1992 850 volvo glt

charles · Post by **charles** » 11 Apr 2009, 01:20

hi guys, i'm a only new to this forum and i'm hoping you can help me. about a week ago the srs warning light failed to go off on the dash even after engine start up [ first time ever ] indicating a problem in system, i checked the onboard diagnostic system for codes and it came up with 232, the srs code list tells me it means and i quote;
' left belt tensioner, open circuit '. now i have checked the tensioners on both 'b' pillars according to the repair manual and it tells me that by putting a piece of wire up through the hole in the bottom of the tensioner to see where the plunger is positioned i should be able to work out as to whether the tensioners have been activated. now when looking at the tensioners in the upright position on 'b' pillar the plungers on mine are at the top of the metal tube [ both sides ] which surely is correct as when they do go off in the event of an accident do they not get propelled downwards so pulling the metal cable that the plunger is attatched to and restraining the seatbelt /, now i have no knowledge of mine being activated, the seat belts work perfectly and vehicle has not been involved in any accidents. so is this a typo error in the manual or am i wrong?, has anybody else had a problem with the srs. warning light?. also if i am correct in this thinking then what else could be the problem, and how do i check it? according to my manual i can't use a normal multi-meter to check it out as the battery power of meter could set of airbags/tensioners, heres hoping somebody can help me, many thanks.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Apr 2009, 06:50

Welcome to MVS.
I had something similar happen w/ me. I bought a '94 850 about a month ago. Upon getting it home, I realized that the SRS bulb was burned out in the instrument cluster (Doh!)...well, long story short, when I replaced the bulb, it did the same as yours- stayed on. My codes were 222 and 212- the air bags in the steering wheel and on the passenger's side. I thought the airbags were bad. Of course, the repair manual says to test by inserting the wire- I did that and everything seems fine. So, I thought I was in for airbags (or at least the clockspring under the airbag for the driver's side). In detaching and reattaching the driver's side airbag (ALWAYS DISCONNECT BATTERY when detaching SRS components), the codes disappeared. So, it was only corrosion at the connector (or oxidation). I cleaned the connector to the passenger airbag w/ contact cleaner and the code for that airbag went away as well and the SRS light has not come back on.

So, in your case, too- I would highly suspect the connector to the left belt tensioner- follow the wire from it to under the seat where it connects up, take the connector apart, spray it very well with contact cleaner and push the connector back together, apart and back together again to make sure that it is clean and doing its job. Remember to disconnect the battery before doing this so you don't inadvertently set off the charge in the belt tensioner. Then reset the light and see if it stays off. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

charles · Post by **charles** » 11 Apr 2009, 20:07

madeinjapan, many thanks, i most certainly will take your advice and check connector. The single electrical wire coming from the belt tensioner [ plunger ] and running down the 'b' pillar is coloured orange, do you happen to know if it continues that same colour right up behind the dashboard? plus i am still curious to know whether the plunger in tensioner is surposed to be up at the top of tensioner tube or at bottom, when it has not been activated, as i mentioned in original posting?, but for now though i have removed the warning light bulb as vehicle needs to go in for a mechanical registration check next week [ not the done thing i know but do not want red warning lights showing, do i? ] then hopefully next weekend i can get it sorted. Once again thank you, catch you later, charles.

dan2286 · Post by **dan2286** » 11 Apr 2009, 21:17

As far as I know, in all cars the wiring for the SRS components will be the same color throughout the whole car so people know not to mess with those wires. I am not sure if that is the same for the crash sensors.

charles · Post by **charles** » 11 Apr 2009, 23:13

hi dan2286, thanks for reply and seeing as you guys are so helpful i have another question to ask if i may.
Normally when i fuel up the tank to full the sensors in the tank give me a read out on the dash of about 790 to 800klm. to empty as well as showing full on fuel gauge, just lately though [ past 2 or 3 times ] the reading on dash only tells me between 650 to 700klm. and even though i fill the tank at petrol station as much as possible until nozzle clicks off and then try again and even a 3rd. time it seems as though i am not filling tank properly, the fuel gauge reads just shy of full also. and i say this because the payment for petrol is not as much as it shuld be [ the amount of litres either ] so even though the tank is telling me its full it is not really. I thought maybe i had dented the plastic fuel tank, therefore the tank not being able to hold as much, but after looking underneath i found this not to be the case. Now i fully expect the sensors in the tank [ if thats how its done ] to give me a false reading on the dash sometimes, afterall the vehicle is 16yrs. old and i must expect things are going to start playing up now and again, but this has got me baffled.
Any ideas, guys. thanks alot, see you.
Charles

vlvman · Post by **vlvman** » 11 Apr 2009, 23:47

The kilometers to empty is calculated and your average kilometers per liter is what its based on as well as liters of fuel in the tank. Therefore it would appear that your fuel economy has fallen off.