I'm having some electrical problems with my 1989 volvo 240.

1. My rear power windows do not work. Neither from the drivers controls or the individual doors.

2. My headlights don't always work. I have to keep turning them off and on. Or start then turn off then restart over and over until the headlights start working.

3. Windshield wipers don't always work.

4. The aftermarket stereo does not always work. Just like the headlights if I start and restart over and over sometimes the stereo will work. Once I turn the key to the first click (assecories) the stereo works. But once I continue to turn the key to the start position the stereo turns off.

5. My trunk no longer opens. Even when I place the lock switch in the open position I can't open the trunk by hand.


I have noticed that if the stereo works while I'm driving so does the headlights and windshield wipers. This car is new to me so I don't know what was done to it before I own it. I bought this car about a month ago. I just recently replaced the rack and pinion, tie rod ends, removed and clean intake manifold, throttle body, flame trap and hoses, oil trap, and new gaskets.

Thanks

 

I had similar things with my 1990 240 - intermittent washers, horn, sometimes restarting helped. Then windows all died completely, so I looked at the fuses. The one for the windows was shot - the metal strip was actually powdery. While I was there, even though it looked fine, I switched out the fuse for the windshield wipers, which are on the same circuit at the horn, and everything has been working fine. It was so simple I actually resisted doing it for a while.

 

I have the some window problem with my 1990 240 DL but I just bought it so I haven't had much of a chance to look at it.

 

So now, a year later, still problems. The windows died completely which made it awkward going through customs. It got to the point that I would stop, put in a fuse, open the windows so I could talk to the customs agent and then have to stop again, put in another fuse to close the window. My local guy looked it over and said that the air conditioning relay was bad. So I took the car back while he had the relay on order and the windows work fine, all the time, so when he had trouble finding the right relay (Volvo sent the wrong one) I told him not to worry. I don't need airconditioning in Canada anyway.

So the windshield wipers (and of course horn and fan) are intermittent again. Changed fuses, but it didn't help. Every third or fourth startup, I have wipers, so every time I need to go someplace, I check to make sure I have wipers and restart if necessary, sometimes several times. When they do work, they work perfectly. Fuses are not blowing, motor is not straining, rhythm is ok. I asked my local guy if he knew of another relay he could take out! I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks.

 

I had this and it was the battery ground, check negative battery strap. Pull out the battery and clean and replace the ground strap to the body, scrap off the paint while your at it.

Pull all the fuses, wire brush and clean the fuse block with electrical cleaner. Replace with new copper fuses.

But in the end wiring harnesses with aftermarket radios and car alarms are the pits to work on.