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95 850: electrical Gremlin unsolved

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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volvolugnut
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Year and Model: 2001 V70
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Re: 95 850: electrical Gremlin was duo of J relays

Post by volvolugnut »

Sometimes we need to pay for good advice. Like Doctors, lawyers and accountants.
We can't all be experts on all things.
volvolugnut
The Fleet:
Volvo: 2001 V70 T5, 1986 244DL, 1983 245DL, 1975 245DL, 1959 PV544, multiple Volvo parts cars.
Mercedes: 2001 E320, 1973 280, 1974 280C, 1989 300E, 1988 300TE, 1979 300TD, parts cars.
2009 Smart Passion
Ford: 1977 F350, 1964 F150 (2), 1938 Tudor Sedan
Farmall tractors: 1956 400 Diesel, 1946 A
And others.

scot850
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Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
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Post by scot850 »

Good Luck! I will speak to my brother and confirm his willingness to drive the 850R to you or not. If he is I will PM you with his contact info.

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

scot850
Posts: 14899
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 1853 times
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Post by scot850 »

I hear it often about small businesses where they say they can't answer all the phone calls asking for advice for free. That is then time they are not making money. I agree, they should be compensated. If any of my friends are asked for advice or help on their professional knowledge I insist on paying them, even if it is a 'mate's rate'. That way they stay friends!!

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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volvolugnut
Posts: 6235
Joined: 19 January 2014
Year and Model: 2001 V70
Location: Oklahoma USA
Has thanked: 928 times
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Post by volvolugnut »

volvolugnut wrote: 05 Mar 2026, 07:49 Sometimes we need to pay for good advice. Like Doctors, lawyers and accountants.
We can't all be experts on all things.
volvolugnut
Extended advice on using experts:
If you have established a relationship with professionals, they will often not charge you for a simple question. A minor advantage that you have paid for when you have them work on a major activity.
So if you have an accountant do your taxes every year, when you have a question about some tax change, they will likely give you an answer without charge.
It is good to have professionals who know you and your situations and you can call them and get help.
But it takes years to get to this position.
volvolugnut
The Fleet:
Volvo: 2001 V70 T5, 1986 244DL, 1983 245DL, 1975 245DL, 1959 PV544, multiple Volvo parts cars.
Mercedes: 2001 E320, 1973 280, 1974 280C, 1989 300E, 1988 300TE, 1979 300TD, parts cars.
2009 Smart Passion
Ford: 1977 F350, 1964 F150 (2), 1938 Tudor Sedan
Farmall tractors: 1956 400 Diesel, 1946 A
And others.

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CIK7
Posts: 1574
Joined: 14 January 2019
Year and Model: 95 854T & V70trailer
Location: Antlers, Oklahoma
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Post by CIK7 »

scot850 wrote: 05 Mar 2026, 08:25 Good Luck! I will speak to my brother and confirm his willingness to drive the 850R to you or not. If he is I will PM you with his contact info.

Neil.
Thank you. Question: is scot short for Scottish or your name Scott? Suddenly neither of those look right.
95 854 Turbo 258K, auto, current
09 Rav4 Ltd3.5Fwd, red, 208K, current
98 V GLE/SE red, 379k (277k), 5sp, trailer in progress...
05 CRV EX AWD, Navy, 170K/184k, sold
03 Accord 2dr V6 silver, 196K/214K, 6sp, t-boned, sold
98 S GT white, 175K, 5sp, sold
96 964 silver, 146K, diff&trans/engine self-destr, crushed 😭
98 XC black, 151K, flooded&bent rod, crushed
01 V Base white, 168k, traded for XC
09 Impala LT1 gray, 196K, sold for 01

scot850
Posts: 14899
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 1853 times
Been thanked: 1714 times

Post by scot850 »

My first P80 when I came to Canada from Scotland was an 850. Hence, Scot850. If you check my threads I sign off with Neil which is my first name!

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

User avatar
CIK7
Posts: 1574
Joined: 14 January 2019
Year and Model: 95 854T & V70trailer
Location: Antlers, Oklahoma
Has thanked: 329 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Post by CIK7 »

scot850 wrote: 05 Mar 2026, 16:56 My first P80 when I came to Canada from Scotland was an 850. Hence, Scot850. If you check my threads I sign off with Neil which is my first name!

Neil.
I'm a blind moron. I knew your name was Neil. But I was right. scot stands for scotland
95 854 Turbo 258K, auto, current
09 Rav4 Ltd3.5Fwd, red, 208K, current
98 V GLE/SE red, 379k (277k), 5sp, trailer in progress...
05 CRV EX AWD, Navy, 170K/184k, sold
03 Accord 2dr V6 silver, 196K/214K, 6sp, t-boned, sold
98 S GT white, 175K, 5sp, sold
96 964 silver, 146K, diff&trans/engine self-destr, crushed 😭
98 XC black, 151K, flooded&bent rod, crushed
01 V Base white, 168k, traded for XC
09 Impala LT1 gray, 196K, sold for 01

User avatar
CIK7
Posts: 1574
Joined: 14 January 2019
Year and Model: 95 854T & V70trailer
Location: Antlers, Oklahoma
Has thanked: 329 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Post by CIK7 »

How many times have I been here now saying 'I was wrong' and 'that's not what it was'? But yeah the two J relays wasn't it. I'm not going to say anything more until I buy the correct light control relay. This one isn't for an older 850 but maybe for a 97+. That seems to be causing some sort of short in everything. Doesn't have all the pins. 1995 was a complicated year I guess. Actually this electronic stuff is too intertwined. Seems simple enough until you attempt to track down a strange electrical issue.

One picture show light control relay pin connections on male and female ends. I must have the incorrect one. I tried the same pin-out light control relay from my 98 v70. Same buzz/short issue.
The other picture shows cracks in the fusebox. It was like that when I removed that cover for the first time when I started all this.
Attachments
20260313_131828.jpg
20260313_131801.jpg
20260313_130305.jpg
95 854 Turbo 258K, auto, current
09 Rav4 Ltd3.5Fwd, red, 208K, current
98 V GLE/SE red, 379k (277k), 5sp, trailer in progress...
05 CRV EX AWD, Navy, 170K/184k, sold
03 Accord 2dr V6 silver, 196K/214K, 6sp, t-boned, sold
98 S GT white, 175K, 5sp, sold
96 964 silver, 146K, diff&trans/engine self-destr, crushed 😭
98 XC black, 151K, flooded&bent rod, crushed
01 V Base white, 168k, traded for XC
09 Impala LT1 gray, 196K, sold for 01

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