Volvo help (charging system)

I know a lot of you here own Volvo's and I hate brickboards setup - so I'll try here first. My brother has a 1994 850 and recently it hasn't been holding a charge. So far he has replaced the battery, and after that didn't solve the problem he had a mechanic check it out and they replaced the alternator.

It's still not starting. He can get it started if he gets a jump, but even after he drives the car for over an hour, then turns off and immediately tries to start, it still won't turn over. His lights dim when he brakes (after he gets it started). I'm baffled here - does anybody have any idea what else it could be? We're hesitant to bring it back to the shop because it was >$500 last time and nothing changed.


Thanks

Peter

[wbain5280]

Check the voltage regulator in the back of the alternator. Check the light bulb in the instrument panel, if it's burned out, there is no power to the rotor coils and no voltage is produced. You check it by turning the key to 'on' and looking for the lighted alternator indicator.

This is a good site for repairs, by a Volvo Master Service technician.

http://volvospeed.com/maintence.htm

Also, check the battery cables for corrosion. Clean the battery connections.

How old is the current battery?

Thanks for the reply - will check the light. If the alternator has been replaced with a new unit, wouldn't it come with a new voltage regulator? The battery is about 3 weeks old now, so I don't think that is the problem. I'll go ahead and check the battery cables, but I think they should be ok, because he's able to jump it.

Any other things I should check while I'm out there?

Peter

[wbain5280]

Make sure the connections are tight and disconnect the negative battery cable first before tightening up any connections.