Hello. I have a 2002 Volvo v70 AWD. The center brake light works but the left and right brake lights quit working about 3 months ago. I replaced the relevant REM fuse and the brake lights still did not work. Found a forum thread where about 6 people had the same problem. They all said they replaced the brake relay and that fixed their problem. So I went to the volvo dealer and got the latest brake relay. They have had several updates on this relay I was told by the dealer. I put the relay in and the brake lights came right on and worked right for about 2 months. Then the brake lights went out again and came back on and went off and came back on several times with different durations from several days to a minute. I have a copy of the wiring diagram (u2dk.jpg (650×938) (imageshack.com)) and would like to check the signal from the relay to the outboard brake light fuse (11d/14 it says on the brake light wiring diagram) and after that fuse, but don't know where its located, and don't know what the signal should be before or after that fuse. Any help or any other suggestions on this would be appreciated. Thanks.
clifft

 

You may have a bad connection on 20/31 the brake light shunt. Or I have seen many melted connections at the bulb holder inside the lenses (and replaced many brake light assemblies)
My factory copies of wiring diagrams - do not show fuse d14 for a 2001 or 2002. That fuse (powering the outer brake lights) first appears in the 2003 wiring diagram.

 

Thanks hoonk. I appreciate your time.

 

Hello again,

I have a 2002 Volvo fuses and relay diagram (below) of the REM for the 2002 year and it looks like mine. It says that position 19 is for a brake light jumper. The parts houses are all telling me that part 9442190 is a black resistor (grey no longer made) and thats the one I need. But when I search for that number in any of the parts houses, they tell me its a Fuel Pump Driver Module. First, I'm thinking jumper and resistor are 2 words for the same thing? Position 19 to 23 are all jumpers and none mention fuel in the diagram below. Position 24 is not specified. Can the same resistor be used for more than 1 function? I must admit I'm confused. Any help on this will be appreciated. The dealer here has not been much help. Their REM diagram does not even have a position 19. It only goes to 17, Thanks.

19 Jumper - brake lights
20 Jumper - rear position lamps
21 Jumper - rear position lamps
22 Jumper - auxiliary equipment power connector in the luggage compartment
23 Jumper - fog lights

Volvo XC70 / V70 models 2000 - 2005

 

Below is what happens when I google 9442190. I trust you have tested your "resister" and verified it is bad (by swapping with one of the others) - before purchasing one. What "parts houses" are you looking in? Your standard auto parts stores on the corner will not have that part -

 

Here is an example from Boston Volvo

Fuel Pump Driver Module (Rear, Black)

Part Number: 9442190

❮❯Resistor. Central Electronic Module (CEM). Control Units. Electronic Module (REM). Included in Passenger Compartment Cable Harness. .
Relay and Fuse Box Passenger Compartment (CEM).
Fuel Pump Driver Module.

And is that 11D/14 fuse a standard size 7,5 AMP fuse? I called a local parts house and they gave me a choice of 3 sizes.

 

As mentioned Fuse 14 is not used in a 2002 - it is in a 2003+

 

Ok. So the 2002 Volvo V70 XC does not have the outboard fuse inline? I misunderstood. I thought you were saying it was there in the 2002 car, but not shown in the 2002 diagram.
hoonk, thanks very much for all your help.

 

The 2002 does not have a fuse 14 in the REM for brake lights. 2003+ does.

 

hoonk,

Yes, the fuse 14 position does not have a fuse in it in my car. I am going to just replace the resistor, but I'll test it first by replacing resistor 19 with resistor 23 for the fog lights. The part is inexpensive and its some effort to get the side panel off. It's a 2-man job for me and the vent plastic is getting brittle. When the lights went out, I replaced the F3 fuse first and it did not help. I put a new brake relay in and the lights came right on and worked as expected for about 2 months. Then the brake lights started going off and on. I always test my lights when I get in the car and the car is in the garage. Sometimes the lights would stay on for 30 seconds and fade out. Sometimes they worked right again for 2 weeks or a couple of days. If the resistor does not help, I'm thinking of cleaning the contacts and contact receptacles. It could be wiring on the back of the REM, but that would be a later determination. That the relay brought the lights back on is some evidence that the REM is working. I'm not a mechanic for sure. Do you think that is the next step and how do you clean a contact receptacle? I don't see a splitter in the diagram you posted earlier. The 2 signals to each brake light come right out of the resistor. To the end of the line, the brake lights worked as expected after replacing the relay for a while and when the lights were in the on posture.

Thanks again.
Cliff

 

And what do think about a software update. The dealer mentioned this among other things. Its an old car that runs good at more than 200k miles. The software in the car seems to be working. Has an update been suggested officially by Volvo? I'm not sure how to answer these question. This actually my son's car. He is letting me use it for awhile and I thought I would repay the favor by fixing a few things. I'm learning. Thanks.

 

A software update for your car is not like a software update on your Iphone. You will not get new emojis or any new features.

Don't spend ANY money on a software update (unless replacing a module with a NEW module - then it may be required)