240DL 1989 Charging & Battery Light Question

[porscheguy912]

Hello All,
I am new to this forum but not new to online forums in general.

I cant seem to find where to search the previous posts to find answers to my questions before posting so i decided to just post my question.

I have been having issues with my volvos electrical system for a while. Pulsing lights ,headlights, instrument, idiot lights pulsing and most recently the engine started surging and pulsing in RPM along with the lights.
I noticed that the Battery light and the emergency brake light would not shut off after i started the car recently until I revved the engine.
Then last week it seemed to loose all charging ability.

I have replaced both battery leads and cleaned the ground to the chassis by the battery.

The alternator was a 3 year old Bosch with a lifetime warranty so yesterday i replaced it.
I see something on the fender wall that looks like a voltage regulator but i have been told that my model has a voltage regulator built in to the alternator.

Now when i start the car the alternator will not charge until i rev the engine to 3,000RPM and then only it will charge to 13.56 Volts.
I drove the car home from my shop with the lights on and when i got home the car was idling low and would not start after i parked it.

Also the lights and the engine have stopped pulsing BUT now the Battery light stays "ON" on the dash after i remove the key.

I have checked the #13 fuse and it seems fine.
I have 12 volts at B+ and D+.
Any Ideas??

Thanks!

[porscheguy912]

Bump?!

[billofdurham]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Apologies for not replying sooner but I read your post and decided to come back to it and it slipped what little is left of my mind.

The search feature is accessed from the top right of the forum page, after you log in.

As the pulsing lights problem seems to have gone when you fitted the new alternator I would suggest that you do a thorough check of all the wiring harnesses in the engine compartment. Look especially for any signs of wear/chafing as the battery light staying on is usually an indication of a short to earth (ground) in the charging circuit. 240s up to '87 were noted for having bad harnesses but any age of car will succumb to wear and tear.

You have replaced both battery leads but did you check the earth strap from the engine/gearbox to the chassis?

Bill.

[porscheguy912]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Apologies for not replying sooner but I read your post and decided to come back to it and it slipped what little is left of my mind.

The search feature is accessed from the top right of the forum page, after you log in.

As the pulsing lights problem seems to have gone when you fitted the new alternator I would suggest that you do a thorough check of all the wiring harnesses in the engine compartment. Look especially for any signs of wear/chafing as the battery light staying on is usually an indication of a short to earth (ground) in the charging circuit. 240s up to '87 were noted for having bad harnesses but any age of car will succumb to wear and tear.

You have replaced both battery leads but did you check the earth strap from the engine/gearbox to the chassis?

Bill.

Thanks for the response Bill.
I had been thinking about if there was a Engine or trans Ground strap. I had one go bad on my old Porsche that was the cause of some hot start issues.
I looked for one but could not find it. I will have another look this week. Where do they usually hide?

Also, The Small wire from the alternator, I believe its the B+ wire.
Where does that go once it enters the loom? I have also been told that it could be at fault but i have not had enough time at my shop to rip into it.

As for the search function, I found it after i logged in. It seemed that it was unavailable to un-registered users.
I did not find many other issues involving a 240 with this problem.
Am I not searching thoroughly enough? Are there other posts that i'm not catching? I dont want my first post to be one re-hashing an old issue already resolved.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[billofdurham]

I can only tell you where the engine to body earth strap was on the UK 240 models - from the rearmost valve cover bolt to the bulkhead (firewall). Easy to see but easier still to forget to replace. Most others have been from the bottom of the engine/gearbox to the chassis rail.

The B+ goes to the starter motor 30 terminal.

The search feature on this forum is in line with most others. We want you to become a member so restrict its use. I don't recall this topic coming up before but it does appear on many other non-Volvo forums.

Bill.