1990 940 GLE 16V Automatic ~93,000 Miles Various issues

[billofdurham]

(I know what I mean but I'm not describing it well)

Strangely enough I know what you mean!!

When this problem arises have you tried the hazard warning lights? If 'yes' do they work? If 'no' try it next time you have the problem. It is possible that the turn signal/hazard flasher relay is playing up and doing this will show if it is working.

If the hazard lights don't work at that time the relay is in the fuse/relay board middle row, middle relay. Give it a good hard flick with your finger and see if you can shock it into life.

Bill.

[girlbunny]

Hazard lights definitely do not work, I'll give the fuse thing a try and see if that makes a difference

Thanks, I'll tell ou if it works or not when the problem next occurs. If it's the fuse/relay and flicking it works, what would I need to do to fix it? New fuse? Something else?

What if flicking it doesn't work? Maybe I should be asking these things after I try it next

Sam

[billofdurham]

I'll give the fuse thing a try and see if that makes a difference

The fuse thing is a relay although it is in the same board as the fuses. The attachment shows all of the relays behind the ashtray. The turn signal/hazard flasher is G.

940 relays.jpg (81.35 KiB) Viewed 3183 times

If flicking it works you need a new relay. If it doesn't the chances are you still need a new relay. Unfortunately, the only way to test a relay is to substitute it with a known good one and that is the only one of its type in there.

Bill.

[girlbunny]

Thank you muchly for the diagram, that makes a big difference in my understanding of WHAT to flick LOL

Okay... I flicked the area around the fuses because I knew that was there, and well... I didn't know you could pull it out further. You do have to pull the lot out to get to the rest, right??

Well... after flicking it, it did not fix itself. Actually, it's stopped altogether. No more flashy flashy. It worked once after the flicking (didn't do it hard, impossible to flick anything hard while it's still in the area behind the ashtray!) however ever since that one time afterward they haven't gone at all. Could flicking the fuses have caused it to stop totally? The fuse involved also controls the power windows and they're still working fine, so I'm presuming I haven't damaged the fuse itself.

I'll pull the sucker out in the morning (if I can figure out how without feeling like I'm damanging the whole area!) and try flicking "G" I'll also ring around a few places and see what the cost would be to have a new one shipped to me. I don't feel safe out on the road without indicators, travelling to a town I've never been to!

Thanks again

Sam

[billofdurham]

To pull the fuse/relay board out you need to release two small catches which are located between the fuse part and the relay part, one either side. The whole unit then pulls out into the passenger compartment. There is plenty of slack in the wires to get it to where you can see what you are doing.

Flicking fuses does not harm them but the problem appears to be in that relay not the fuses.

Bill.

[girlbunny]

I released the two small catches, however it refused to pull out. The back (relay switches??) themselves seem to be stopping them coming out. I managed to access them by removing the equaliser/cigarette lighter section and pulling it aside.

Having said which, flicking "G" once I could get to there actually did bring the indicators back to life, as well as the hazard lights and seatbelt warning light. So... what do I need to do? Just get a replacement relay switch/fuse thingy? If so, what do I call it for the parts people so I can order it? Also, given that it is refusing to come out (it looks like the previous owners have fiddled - it isn't sitting where it is obviously meant to) how will I replace it?

Thanks again. It's nice to have a diagnosis!

Sam

[billofdurham]

It would seem that the relay is the problem. It could work for a long time since you have woken it up or it could fail tomorrow. There is no way to tell.

I think your description "relay switch/fuse thingy" would tell any experienced parts person exactly what you wanted. Seriously, it is a turn signal/hazard flasher relay. Most good parts dealers will be able to get this for you but if you are really stuck, and don't mind boosting the US economy, FCPGroton (link at the top of the forum) have them for US$10.00.

I am not sure what is refusing to come out. Is it the relay itself or the complete relay board?

Bill.

[girlbunny]

I didn't describe it very well, did I?

It's the entire relay board. It appears to me as though the relays at the back are catching on... something. I can't tell what. However, chances are that I'm also being entirely too timid in attempting to remove it. So, I'll try agaain another time. Probably when I have a replacement part

Thanks again!

Sam

[girlbunny]

Okay, I've ordered a replacement part. Cheapest place was (believe it or not) a place just up the road. Not much cheaper than FCPGroton, but would be a lot faster getting it (two days vs at least a week) They double checked that they could order the parts and how long it would take since they can't usually get Volvo parts.

Sadly, there was a Volvo wrecker in the phone book, when I called them, they said the part was retail $AU55, and they would "only charge $AU30" for the secondhand part. It's $AU31.50 retail to have it ordered new, and $US32 to get it from FCPGroton. No way I'll pay that for a secondhand part if I can get it new for the same price. It's sad when they openly lie about such things. Maybe it's because I'm female, maybe it's because it's a European vehicle... either way I was not impressed.

Sam

[billofdurham]

Good choice. A second hand relay could be the same age as that in your car and could be nearing the end of its life.

I have never had a problem removing the relay board from either the 940 or the 740 (same board). Possibly pull it out as far as you can and then tilt the board upwards, if it will do that.

Bill.