1995 Volvo 850 Idiot lights remain on when running

JAG_27909 · Post by **JAG_27909** » 03 Oct 2009, 21:29

My US spec, 1995 850 Turbo Sportswagon with 108k miles recently decided to turn on most of the instrument panel idiot lights anytime the engine is running. These 9 lights (burnt out bulb, wiper fluid, gas, battery, radiator, brake, parking brake, ABS, service) remain on anytime the engine is running. The remaining lights (winter mode, check engine, oil, TRACS, SRS) all turn off once the engine has started. The engine seems to run fine at all times.

When the parking brake lever is engaged, the 9 lights get slightly brighter and when it is disengaged, the lights slightly dim. There were no codes of interest stored in module A under the hood and the codes for module A position 7 (instrument cluster) were empty (111). However, module B displays the following codes: slot 1: 414, 417 (these have shown up for years and I never thought it was worth the cost to replace the indicated interior temperature sensor inlet fan modules). slot 2: 122, slot 5: 111, slot 6: no light present. I was unable to find the codes for module B slot 2 in my Haynes manual.

One other symptom which started at the same time is that the air conditioning does not work right in the "auto" mode. Switching the fan control from auto to a manual speed instantly turns on the compressor and the blower. Placing it back in auto turns off the compressor and blower. Both interior temperature control knobs are set to full cold.

I was thinking the idiot light issue MAY be related to the circuit/bulb self check which executes when the engine is first started. However, I am unable to locate any info on the self check function. Also, this theory does not seem to have any relation to the air conditioning issue.

No recent work has been done on the car, it just started acting up the other day when my wife was driving it. Other than these issues, it is an awesome car which has served us very well since we purchased it new in 1995.

I pulled and reset the fuses and relays in the engine compartment fuse area just in case but that did not help.

Any suggestions/assistance would be appreciated!

Thanks and great forum!

John

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Oct 2009, 22:21

Your symptoms would normally indicate that the alternator has failed or the serpentine belt has fallen off. For some reason all of those lights are tied to the alternator failure light (battery) in the instrument cluster.

If the belt fell off you would know it since the power steering wouldn't work.

...Lee

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 04 Oct 2009, 00:31

I'm with Lee. Check your voltages at the battery and the alternator.
It sounds like a dead alternator or the wire from the alternator to the cluster.

JAG_27909 · Post by **JAG_27909** » 04 Oct 2009, 06:25

Thanks for the advice, I will check it out and let you know.

John

mcp · Post by **mcp** » 04 Oct 2009, 12:30

I had similar symptoms on my son's 1997 850 wagon. One of the connections at the starter was loose. One of the terminals on the starter has a wire from the battery and a wire from the alternator connected to it and the nut was loose. Tightening up the nut cured the problem. There is a plastic cover over the connection that has a spring clip that holds it in place. Just pull firmly on the plastic cover and it will pull off.

JAG_27909 · Post by **JAG_27909** » 06 Oct 2009, 18:39

Good idea on the wire to the starter. Unfortunately, it was intact. I checked the voltages and confirmed the alternator is not charging. I pulled the alternator and need to order a replacement. While I am at it, I think I will replace the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley since they both are original.

I will be out of town for the weekend (Band parents day at VA Tech) so it will be a while till I am able to install the new one but I will certainly post the results.

Thanks again to everyone for the prompt and very helpful advice.

John

JAG_27909 · Post by **JAG_27909** » 23 Oct 2009, 20:59

I received the new alternator this week and installed it this evening. While I was at it, I replaced the serp. belt, idler pulley and was going to replace the tensioner pulley but the one they shipped would not fit. Original was still fine so I left it intact and can always switch out easily later. Powered it up and all was fine - except the ABS light remained on. Read out the computer (module A-3) and it was fine, 1,1,1. Decided to go for a test drive anyway and the ABS light went out when I was half way around the block and has not come back on. Since I had removed the 2 computer modules to have easier access to the alternator area, I assume the ABS light may have had something to do with that. Or, since the battery was unplugged for several weeks, that may have been it too.

Anyway, all seems to be well and we are back on the road. Thanks much for all the help.

John