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Wierd Electrical Issue

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

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gizmaster_1
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Year and Model: 850 Turbo 1995
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Wierd Electrical Issue

Post by gizmaster_1 »

Hi all,

This morning ingot into my car and found all the of the dash guages and lights going crazy. Also there was a weird buzzing sound, like a buzzing relay noise coming from the dash. It all went away as the car warmed up but now, if I flash the high beams, the car shuts off and all the dash lights go out. It will restart fine but as soon as I hit the high beams, everything shuts down. Please Help! SEE ATTACHED VIDEO.Image
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scot850
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Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
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Post by scot850 »

Bad light switch or signal/light switch lever causing shorts would be my suggestion as starters.

Next would be a bad ground somewhere.

Last would be the battery or it's wiring.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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abscate  
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Post by abscate »

It’s a primary power problem being caused by high current draw of the high beams

Battery cables
Grounds
Bad battery
Power bus at kidney fuse box

Are the check points
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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Chuck W
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Post by Chuck W »

The '95 won't have the "kidney box", but all of the other points still apply to check.

Check the lighting relay for the high-beams. It's located in the fuse box under the cover. (You have to unbolt the cover to access the relays)
'97 854 T5 - Manual Swap/M4.4/COP/NA cams/P2R Brakes/16T/ chassis bracing/ XC70 nose swap
'97 855 GLT - Hers. RN swap/16T/COP/VVT/exhaust/302s/Flashed M4.4/ chassis bracing/ 2 kid seats
'78 GLE - Waiting in the wings. Future whiteblock/T5 swap.

The Others- '83 TBird turbo, '85 Mercury Marquis LTS (1 of 134), '86 LTD Wagon, '81 Granada GL, '76 Beetle, '93 F-150 I6

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foggydogg
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Post by foggydogg »

Severe cold and a battery at the end of its service life will make our cars do Weird.
69 1800s, @500k Death by Rust
94 850 Turbo, T-boned, ambulance for me, crusher for it
97 855 T5, 855 R projects
98 V70R x2, Silver Junkyard rescue, Coral Red
98 V70GLT x2, parts cars
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BEJinFbk
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Post by BEJinFbk »

abscate wrote: 09 Feb 2024, 12:19 It’s a primary power problem being caused by high current draw of the high beams

Battery cables
Grounds
Bad battery
Power bus at kidney fuse box

Are the check points
Agreed - Begin with the Basics.
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

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greg850r
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Post by greg850r »

I had a power steering fluid soaked alternator act that way once.
05 Cross Country wagon
99 C70 Convertible
96 850R wagon
96 850T wagon
96 850 GLT 5spd N/A sedan -wrecked, ouch
97 850R 5spd sedan
66 GTO 421SD 4spd
67 GTO 455 T400
02 Powerstroke 4x4
85 Yota 4x4 (2)
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07 Softail Custom
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gizmaster_1
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Year and Model: 850 Turbo 1995
Location: Canada
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Post by gizmaster_1 »

Problem Solved! I recall a few weeks ago i had replaced the battery and only pressed the cable clams down onto the posts but did not tighten the bolts for the battery clamps. This weekend i took a look at the cables and clamps and found there was a group of 5 or 6 ground wires sitting loose due to me not tightening the bolt. My fault...OMG what a joke i am. Thank you all for the help.
abscate wrote: 09 Feb 2024, 12:19 It’s a primary power problem being caused by high current draw of the high beams

Battery cables
Grounds
Bad battery
Power bus at kidney fuse box

Are the check points

scot850
Posts: 14885
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Post by scot850 »

Hey, we all have moments like that! Went to use my credit card this morning and couldn't remember the pin for the life of me. Still can't!

Main thing is you remembered and fixed it. Glad it was an easy fix.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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abscate  
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Posts: 35298
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
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Post by abscate »

scot850 wrote: 12 Feb 2024, 13:29 Hey, we all have moments like that! Went to use my credit card this morning and couldn't remember the pin for the life of me. Still can't!

Main thing is you remembered and fixed it. Glad it was an easy fix.

Neil.
Just write it on the back in Sharpie…..
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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