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I have the 1990 Volvo 240 and my brake lights aren’t working on it. The switch, fuse, and bulbs are all fine. I had a major short not to long ago which started a fire at the left rear tail light and I fixed the short at least I thought. But rite now if I jump a wire directly to the left rear brake light the right and third lamps illuminate but only if the brake pedal is not depressed and the lights are on. If I press the brake pedal I get no lights at all. Help……
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They have always been an issue. I’ve had to replace the left rear bulb at least three times since I got the car back in January. The most recent time was on St.Patricks day when I got a ticket because of a blown bulb. When the short happened the bulb didn’t blow just some stuff caught on fire. So as long as it’s a 12 volt circuit I’m going to go ahead and re-wire the circuit.
After checking fuses and relays, start backwards at the bulbs. Then work your way to the pedal. Jumping the switch is a good idea too. If they still don’t come on, then the switch is probably good. But before all of this, you should get a wiring diagram.
Then a whole new circuit here I come. I’ll run everything through the existing fuse and through a new switch and I’ll be all fine and dandy.
did you try finding a good ground and feed it to the ground side of the bulb? and test it.. because theres no point for rewiring if you prove it the wire (resistance check) is good.
I think we know where the fire came from. I wouldn’t be rewiring anything mostly because in situations like that I often find that there are several problems connected, if it were me I would be checking the wiring diagram and repairing the system according to that diagram, once you go off the grid it’s hard to come back so try and fix the existing system instead of starting your own, that type of thinking has probably landed you in the situation that you’re in now. Also you’re going to need some testing equipment if you don’t already have some so you can actually check for the power and grounds in the system you really can’t go by guessing here.
Well actually none of this was cobbed until after the fire. But now I am able to read and understand the wiring diagram but I have a new problem. I lose the wires after they go in to the cabin of the car. I don’t know where they go in the cabin. I don’t know if it runs down along the driver’s rear door and along the floor or what it does. I see it go into the left rear quarter panel but I can’t tell where it goes after that. But you are rite I’m starting got experience electrical issues with all the lighting now. My reverse lights don’t work, the fuse for the turn signal has blown, and tonight the lights were flickering not on and off but getting brighter then back to normal. But by the looks of the wiring diagram the brake lights are on a completely different circuit than the turn signals, reverse lights, and the rest of the lights. It has gotten me completely lost but I can’t afford to have a garage even look at it because I’m dirt poor. Oh and yes I do have a DVOM just a dead battery in it. I accidentally left it on a while back. Oh also does any one know where to get the connector that plugs into the tail light? Mine is burnt as that’s where the fire was.
So I found the issue. There’s no short in the wiring I traced all the wires following the wiring diagram the only thing I found was at the tail light circuit board which is fried from the fire. And I believe the short was caused by wires touching and water in the tail light. I need a new switch and circuit board and then everything should be good.
Great job with the diagnosis.
I know of some excellent Volvo sites for repair information to wiring diagrams if you ever need them. Just PM me.
Hopefully ill have another Volvo myself this weekend, a 93 940. Its going to be my work vehicle C8-)
Well done, keep us posted after you get the new parts in. BTW don’t directly ‘trace’ the wires when you’re looking for a problem like that, pick a starting point such as the tail light itself or the brake light switch and see what you have there, the idea is to isolate the problem so start with the easy places to get to and if you don’t find the problem then narrow it down to a particular area and THEN start tracing the wires, my friend BriansMobile1 did a great video using a need little tool on finding shorts if you find yourself in this position.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0HjaR0t … plpp_video
Got the switch and ordered the tail light. Tail light is on its way I will let you all know when I get it fixed.
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