1996 2.5 v70 - All Electric Power Came on when Key Out?

[santiago3volvo]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and extremely happy to find such a large group of Volvo Enthusiasts like myself!

I have had my 1996 Volvo v70 2.5 Petrol for almost 20 years now, but after washing it yesterday there was a poof of smoke coming from the front white wheel arch along with all the power coming on, inside and outside (headlights too, since It was left in the 'on' position from the dashboard)

I can't for the life of me figure out how this would have happened and would massively appreciate any of your thoughts and insights or direction on where to look.

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Here's a detailed report;

1. There was a lot of leafage stuck where the water run-off is for the engine bay

2. There was a lot of water used to clean the car (just washing the roof of the car, obviously most of the run-off water goes down the windshield) but no pressure washing or water directly applied to the engine. In fact I didn't clean the engine bay at all.

2.1: I had used water hose to clean the headlights and the gaps inbetween the headlights - maybe this is where water came in from to the wrong place? Hard to believe as running in rain would make water hit the headlights anyway.

3. The car had no issues being turned on or operating before this point

4. The power came on when I had already parked the car back in it's regular spot and took the key out of the ignition.

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Only 'unusual' thing I did was check if the headlight-beam adjustment was still working, which it seemed to be working fine, but who knows with wiring this old perhaps using that circuit which hadn't been used in a while caused a cable to short out or for potential water sitting around from cleaning that had caused it to fizzle out when the circuit was run.

It's just strange that it happened AFTER I had taken the key out of the ignition, I jumped out of my skin as all the lights turned on and the seatbelt warning lights started flashing away.

Thanks again!!

[scot850]

If you have a lot of leaves in the tray for the wiper arms and they have got below it and blocked the drain tubes and then it could have got water into the main fuse box and cause a short on a live circuit.

Neil.