Battery light and Brake Fail lights light at ignition

ronanfeely · Post by **ronanfeely** » 08 Nov 2010, 22:13

Hi All,

I bought a 1989 240 DL wagon today, 259k miles, and when I start her up the battery light and the Brake Fail lights stay on on the dash until I rev for the first time.

The brakes are very soft and my mechanic - who tested the car and advised I by it at the money - said there is air in there ... but is it safe to drive to the shop or does this light come on normally upon starting?

R.

PS The brake fluid is low and I'll just keep topping it up until I can get it into the shop ...

240Dad · Post by **240Dad** » 10 Nov 2010, 10:52

While I can't answer your question, I can add to it and maybe it will help. I recently took my 1993 240 to a local mechanic to change the left front strut. The condition you describe was not present beforehand but is exactly as you describe it now. All I have to do is rev the engine a little and the lights you mentioned go off. I thought he might have disconnected the battery and left it loose but that is not the case. He would have disconnected the left front caliper from the disc but he would not have opened the bleeder. I am anxious to hear what the good folks on this forum have to say.

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 Nov 2010, 11:40

To the OP, you might have a leaky master cylinder or booster in the system that's letting air in. The brake system should not be losing fluid.

As far as the lights, it may just be an old alternator causing it to happen. Test your voltage at idle after just starting the car - it should be in the 13's. We've got an old BMW that doesn't like to wake up until you touch the gas for the first time - the alternator is still original and needs a bit of revs for all the electrical things to start working better.

Post by **billofdurham** » 10 Nov 2010, 11:49

I'll start with the easy one. The brake failure light is designed to come on when the fluid is low, which yours is. It should come on when you first switch on the ignition to show that it is working, as do all of the 'idiot lights' and should go off when the engine starts. There may be a leak or it could be that the previous owner hasn't bothered about the maintenance. Top up the fluid and you should be safe to drive to the shop. If the light comes on whilst you are driving to the shop, stop and check the fluid again.

The battery light should go out when the alternator starts to charge the battery so it seems that it is a little slow in kicking in with the charge. This could be an alternator fault or could simply be that the drive belt isn't tight enough.

240Dad, there are reported cases, not with Volvo but I suppose it could be a possibility with them, that a bad alternator has also turned on the brake fail light. Alternator repaired and both lights work as advertised. It is worth bearing in mind.

Bill.

240Dad · Post by **240Dad** » 10 Nov 2010, 12:09

Hopefully I am adding some useful info for the original poster so that I am not a thread hijacker. Apologies if not.
My alternator is nearly new. I will check the belt tension tonight.
Thanks,
Bill

Post by **billofdurham** » 10 Nov 2010, 12:34

Hopefully I am adding some useful info for the original poster so that I am not a thread hijacker.

I can't see that you have hijacked anything. Your post was valid.

I seemed to recall that you had replaced the alternator but I read so many posts I can't remember every one. The vehicle that this happened to was a Nissan and was just a possible solution.

Bill.

ronanfeely · Post by **ronanfeely** » 10 Nov 2010, 15:38

Thanks for all the replies,

The repair shop said that the back brakes were practically done but said nothing about a leak. Yeah, the alternator is probably dying. Even the seat belt not on siren practically dies when you start the car ...

I'll post how things work out when I get it repaired.

R.

Kirby J · Post by **Kirby J** » 10 Nov 2010, 16:09

When the alternator on my 940 went out, the brake fail and the e-brake lights all came on. When the alternator started charging, they all acted normally. When I replaced the alternator, everything is good!

Kirby J