Battery lead Volvo 444/445 (B4B/B16)

A sluggish start, a click in the starter motor, or dim lights often point to tired battery cables and corroded earth points rather than a bad battery. On a 444/445 with the B16 it is especially sensitive: the system voltage came in different versions and can vary between model years between 6 and 12 volts, so check which version your car has. At low system voltage, thick, clean conductors are required for the starter motor to pull fully. An oxidized earth braid between the motor, body and chassis is a classic check point with this type of starting problem.