Ground or short problem
#1
12-07-2015, 01:53 PM
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Ground or short problem
I have a 1980 volvo GL series.
A few months ago I had an oil gasket on the valve cover blow out spraying oil all over the inside of the engine compartment. When this happened I was driving down the road and the "brake failure light-brake light -amp light-headlight "-lights on the instrument panel started flickering off and on, and I stopped and discovered the problem with the oil all over on the inside of the compartment. Not sure if it was part of the problem, but some of the oil got into the alternator, and it crashed a couple days later, and I got that fixed by a fellow who deals with starters and alternators, and it was tested, and is working fine. However the lights on the instrument panel have continued to flicker intermittently.
I have had some problems with a back tail light or brake light on the left side blowing every once in a while, and discovered that the relay , although working at this time is defective and it will be replaced ASAP.
I have spoken to mechanics, and most groan and say -when the car dies I can look at it..
I looked at the fuse panel, and it seems the rear RIGHT tail light is also connected to the instrument panel lights, but the problem with the light blowing every once in a whiile is the LEFT rear light.
now I know that somewhere in there the left and right rear lights are connected together, the question is -could the 2 problems- the left rear, lighting system and the instrument panel be connected???
I asked a fellow if he thought the relay could be causing the problem, and he figured that even though the relay has a problem, that it sounds more like too much voltage and not a proper ground somewhere..
Any thoughts?
Would be appreciated.
Thanks..
A few months ago I had an oil gasket on the valve cover blow out spraying oil all over the inside of the engine compartment. When this happened I was driving down the road and the "brake failure light-brake light -amp light-headlight "-lights on the instrument panel started flickering off and on, and I stopped and discovered the problem with the oil all over on the inside of the compartment. Not sure if it was part of the problem, but some of the oil got into the alternator, and it crashed a couple days later, and I got that fixed by a fellow who deals with starters and alternators, and it was tested, and is working fine. However the lights on the instrument panel have continued to flicker intermittently.
I have had some problems with a back tail light or brake light on the left side blowing every once in a while, and discovered that the relay , although working at this time is defective and it will be replaced ASAP.
I have spoken to mechanics, and most groan and say -when the car dies I can look at it..
I looked at the fuse panel, and it seems the rear RIGHT tail light is also connected to the instrument panel lights, but the problem with the light blowing every once in a whiile is the LEFT rear light.
now I know that somewhere in there the left and right rear lights are connected together, the question is -could the 2 problems- the left rear, lighting system and the instrument panel be connected???
I asked a fellow if he thought the relay could be causing the problem, and he figured that even though the relay has a problem, that it sounds more like too much voltage and not a proper ground somewhere..
Any thoughts?
Would be appreciated.
Thanks..
#3
12-09-2015, 09:12 PM
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#5
12-10-2015, 07:28 AM
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Sorry,
can't find the 240 sub forum...
Also, last night my odometer quit, it had been going slower and slower, which I thought was possibly due to the fairly cold temperatures, ( was down as low as about -15 F* at one point has since warmed up,
Speedometer seems to be working, although not sure if it is accurate)
...
can't find the 240 sub forum...
Also, last night my odometer quit, it had been going slower and slower, which I thought was possibly due to the fairly cold temperatures, ( was down as low as about -15 F* at one point has since warmed up,
Speedometer seems to be working, although not sure if it is accurate)
...
#6
12-10-2015, 08:33 AM
Administrator
This thread is in the 240 section now.
Volvo 240, 740 & 940 - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts Forum
Volvo 240, 740 & 940 - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts Forum
#7
12-10-2015, 06:15 PM
there's no relay in a 240 brake light circuit, as far as I know, but my knowlege is mostly of mid 80s and newer 240/740/940.
the typical brake circuit is... battery -> positive terminal -> fuse ? -> brake switch on brake pedal -> 'bulb out sensor'. then there's two seperate wires for the left and right coming from the bulb out sensor.
short circuits don't blow out lightbulbs, too much voltage does them in. thats not possible on a car unless the alternator's voltage regulator is on the fritz, in which case you'd have bulbs frying all over.
your odometer is purely mechanical, driven off the speedometer, which is electric on newer cars (but might be mechanical on a 1980?) if the speedometer is working and reasonably accurate, then a bad odometer is probably from a 35 yr old tiny plastic gear inside the odometer mechanism losing a tooth or two. these gears can be replaced. I believe IPD Usa (The Volvo Parts, Accessories and Performance Specialists Since 1963) has them, so do others.
if ALL the instrument panel lights are flickering, that suggests bad connections on the instrument panel, and/or a bad ground.
the typical brake circuit is... battery -> positive terminal -> fuse ? -> brake switch on brake pedal -> 'bulb out sensor'. then there's two seperate wires for the left and right coming from the bulb out sensor.
short circuits don't blow out lightbulbs, too much voltage does them in. thats not possible on a car unless the alternator's voltage regulator is on the fritz, in which case you'd have bulbs frying all over.
your odometer is purely mechanical, driven off the speedometer, which is electric on newer cars (but might be mechanical on a 1980?) if the speedometer is working and reasonably accurate, then a bad odometer is probably from a 35 yr old tiny plastic gear inside the odometer mechanism losing a tooth or two. these gears can be replaced. I believe IPD Usa (The Volvo Parts, Accessories and Performance Specialists Since 1963) has them, so do others.
if ALL the instrument panel lights are flickering, that suggests bad connections on the instrument panel, and/or a bad ground.
#8
12-11-2015, 09:21 PM
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Thanks for all of the replies!
The odometer works once in a while and then it quits, and then works again.
When it is working, is it slower than normal…
Also,In the 1980 volvo, there is a “ little black box” in the tail light area, that my son said was a relay.
When the one bulb blew, we replaced it, and it still wouldn’t work, so my son beat on the “little black box”, and PRESTO! The light worked!
Now I know that is a “red neck” way of fixing things but it worked..
So far its only the left tail light that keeps blowing, and the bulb we put in is still working, but the tail light –back up light next to it crashed.
Concerning the alternator, when the oil blew all over the inside of the hood of the car, ( the same time the dash lights started flickering) several days later the alternator crashed, which we figured was due to oil getting into it. The alternator was rebuilt with brushes etc, and has been working fine. The guy who rebuilt it put it on a tester to see if it was working fine, which it was, but I don’t know if that test included the regulator or not…
Is there a test for the regulator???
Thanks!
The odometer works once in a while and then it quits, and then works again.
When it is working, is it slower than normal…
Also,In the 1980 volvo, there is a “ little black box” in the tail light area, that my son said was a relay.
When the one bulb blew, we replaced it, and it still wouldn’t work, so my son beat on the “little black box”, and PRESTO! The light worked!
Now I know that is a “red neck” way of fixing things but it worked..
So far its only the left tail light that keeps blowing, and the bulb we put in is still working, but the tail light –back up light next to it crashed.
Concerning the alternator, when the oil blew all over the inside of the hood of the car, ( the same time the dash lights started flickering) several days later the alternator crashed, which we figured was due to oil getting into it. The alternator was rebuilt with brushes etc, and has been working fine. The guy who rebuilt it put it on a tester to see if it was working fine, which it was, but I don’t know if that test included the regulator or not…
Is there a test for the regulator???
Thanks!
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