Login Register

Intermittent speedo and turn signal failure, 96 850 Turbo sedan

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
Dave in Maine
Posts: 75
Joined: 8 June 2015
Year and Model: 2009 S60 2.5T
Location: Maine
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Intermittent speedo and turn signal failure, 96 850 Turbo sedan

Post by Dave in Maine »

I drive a 96 850 Turbo sedan with about 190k (odo broke some time ago).

This has happened to me twice in the last week. After starting the engine and driving for a few miles, I will notice that the speedometer is sitting on zero and non-responsive to changes in velocity. At the same time, both turn signals do not work By that, I mean the normal clicking sound is absent, the dashboard lights which indicate the turn signals are activated do not work and, AFAIK, the external turn signals likewise do not work. The 4-way hazards do flash.

The first time this happened was about 8 hours into a long road trip back home from Atlanta, shortly after a pit stop for fuel and chow. I pulled into a highway rest stop thinking it might be a fuse. Reading the owner's manual and popping the fuse box told me there was no fuse, per se, for the speedometer and turn signals.

The second time it happened was yesterday, after the car had been parked for about 4 hours.

In each case, after allowing the car to sit, engine off, for a few minutes, on restarting the problem disappeared and the speedometer and turn signals worked normally.

If not a fuse, a module? Which?

Thanks in advance!
1996 850 Turbo Gold Edition, 7 years' reliable service and >220k mi, sadly now gone
2009 S60 2.5T, sent away after taking me down Via Dolorosa. Happy to be rid of it.

shaker_chi
Posts: 400
Joined: 29 June 2009
Year and Model: 94 850, 98 S70T5 M
Location: Chicago
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by shaker_chi »

Does the tach go out as well or just the speedo?

Dave in Maine
Posts: 75
Joined: 8 June 2015
Year and Model: 2009 S60 2.5T
Location: Maine
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by Dave in Maine »

The tach, temp gauge, fuel gauge, turbo gauge all work normally.
1996 850 Turbo Gold Edition, 7 years' reliable service and >220k mi, sadly now gone
2009 S60 2.5T, sent away after taking me down Via Dolorosa. Happy to be rid of it.

User avatar
BEJinFbk
Posts: 4067
Joined: 5 January 2008
Year and Model: '98 V70 R
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Has thanked: 93 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Post by BEJinFbk »

This sounds like classic failing contacts in the ignition switch.
The next time it happens, try jiggling the key in the ignition.
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

Dave in Maine
Posts: 75
Joined: 8 June 2015
Year and Model: 2009 S60 2.5T
Location: Maine
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by Dave in Maine »

re: ignition switch - why would that have anything to do with just the speedo and turn signals not functioning? The car starts and runs normally.
1996 850 Turbo Gold Edition, 7 years' reliable service and >220k mi, sadly now gone
2009 S60 2.5T, sent away after taking me down Via Dolorosa. Happy to be rid of it.

User avatar
Clemens
Posts: 1932
Joined: 3 September 2015
Year and Model: 96 855 R + 94 855 T5
Location: Austria
Has thanked: 473 times
Been thanked: 219 times

Post by Clemens »

Alot of circuits run across the ignition switch. That's why. Why they engineered it that way, í don't know.
Summer: 1996 855 R
Winter: 1994 855 T5M
Donor: 1995 854 10V

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post