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Third brake light not working. Can it be fuse?

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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lext
Posts: 68
Joined: 25 January 2005
Year and Model: 1994 854
Location: Northern California
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Third brake light not working. Can it be fuse?

Post by lext »

The third brake light (the one on top of the rear seat) in my car has not been working for as long as I can remember. As a result the "bulb out" idiot light always turns on whenever I brake. Once some years ago I did try to look at it, but all I got was that there was no voltage out to where the brake light was (when brake pedal was pressed). I didn't know what else to do (all the wires look hidden to me) so I just left it that way. I've always wanted to go back some day though (I'd rather no warning light being on while I drive :) )

One thing I've often heard about is check the fuse. I guess that means the fuse box in the engine bay near the driver side? But if the other 2 brake lights still work, that cannot be the fuse, right? Or is there separate fuse for each brake light? I've been looking for a fuse diagram for 850 but only found this, which is for a 1998 V70: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/dow ... 920b6401a8. As far as I can tell there is only one fuse for the brake lights in that fuse box, but I don't know if there are other fuse box location that is only mentioned in the "user manual", which I don't have.

Thanks.
94 850 non-turbo
2011 S40 T5
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crlande
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Year and Model: 240DL;850;S70
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Post by crlande »

Simple stuff first. Get into third brake cover and make sure bulb is good. The cover has two push tabs on side of it. While in there to check bulb, look at wire contacts and clean.
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MadeInJapan
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Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
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Post by MadeInJapan »

We had one on a '94 850 as well that was not working most of the time...as crlande said pull it off and check the bulb. Our bulb checked out...imagine that, but a new bulb fixed the problem.
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo
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Sommerfeldt
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Post by Sommerfeldt »

Well... I suppose you checked the bulb when you put in the effort to check for voltage... if you didn't, then check it. There's no separate fuse for the brake lights, so the next step is to go over the wiring. You can reach most of the wiring by taking off a few interior panels - nothing major. Start at the light, make sure it's whole and connected, and go from there.

Btw, there's supposed to be (I think) 2 spring connectors on that thing, which can become corroded. Slide the assembly off and check those first.

- S
2018 S90 T8 Inscription - glossy black with amber interior and dark as night rear windows.
[Gone] '96 855 T5 - R bumper and spoiler, Koni Yellows & blue H&R springs all 'round.
[Sold] '97 S70 T5
[Gone] '95 855 T5-R - one of the black ones... sadly stolen and wrecked.
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