I bought a 1993 245 for parts which I've decided to turn into my work/daily driver. The car is essentially a kit car because the PO either did custom modifications or just tore things apart and left them hang. The entire dash/console assembly had been disassembled. So I have several questions:

1) I don't have any defroster air flow. All the Vac tubes seem to be connected correctly, but when I push the upper button, no air comes out. If I work the little bellows manually.. tons of air. I don't quite know how to trouble shoot the vacuum system - Help.

2) Running under the console towards the shifter is a light grey (maybe faded blue) cable housing with cable just hanging free. The housing ends in a square black fitting, with the actual cable ending in a ball end/connector. It runs under the console and up into the dash behind/under the center heating vent. At that point, I can't see where the cable ends. I also can't seem to find where either the ball end of the cable or square fitting on the cable housing go. I've searched several parts diagrams and can't find the cable. I've attached a close up of the end and where the cable runs under the console. Can anyone tell me what that cable might be and where/how it attaches?

3) I have no power to my reverse lights so I suspect its a dirty/defective reverse switch. How do you actually test that switch? In other words, which terminals would you check for hot, etc?

Thanks!

 

For the defrost, chase the vacuum from the engine and make sure all the tubing is in place. In the engine compartment, the vacuum for the hvac system originates from the top of the intake manifold. There is a large vacuum connector there that runs to a black & white plastic check valve. The other end of the check valve should have a small vacuum hose that runs over and through the firewall on the passenger side of the car. On the inside of the car, this small vacuum hose runs to a vacuum reservoir which looks like 4 white plastic ***** glued together. From there a vacuum hose should run to the hvac distribution switch.

Chase down this circuit making sure you have vacuum at each point in it.

Regarding the cable that runs to the center console, I really have no idea what it might be. The only cable I am aware of in the center console is the one that runs from the temperature hot/cold lever to the heater control valve. On my car ('90 240), it doesn't look like what you show in the picture. Perhaps they changed the design in '93? I doubt it though.

 

Does the cable end move when the gear shift lever it moved? I think that it was tied in to the ignition switch.

 

Good point VolvoDoc. In '91 they introduced the interlock where you have to have your foot on the brake before shifting into gear. Perhaps that is what the cable is for. The ignition interlock - meaning you can't crank the engine unless in neutral or park - is strictly electronic though.

 

The end near the shifter was disconnected when I got the car. I tried looking for someplace on the shifter shifter/body where the ball end or the square fitting connected. Somewhere along the line somebody bypassed the Ignition part of the switch because the engine cranks with a push button switch. You can actually have the car off and still crank the engine. Won't fire of course, but will crank all day long. Ask me how I know about that little gem.