740 turbo wagon 1991 rear tail light/brake light malfunction

greengator · Post by **greengator** » 23 Sep 2009, 12:04

So i recently bought this vehicle and it had what i thought was a burned out tail light on the rear passenger side. After replacing this bulb it still doesn't work. The brake light function works, however the tail lamp function fails when I turn the headlights on? I swapped out bulbs, even bulb holders and it doesn't work. Is this a common problem with Volvo? I even had a multi-tester and believed the assembly was getting juice. I am completely dumb-founded as to why it doesn't work?

Post by **billofdurham** » 24 Sep 2009, 12:52

You probably have a bad earth (ground) to that light unit. Try running another to a clean area of metal.

Bill.

greengator · Post by **greengator** » 24 Sep 2009, 18:26

i will give that a try first thing tomorrow morning, i take it the ground is the solid bar that the bulb holder twists on to?

Post by **billofdurham** » 25 Sep 2009, 15:21

If it is a ground problem you will find that there is a common lead, black, away from the light unit and secured to the body near to the light unit with a screw. Trace this lead and make sure the contact point is not corroded. Any doubts run a new lead to a different point.

Bill.

greengator · Post by **greengator** » 06 Oct 2009, 08:25

little sandpaper, an extra bolt and some ingenuity, and now I have a working tail light, thanks again for the help

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Oct 2009, 11:08

Thank you for the update.

Bill.