Has anyone heard of this happening? The relay from Volvo is $190. I found a local used dealership that'll give me one for $30. The thirty bucks isn't what I'm worried about. I'm just worried that I'll put the new one in and it will melt just like the first.
When I walked out this morning the blinker lights were on without blinking. The car started and ran fine. When I took the melted relay out (underneath the dash), the blinkers and hazzards worked fine, but the car didn't start.
This car has keyless, but no alarm, to my knowlege. The keyless has no panic button or anything.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice or maybe a jumper for that relay if it indeed can be bypassed if indeed there isn't an alarm.
Thanks,
Joe
1996 volvo 850 turbo

I have the same problem only lights will go on and stay on for hours at a time. Pulled the fuse, and drove without signal lights. At times, the red alarm light on top of dash says light constantly. Battery constantly runs down and vehicle won't start.

Engine and turbo are still fine but lots of other little problems are driving me nuts.

Thanks to you guys and I will check the relay. I have had a mechanic look at it and he couldn't figure it out.

The '96 Turbo has an alarm built in from the factory. If you look under the hood near the firewall you should see the alarm horn. The car needs the security relay in place to complete the start circuit. Why it melted is anybody's guess, maybe just it's time to go. Does the car have a crash history? Are you the original owner? Try the new relay and see how it does.





Mike
'95 850T

Thanks,
We're going to try a new one, I think. As far as I know, the only kind of wreck it has been in was when someone backed into the hood. It bumped the hood pretty good, I think a small crack in the radiator has stemmed from it, but it really wasn't that hard a hit (or so I thought).
How is the alarm activated/used? I saw the horn, but have never heard it.
thanks,
Joe

LOL
Roll down the driver's side window, lock the car, and reach in and try to open the car from the inside door panel. That should activate the alarm! But you will need a relay first!

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

My alarm relay in the 96 850 just went out several months ago. Picked one up on Ebay for thirteen dollars. Worked just great.
The alarm system on mine is monitored in the hood at the front left hood corner where the left hand latch hits a striker plate. The striker device has a electrical trip switch that feeds in to the alarm system.
Was getting all kinds of alarm horn activation and flashers and the occasional system shutdown of the starting circuit. The little lite on the dash center was going off in series with the relay clicking under the dash.
New relay solved all those symtoms.