My '97 850 has the warning light on the dash that indicates there is a bulb out on the outside of the car but when I look around the car it appears that all of the lights are functioning properly. The only thing I have noticed is the license plate lights are sometimes off (just noticed this last night). Oddly enough when the license plate lights are working correctly the dash warning light is still on (not sure if it is related). This warning light on the dash tends to go off after driving the car a while but will come back onafter the car has been off and you turn the car back on. I'm wondering if the license plate lights being off triggers the dash warning light and then there is some sort of delayed reaction when the lights on the license plate turn on. Also this only happens when you turn the headlight switch to the "on" position I have turned the day time running lights off.

 

The tag lights are not part of the system.
If the car is a sedan make sure you have 2 parking lights on per taillight.
The bulb failure relay might be going bad.

 

OK Tech.... Well my 97 859 GLT also does this! I have had the car 2 weeks. Sometimes it is on, sometimes it decides that I don't have a light out! How hard is it to replace this relay? I went to Fields Volvo for an Oil change since it's down the road and I had their tech look at the lightbulbs for giggles while changing the Oil. Said all were well...

 

The bulb failure relay is in the trunk on the drivers side. Open the cover to access the taillight area. Look down and see if you can see the blue relay. If you cannot see it then remove the 2 clips holding the carpeted panel in and pull it back then you should be able to see the relay. If you keep having trouble maybe we can meet up and I can look at it.

Have you seen me driving on OBT yet?
I drive from the B-line to I-4 every morning at about 7:20 or so. I get off of the B-line and run OBT to landcaster then back to I-4.
Then some days go the opposite at about 6:00 or a little later at night.

 

Wow I guess you are online now. Yes my car is a four door sedan. I'll check for all the tail lights but that relay might be the issue. I was pulling the trunk access panels off but I had a tough time getting the bulb holder out of the tail light fixture.

 

Did you see the blue relay on your car?

 

Haven"t seen u yet.. Though at the rate that light keeps distracting me, chances are I am looking down damning the light as u go by,lol....I'll have to keep an eye out. My house is right off the Beeeline, When u get on from I4 its like the second exit, on Universal BLVD. Thanks for the info man! I will try and look for the relay.. I'm sure it can't be that expensive to replace. What's funny is that I can work on my Buell but this Volvo is intimidating as hell to me!

 

Let me know like I said if all else fails we can meet up. I will try to dig up a used one as well.

 

Cool MAN! I will def. take u up on that, seeing that U are the MAN around here. If u have an extra, let me know how $....Thanks for the help!

 

Just remind me on Monday. Send me a PM to remind me.

 

Okay I found the relay and yes I checked all of the bulbs and they are operating correctly even the license bulb lights. Are there any parts in that Lamp Control that can be fixed or do I just need another one?

 

I've never popped one apart but if you decide to do so change the electrolytic capacitors if there are any. I have a couple of them inthe "Box O' Relays"in my office. PM me if you strike out elsewhere I will ship one to you for the cost of postage. We do need to be sure of the part number though - I think the sedan and wagon are different units and I haven't bothered to see which type my sparesare.

...Lee

 

I think a solder joint inside goes bad.

 

Well you can open the device but it's electronics and a solder board so I don't think you can do much to it. I removed and then replaced it in the car and so far the light has only come on once.

 

Sometimes the solder joints crack and lose connection. Putting a slight bit of solder on will fix it.

 

Well so far without doing anything more then taking itout of the car and then putting it back in has stopped the light from coming on but I will keep that in mind Tech. Thanks guys.