I got pulled over today because most of my break lights were out. I was suprised. Anyway, my parking lights work fine but when i use the break, the only bulb that goes on is the passenger side and none of the other ones. I checked the bulbs and they look ok and i even tried the one bulb that works in the other 3 spots for bulbs and i got nothing. I do not know what wrong or what i can do to help this. I did see that one bulb looked like it wanted to be bright but couldent. Are there fuses for each side of the car? or something like that? I really dont know what to do, and i do not want another police stop. Thanks.

 

I'm battling the same thing with my 240 too. Last night I noticed my left brake light didn't work, so I swapped out the bulb holders with the right side and then the parking light wouldn't work but the brake light did. I'm going to pick up new bulbs today because I did notice that the contacts on the bulb were a bit deformed looking from the holders. I bet a new set of bulbs will help you but then again I don't know much about the 740's tail light assembly and how it works. Could be the same as mine but my 740 knowledge is pretty much nil....

 

UPDATE: I got some new bulbs but i dont think they are the issue. I was messing with the bulb failure fuse thing and that looked good so i took it out and put it back in. I then was wiggling wires that connect to the rear tail lights and now i got both passenger and driver side break lights to work, but only the very far ones, so basicaly when i use the breaks only 2 bulbs total come on. The other 2 nearer to the middle of the car still dont work. I cant figuer this out!!! Do i need new parts? or what, any help guys? Thanks.

 

You only have1 brake light bulb in the each of the main light units. You may also have a high level brake light but that is not in the main light units.

 

I got some answers from a buddy, and he said it may be the circuit board...or something like that? It wears out over time he was saying.

 

I have looked and looked....but i cant find these circuit boards online...any help?

 

I think you would be better off and probably come out cheaper if you just buy the whole unit colgate. I bought mine from www.lampsandlenses.com for about $50 each and that included new circuit boards.

 

Thanks, i checked them out and for $66 each i can get new ones, but they did not say anything about including the circuit board etc...but you said they do? Is there a return policy? thanks.

 

I would give them a call and see colgate. Heck man, I don't even know if the 740's have circuit boards on the tail lamps, once again I replied to a question thinking 240 the whole time (I really need to pay more attention to the model in the question before I rattle off a reply). Give them a call and I'm sure they will be able to lead you in the right direction.

 

Yeah, thoes do not come with the circuits etc....so i wont be doing that. But i got in touch with a local Volvo dealer and for $35 each i can get new circuits. I am leaning in that direction but im in no hurry, i got part of my break lights working for now ( wiggling wires etc...) so ill see if maybe i can clean the circuits up this weekend or something like that.

 

Update again: I checked my turn signals and here is the deal...the drive side works and is fine, but when i turn the passenger side turn signal on, my spoiler light blinks as do my parking lights on the passenger side, along with the blinker itsself. Could it be the circuits causing all of this??? Or are my problems deeper?

 

I would see if "Tech" agrees with me on this one before you go ripping and tearing but I had a similiar thing happen to an older chevy that I was working on and it turned out to be corrosion in the turn signal stalk. Made everything appear to have a bad ground and cuased erratic operation of other lights. What I'm not sure of is if the 740's often suffer the same problems as the mid 90's chevy I was working on so see what Tech has to say as well.

 

This is a problem on most all older 2's and 7's all my troubles were traced to the connection at the tail light were the plug slides over the male contact of the printed board. It takes some real cleaning of contacts (both) also try after cleaning using a hair dryed on plug and after it has warmed up squeeze it together and hold it till it cools it should make tighter contact.
Guy

 

Also check the contacts for both rust and height and clean and /or adjust as needed. Those bullb holders' tabs get too squished down and rusty over the years. The cure may be as simple as that.

 

Thanks a lot guys for all the input. As of today all the bulbs work so im not going to touch it. If it aint broke...etc.., but i just realized that i have "rear fog lights". I hit that stwich on the dash, got out and looked at the rear tail lights, and bam new lights i dident even know worked came on. Kinda cool.

 

Hello I'm a newbie. I have about the same problem but on an 86 740 gle. Only all of my lights work but no break lights. I've replaced bulbs, foot peddle switch, relay, fuses and still no break lights. The one thing I haven't tried is replacing the circuit board. Thanks for the idea.

 

Also check the bulb failure relay.

 

Long time no update...Once again my break lights went out. Both sides are out and i dont know what to do. My spoiler lights up but not the tail lights. I wiggled wires like last time but still nothing. I am going to try and give them a good cleaning and hope that helps. Also how does one know when the bulb fail relay is bad? Thanks.

 

Also, i think maybe the Stoplight Switch is bad. The only problem is, im not sure where this is located.

 

...Also, after a good cleaning i have the same probelm. All blinkers and parking lights work but no break lights.