Volvo Repair: battery/alternator/electrical, crank pulley, dashboard lights

Question
1990 240DL 210,000+ miles no major repairs have been made.
This past winter my battery actually froze, the fluid level was low, and no electrolytes were present. I put the battery on a deep charge over a weekend. This seemed to correct the problem. Now, approx. 6 weeks later, I was driving normally, and my dashboard lights dimmed as well as my headlights and my stereo cut out. My brake lights also stopped working and the SRS light came on. I was pulling up to a stop light and the car just stopped running. I had the car jumped, and reconnected a vacume hose, which seemed to work for about 20 min. or so, then the same problem occured. Now when i try to start the car, the dash lights will come on, but the engine will not even attempt to turn over (just like when my battery was frozen). What do you think the best plan of attack is? Do you think it could be a faulty battery or alternator, or possibly a major electrical problem?

Answer
well the alternator is not charging the battery. you need to check the wires going to the alternator, if they arent broken, you might be able to just put in a brush pack. its behind the alternator. be sure you have 14v after you put it in. to verify that you have it in correctly. check the wires where they go under the crank pulley, they often fray/break there. as for the battery, the running of it low such as this, it is probably time for a new one.