2000 v40 rear tailgate lightship

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Jun 2014, 18:20

So my son's girlfriend who had been driving the V 40 backed it into something and broke one of the lamps out on the tailgate. I finally found a replacement from a Volvo specific junkyard but it is one piece all the way across evidently only for year 2000. Model years after this can have the lamps replaced either on the left or right oh but not the 2000 model. The junkyard discounted the piece quite a lot because someone had cut the wires that go internally from one side to the other. Although it would be easy to put all the wires back together if I just match blue, black, brown and purple both sided have 2 sets if black and 2 sets of purple wires so I'm stumped at which ones to splice. Can anyone share their wisdom as what I should do?

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 09 Jun 2014, 19:31

Here are the volvo wiring diagrams.
Click on the 2000 model.
Would this be any help to you?
http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/?dir ... 20Diagrams

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Jun 2014, 01:38

I really need to learn how to read these- I'm clueless when it comes to wiring diagrams. Do you know where a tutorial is? I'd really like to learn!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Jun 2014, 09:47

Do you think I could just reattach by color and I'd be okay? although 1x2x3x4 = 24 different possible combinations with these 4 wires...what do you think?

mf70 · Post by **mf70** » 10 Jun 2014, 17:07

My tablet can't read that URL, but how about getting to the bulbs and seeing which wires energize each bulb?

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 11 Jun 2014, 17:58

After reading your post I went at looked at my 2002 V40.
It also seems to have the lenses formed integrally with the back panel.
Could you maybe use a multimeter to test and systematically link each of the wires over to each light noting which ones form a circuit?
A fair number of spare fuses may be necessary otherwise. LOL.
Sorry, i'm no auto electrician either.

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 11 Jun 2014, 20:12

Those cut off wires you are holding in the pic posted are attached to a removeable white end plug inserted into the rear of the light fitting.
You should be able to remove those old plugs with cut wiring stubs from your newly acquired rear panel and then simply refix your own vehicles end plugs/wiring directly into the light fitting housing. Assuming the plug shapes are compatible.
The wiring color codes would have to be compatible, no guessing involved?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Jun 2014, 09:39

Thanks guys for the replies- I was away for a few days- just got back to town- and haven't tackled this yet. Difflock- as the wires are cut to short I cannot simply refit the wires into the white connector. I will have to splice them. If looking at the entire panel as if it were attaché to the inside of the car, the right side has one mor wire than the left dude and it is blue- I'm thinking that's the upper or middle brake light. Otherwise I will be able to splice the brown wires back together as there is only one of these on each side. What I'm left with are 2 purple and 2 black wires on each side. I may just have to experiment and expect to go thru many fuses. it could be that either black or purple are ground and don't matter how they are hooked up- just so confusing!!! I have a wiring diagram but can't make heads or tails of it and it doesn't appear to show the white connectors as a junction type box anyway! Any other suggestions?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Jun 2014, 10:12

Ok used magnifying glass and attempted to see the exact angles and individual wires as to which wires were actually cut apart and am going to attempt to reattach the wires with some estimated guessing. At least this is a place to start- some of the wires were cut in such a similar fashion and at the same angles that I may be wrong on one or two wires

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 19 Jun 2014, 20:33

I think the mysterious extra wire on the right side has something to do with the single rear fog light setup on these cars. Mine is a right hand drive model.
I was assuming your own vehicle had simply had the damaged rear panel unplugged by yourself (insitu wiring intact) and that the cut wires were on the purchased replacement panel.Thus by removing those old plugs and wiring stubs you could insert your vehicles undamaged plugs into the relevant rear light unit sockets. (plug and play style)