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1997 850 Brake light not working on left side

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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gswede
Posts: 141
Joined: 28 February 2011
Year and Model: 850 R 1997
Location: Norway

1997 850 Brake light not working on left side

Post by gswede »

Got the bulb warning coming on when I am on the brakes. Checked and found the left side brakelight bulb was shot. Have now replaced the bulb but it still wont work and I get the same bulb warning.
Brake light works on the right side.

Found two earthpoints just beside the left lamp housing, cleaned them but no fix.

Anyone encountered this?

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

How is the socket itself? You may need to scrape the tab and bend it up a bit in order to get a clean connection.

...Lee
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gswede
Posts: 141
Joined: 28 February 2011
Year and Model: 850 R 1997
Location: Norway

Post by gswede »

Cleaned the bulb holder sockets including the connectors. Also cleaned the relay connectors. All lights apart from the left brake light works as normal. Fuses looked fine but put in new ones, no fix yet.

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regent
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Post by regent »

I would first determine if I am losing the +12 volts or the ground and go from there.
A test light or a meter (better yet) would work better than random component or point checks.
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gswede
Posts: 141
Joined: 28 February 2011
Year and Model: 850 R 1997
Location: Norway

Post by gswede »

I do have a voltmeter and wiring diagram, still cant figure where to start testing. Wiring diagram wasnt much help..

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

Test it at the socket. If there is no voltage there you may have a problem with the connector on the lamp failure module. The module is typically a blue plastic box that is under the carpet in the trunk on the left hand side on a sedan or under the carpet and a panel on the left hand side on a wagon.

In both cases it is in the cavity to the left of the spare tire well.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

gswede
Posts: 141
Joined: 28 February 2011
Year and Model: 850 R 1997
Location: Norway

Post by gswede »

Slightly embarrased, actually had 2 bulbs shot. Changed the brake bulb in the upper bulb holder, behind the speaker and all is good.

Thanks for replying guys.

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

You are the first one to ever do this.....this week.

Thanks for the follow-up post, that would be easy to overlook.
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Post by xHeart »

Ozark Lee wrote:Test it at the socket. If there is no voltage there you may have a problem with the connector on the lamp failure module. The module is typically a blue plastic box that is under the carpet in the trunk on the left hand side on a sedan or under the carpet and a panel on the left hand side on a wagon.

In both cases it is in the cavity to the left of the spare tire well.

...Lee
It is more than a week now, bulb is not the issue.
My next step is to test the socket.

I haven't look for the module, blue box.
Is this a fuse, likely pN?
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