2001 V70 XC - Rear Brakes Lights Do Not Come On Topic is solved

[db130]

Do you hear a click from the suspected relay when you press the brake pedal? If it does, it's likely to be good.

Another way to check would be from an earlier post from cpo man:

remove rear brake light relay
remove rear fog relay
install rear fog relay into rear brake light relay slot
press brake pedal

do brake lights come on? if yes, then your rear brake light relay is bad
if no, then it's not your brake light relay

[xHeart]

...
Another way to check would be from an earlier post from cpo man:

remove rear brake light relay
remove rear fog relay
install rear fog relay into rear brake light relay slot
press brake pedal

do brake lights come on? if yes, then your rear brake light relay is bad
if no, then it's not your brake light relay

Would following be true, i.e.;
- remove RMI 06 fog light relay (it is working), set it aside.
- remove RMI 05 brake light relay, and install into RMI 06 fog light relay.
- switch on rear fog light -- If fog light comes on, then it's not brake light relay.

If it is bad...
There are three different part numbers, the one I posted is relevant by CH#.
Is that # correct?

The stack of relays at RMI 15 - 24 in photo show all are 9441161.

[xHeart]

This sounds a lot like the dreaded rear brake relay upgrade to me. The relay for the rear brake lights required an upgrade from the original . The original was a one piece relay and the replacements are 2 piece. The part number is 8651661. RMI5 is the placement. You will need to order 2 of them. One for left and one for right. The replacements are direct fit and are available from FCP and IPD for about $17.00 usa each. Replacement is fairly simple. Remove everything from the rear of the car as it will make it much easier to access the panels that need to be removed. Fold down the rear seats. Remove the cargo area cover if you still have one. Remove the panel that covers your rear fuse box. The panel that needs to be removed and covers part of the rear fuse box, has a 10mm. bolt to remove first where your cargo cover fits into the panel. After this the top part of this panel needs to be snapped out and pulled out out of the metal clips holding it along the top, hinging the panel away from the top side of the wall of the car where it meets the floor. Once removed, the rear relays are accessible and all contacts should be cleaned on all relays while your in there to prevent intermittent issues with the others (Turns and back up relays and all others). Just borrow a nail file from the Wife and spend a few extra minutes with it, and you will find a lot of the light gremlins will be tamed. I guess you can tell I didn't the first time, and had a crazy weekend trying to chase down some intermittent light issues. Good luck.

Helpful! I found it to be true.
The original combo relay goes over RMI5 and RMI6 - brake and fog, respectively. Fog was working.

Unplugged the combo, and plugged a single at RMI5. Now rear brake light is back working, but not the rear fog. I will purchase a second single relay to restore RMI6.

Several positions do not have relays, like position MI3
Is there a way to find out if relays were there at first, but now are missing -- moved around to fulfill the need?

Thank you.

[xHeart]

Two photos.
The Recall Campaign No. 131 - Brake Light Relay was intended to replace combo with two singles.
Should I ask for the two single from local Volvo at no cost?

Pulled combo relay from MI5 and MI6

Single relay installed at MI5 - Rear Brake Light

[xHeart]

Installed relay at MI5 is four pin.
The combo is a 5 pin relay at each MI5 and MI6.
Why two kind 4 vs 5 pin?

[pventuri81]

I'm having the same problem the top light comes on but not the left or right brake lights. i have two relays to put in but what slots are they. I don't have a diagram of which relay is which in the cargo area fuse box

[shiloh51933]

I'm having the same problem the top light comes on but not the left or right brake lights. i have two relays to put in but what slots are they. I don't have a diagram of which relay is which in the cargo area fuse box

Did swapping out the relays solve the issues with the main brake lights?

[pventuri81]

Yeah i replaced the relay and they started working again however, now I got a major issue i started driving twenty miles an hour after driving normal like it just drops and it's shooting oil out from somewhere under the manifold ugh it's not my luck. I'm thinking i should sell this

[Wright Sounds]

Hello,
Volvo newbie here. Thought I'd add to this thread rather than start another.

I have a 2001 V70 2.4l Turbo.
Like most people in this thread, my two side-brake lights aren't coming on when I depress the brakes.
I'm getting a "check brake lights" warning on my dash when I depress the brake pedal.

Here's what I've done:
-Replaced the bulbs: no change
-Cleaned the bulb-sockets to ensure good contact: no change
-Visually checked fuse #12 in engine bay fuse box. Fuse looks fine... not broken.
-Visually checked fuse #3 in rear fuse box. Fuse looks fine... not broken.
-Checked the relays... looks like my single relay used for the fog light/brake light has already been swapped out for two individual relays so I swapped the fog light relay with the brake light relay: Fog light works with "brake light relay" but the brake lights are still not on.
-I can hear the "clicking" of the relay when I depress the brake pedal.

Ugh. A broken wire somewhere? Replacing the "shunt" has been brought up... not sure what that is or looks like?

Member mikealder posted some great info earlier in this thread but I think I've taken all I can from it. He mentions checking fuse 11D/14... not sure what that is? Is that either fuse #3 or #12 that I've already checked?

Also, because this seems to be related, in some models at least, my rear wiper is intermittent at best. Does that fact lend itself to my "broken wire" theory?

Thanks in advance for any input!
-Matt Wright

[abscate]

Broken wire in the tailgate hinge sounds likely...but....

There is a common theme with people who get frustrated chasing " gremlins"

You troubleshoot electrical stuff working backwards, using a VOM.

No lights. Remove bulb. Check for 12 Vdc at socket. Trace back wire to each connector back to module.

The other thing I've noticed is people try to inspect bulbs visually. This doesn't work. Pull them out and test by applying voltage with test leads.