driving, so it’s only through damage or that it has reached the end of its operational life, that it will fail to hold its charge.

On occasions when there has been excessive electrical use without your battery being recharged, your battery will be drained. A drained battery will only require a recharge unless the battery is faulty and its failed operation was instrumental to the drain.

After prolonged use, a car battery can leak the acid that holds the electrical charge. This liquid will turn to a white or bluish powder where it dries, so is fairly easy to spot.

Eventually, a battery will simply reach the end of its life. At this point, it’s time to organise a replacement.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning car battery

If your car won’t start

If your car doesn’t start when you turn the ignition switch, especially when the engine doesn’t make any attempt to turn over, your battery could be flat.

None of the electrical components work

If the lights, fan, radio or any other electrical components in your car don’t turn on or operate, then your battery could be drained or damaged.

The terminals are corroded

If the terminals (connection points) on your battery are corroded, then your battery is likely to be damaged or worn out.

Your battery has powdery deposits on it

If there are white or blueish powdery deposits on any parts of the battery, this is a sign of acid leaking and incorrect operation of your battery.

Volvo

Volvo Cars is a Swedish luxury vehicle manufacturer, established in April 1927, over 90 years ago.

How popular is Volvo in the United Kingdom?

With around 645k cars on the roads in the UK today, Volvo is a considerable contributor to the UK motor industry.

With a steady rise in status from the boxy estate models popular in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Volvo now produces a strong, executive range of luxury, performance vehicles.

Luxurious executive saloons, estate cars and SUVs

Sticking to the market they understand best, Volvo produces a small range of estate cars and a selection of bang-on-trend SUVs, complimented by 2 luxury saloon models. In other words, Volvo makes cars for ‘grown-up’ drivers where it knows its customers inside out.

Volvo: Exceptional aims for in-car safety

One of Volvo’s key visions is to provide a level of unrivalled safety inside their vehicles and has proven to be a dedicated leader in the field. Their current vision is that nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car by 2020.

Pursuing perfection through Volvo technology

The ethos behind Volvo reaches further than just selling units and making a profit. By putting their customers first, they have committed to creating vehicles where ownership gives quality time back to their drivers, are environmentally efficient and exceptionally safe.

Using modern technology and striving to develop the systems to lead the field, is something they take very seriously. After all, this is the company that brought drivers:

• The 3-point safety seatbelt
• The Lambda Sond emissions detector responsible for reducing harmful fumes by 90%
• Side impact, whiplash, and roll-over protection
• Blind spot systems
• City safety scanning
• Pedestrian detection
• Auto-braking

Volvo’s reliability and reputation

Volvo ranked joint 20th out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018 with an efficiency rating of 91.5%.

Recent Volvo recalls and reliability issues

Various recalls have been made on Volvo models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.

13/04/2019 – Volvo XC60 (2017–2018)

Due to cold temperatures the tailgate lifting arms could freeze and consequently become loose, bend or completely separate

29/03/2019 – Volvo XC90, XC70, XC60, V70, V60/Cross Country, V40/Cross Country, S80 and S60/Cross Country (2014–2016)

Cracks in the fuel hose may cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment

09/02/2019 – Volvo XC90, XC60, XC40, V90/Cross Country, V60/Cross Country and S90 (2016–2018)

A software problem has been detected in the communication module of the emergency call system

03/11/2018

As a result of incorrect assembly, the brake pedal may move out of position

18/08/2017 – Volvo XC90 (2016)

Faulty crimping of the micro-gas generator for the seatbelt tensioner in the third row of seats

21/03/2017 – Volvo XC90, V90/Cross Country and S90/Cross Country (2016–2017)

The bolts that secure the inflatable curtain airbags in place my break

23/01/2017 – Volvo XC90, XC60, V60/Cross Country, S90 and S60/Cross Country/S60L (2015–2016)

The front passenger seatbelt buckle can be incorrectly fastened

15/01/2017 – Volvo XC90, V90, S90, XC60, V60/Cross Country, S60/Cross Country and V40/Cross Country (2016–2017)

Due to a problem with the airbag inflators, the airbags may fail to deploy in the event of a crash

All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.