Brake light update!!! not so easy! on my 1992 240

swlusk · Post by **swlusk** » 05 Aug 2006, 20:30

I'm a complete newbie to volvos. I just baought a 1992 240 in great condition. My problem is no brake lights. The bulb lights up when you turn on the headlights, but does not get brighter with brakes. also does not work when headlights are off. I'm also getting an intermittent "bulb out" warning light, but that may be from the rear fog light. Any help would be great!

swlusk · Post by **swlusk** » 06 Aug 2006, 08:04

I'm really showing the newbie in me. It was in fact the stop light fuse. I feel like kinda stupid for not checking it. Weird fuses though. I'm so used to glass fuses.

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Aug 2006, 11:28

We all live and learn. Glad you found your fault.

The bulb lights up when you turn on the headlights, but does not get brighter with brakes. also does not work when headlights are off.

From the above description I would think the rear fog light was what you could see, not a brake light. The rear fog light switch is wired through the headlight switch. If you have not already done so I would advise switching off the rear fog light until it is foggy.

Bill.

swlusk · Post by **swlusk** » 06 Aug 2006, 19:03

After I changed the stop light fuse and thought all was right with the world, I started blowing fuses. I would drive a few miles and once again no stop lights, fuse blown. Then...in my preparations for hari kari, I decided i would ride around with the fuse cover off and see just when it was blowing. IT DIDN"T! I rode around for 5 miles, everything was OK. AND THEN ....... I pulled into my driveway and shifted into PARK and "POP" goes the fuse. weird huh? So I replaced it and replicated it. shifting out of park, no problem, shifting anywhere, no problem. Shifting into park...POP. I then noticed, as I've only owned this car for 2 days, that some wiring repairs have been made to the shifter (I'm assuming to the downshift button) and I noticed a little bit of bare wire. I tried to cover it as best I could but it didn't help. Strangley enough though, If I turn the engine off BEFORE I shift into park, the fuse does not blow. How's that for weird.

Post by **billofdurham** » 07 Aug 2006, 12:08

Fuse 7 covers Brake Lights, Shiftlock and ABS so it is not surprising that the fuse does not blow with the ignition off as the circuit is ignition controlled.

Obviously you do not have a problem with the fuse blowing when you move the lever out of Park so I would suspect that the bare wire is only shorting out at the very end of its travel into Park. Have you tried to replicate the problem by switching on the ignition and pushing the shift lever towards the front of the car, first without touching the button and then pressing the button?

Whatever the result of such tests I would strongly advise you to replace the wire to the lever with properly insulated wire.

Bill.