electrical problems with 1995 white gm volvo intregal sleeper

Discussion in 'Volvo Forum' started by bigmur, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    The belts are the serpentine type multiple grooves and there's no cracks or too much wear. Tightened the short belt that runs aircon and alternator and is charging ok. Constant starting every 30 seconds is draining power from batteries plus charger is going to be left on for awhile until I can get them fully charged. I'm thinking it probably won't make any difference but see what happens later.
     
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  3. David_Simpson

    David_Simpson Medium Load Member

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    just because the ECM was swapped out before, does not mean this one is a good one. the one in there now (if not the original) could have been from a rebuilt ECM company or a junkyard. as far as "house calls", no shop really wastes time with that stuff anymore. they send out a wrecker and haul it in. too many things to check outdoors or in a barn, rather than in a shop with the tools and equipment.

    i have no more suggestions

    good luck, keep us informed.
     
    bigmur Thanks this.
  4. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    Hi it has a push button diagnostic and only one code shows, it is 27 and it showed before when fluid light was off or on.

    This has not been anything easy to fix, older truck older wiring hours and hours in two repair shops??? The independent shop got closer to a possible fix than the Volvo dealer last year. If I can get it to run I'm taking it back in so this is where I'm at right now....
     
  5. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    Oh yeah I'm not betting the farm on the swap myself but I can only go by what the Volvo shop foreman told me.
     
  6. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    bad batteries?

    Ive been taught that when you run out of ideas and still have to feed a battery it has to be battery.

    Then again if there is a active short or drain it makes no different if you had God's Batteries.

    Here is something for you to chew on. Those mains from the battery to your cab and engine bay.. are they rubbing the frame? Or bouncing off the sleeper. It's really rare but something worth looking at.
     
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  7. David_Simpson

    David_Simpson Medium Load Member

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    if from the volvo shop, it could have been a rebuilt one, to save money over a brand new one. you would have known the price differences.

    there is a way to "stress test" the ECM, but that has to be done at the garage itself, or at the supplier.
     
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  8. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    The swap out ecm was only tried out then original was put back in. The wiring was checked out from batteries through truck wherever they they go to. Cables were replaced that had wear. Truck has been used very little since then but I can check it out again myself. Yes better to get it back to a shop because it's handier of course for the shop mechanics to test but I'm stuck here for now so just want to wait and see if I can get the voltage back up on the batteries first. I don't have a tester to check ECM it's old type, round connector under dash. 6 pin I think. It's possible the swap ECM was faulty but they are not going to put a new one in unless I pay the $2000 plus for it. I have spent well over 6000 dollars just on this problem already not to mention the 500 dollars plus for new batteries last year. There has to be a solution somehow. Surely someone out there even if they are retired now should have had some experience with this problem.
     
  9. David_Simpson

    David_Simpson Medium Load Member

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    you know, one other thing, the wires may have been chewed by either field mice, squirrels or other rodents, since i think you live on a farm? (you said you haul grain??)

    any rodent can get up into the nooks and crannies and chew all day long.

    many years ago, manufacturers started using wiring with the insulation made from soybeans, not rubber or plastic from years ago. when warmed up (carrying an electrical load) the wires gives off a sent that can be attractive to the rodents.

    one article
    http://www.wptv.com/money/consumer/...ts-munching-mice-so-toyota-created-a-solution

    and another

    http://www.synlube.com/IncredibleEdibleCar1.htm


    there can be a nest of rodents in your truck right now, having a feast on your wiring.

    you may have to get up and under your dash, and deep into the engine bay to look for damaged wires. (the insulation and wires touching)

    in fact, my sis had a car a 1996 chevy, and a rat chewed the wires to the throttle body. i had just enough wire left to make a splice.

    after this suggestion, to look for chewed wires, can;t imagine what else.
     
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  10. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    I'm not trying to be a jerk about this to anyone that has been trying to help me. This has just been very exasperating and costly. It's very hard to make this truck pay when it's broke down all the time. Using it just for a short period of time during harvest is when it's needed most. Hauls are very short so buying a new truck was not within my budget at te time.
     
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  11. bigmur

    bigmur Bobtail Member

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    x1Heavy Thanks this.
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