Brake Light Problems! Topic is solved

[fosicious]

My brake lights have been acting up for a while. I tried everything. My latest task has been replacing every fuse in the front panel. They are all brand new. No problem there. They all match. I checked the book. I also bought brand new right and left tail light assemblies. They are grounded, and all the bulbs are in place (new also). Right and left brake lights work when I press the brake pedal. The running/parking lights only work on the right side. How the @#&$ do I get running lights on the left side. The same exact lights are not working as before. I know it is a wiring problem. I would be willing to replace the wiring for that. I need to know where to get the wiring, and the instructions to replace it. I have a 91 Volvo 240. I love my car, and am sick of getting tickets. Please help. Thank you.

[LaRy]

The fact that the braking light is working is also indicating that the ground is good. It si very seldom that you get wiring harness problems not giving blown fuses at the same time, so I do not think you have to get new wires. I would try to find the relay for the bulb supervision and make some messaurements there. You need some simple voltage meter or just a test lamp. I want you to check for voltage (12 volt), neutral connected to ground. Use a needle and press is straight through the insulation of the wire and you can simply check the voltage or eventual loss of voltage by tuching the test wire of the voltage meter to the needle. Turn the light on.
To the relay it is coming a white and green wire from fuse no 15 and 16. Check if you have voltage!
Outgoing from the supervision relay the red is going to the left tail light and the brown - white is going to right tail light. Check for voltage. If no outgoing voltage, something is wrong in the relay. Continue to follow this red wire through the car. According to the wiring diagram it should be some kind of connection somewhere. Check also the voltage in the red wire close to the tail lamp, it could even be a good idea to start checking there.

[George Vrionis]

Also check you bulbs.

They may be new but if it is a twin element bulb the internal glow wire my description) can dislodge. Sometimes it touches the contact and sometimes it doesn't. Meaning it is very difficult to diagnose

I was having very similar problems with the left rear brake light on my 740 wagon. The bulb looked new and upon very close inspection with a large magnifying glass/light I found that it was a loos connection within the bulb. I tried all sorts of things over a number of months.

I smashed it good and replaced it. Brake lighst are now fine.

Regards

George Vrionis
Sydney, Australia

[Kreg]

I have a 93 240 sedan with 99k on it.

I had electrical problems in my rear lights. To fix them, I removed the plastic housing on the back, straightened out the gell circuit board, cleaned the board with a dry rag, bend the prongs that provide current to the bulb, and reassembled everything.

I have had no problems since.

Thanx,
Kreg

[Guest]

I had problem with brake lights on and off (no pun intended) for years in my '87 240 DL wagon. The strangest thing fixed the problem.

I had been buying bulbs from the local parts store. These bulbs typically have two contacts at the base shaped like hemispherical bumbs. In desperation, I shelled out a few dollars exra for bulbs from the local Volvo dealer. I noticed that the contact on these were shaped like elongated pyramids.

These bulbs have been in place for several years now with no priblems. I guess the contact was just not good enough with the non-Volvo bulbs.

Strange but true. Good luck