1985 240 sedan dash lights, odometer, fuel gauge not working

muddpiejones · Post by **muddpiejones** » 23 Jan 2014, 14:19

Hello. We just traded our old Volvo V70for an older Volvo 240. Runs great except the idle is a little high and the dash board lights, fuel gauge and odometer aren't working. Any ideas other than fuses??
Thank you.

Zesty · Post by **Zesty** » 24 Jan 2014, 13:17

Could the dashboard lights, fuel gauge, and odometer all be from the same problem? You could try removing the gauge cluster and checking / re-plugging all the connectors. While you have it out, you could also do a bulb, and odometer gear replacement for just a few $$. Does the fuel gauge show any signs of life when you turn the car on? My in-tank float has popped off, but the gauge moves from "rest" a little bit when I start the car, so I know it does work. I'm not as familiar with high idle. I'd think it could be a brittle vacuum hose or other air leak messing up the air/fuel mixture and confusing the ECU.

muddpiejones · Post by **muddpiejones** » 26 Jan 2014, 17:34

We were actually afraid it my be a vacuum leak lol. Thank you for the ideas. We are going to wait to hear from the people we got it from tomorrow before tearing into anything. I will check to see if the gauge moves when starting the car. Thank you again. Any other ideas I'd Love to hear them.

Aldaar · Post by **Aldaar** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:47

I'm deep into the repair manual for my 1986 240 so yours is similar. One thing that is stressed is that the ceramic fuses in the fuse box corrode and stop completing the circuit. So grinding them all in place once a year is recommended.

zezties advice to disconnect and reconnect all dash circuits is good - this could create better electrical connections. About the idle - one thing I've learned so far is that there is an actual knob beneath the fuel injector complex that is for raising and lowering the idle.