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Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

Here's an odd problem I recently ran into on my 1996 854. I have 225,000 miles on the car now, its runs great, and it's always been well maintained to the schedule. I drove the car to work a few weeks ago and all was well. At the end of the day I get in the car and it starts right up but the ABS and TRACS lights are on. Then I noticed the transmission shift interlock isn't working so I had to manually override it. I stopped and restarted the car but same problem. Then I noticed the speedometer wasn't working either. I figured there's a bad fuse so I checked the manual and it says the rear window defroster and heated mirrors are also on the circuit. Sure enough, they don't work. I stop the car and check fuse #28. Its fine so I put it back in and try reseating the fuses. Restart the car and the problem is gone. Since that day I've had this problem happen 3 more times but all I had to do was stop the car, pull fuse #28, reinsert the fuse, and restart the car. Yesterday the problem happened again but the trick of pulling and reinserting fuse #28 didn't work. So I drove the car for a few miles and then next time I restarted the car the problem was gone. This seems to happen on hotter days.

Any ideas of what might be causing this problem or where to check first?

Thanks!








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    Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

    Just get a new fuse to put in the #28 slot.

    Klaus








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      Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

      Klaus - The last time this problem happened I put a new replacement 10A fuse into #28. It didn't resolve the problem. I drove the car with the new fuse, parked it, and 2 hours later it worked again. I'm waiting for the problem to happen again so I can try the jiggling the ignition switch. In the meanwhile I'll look around for ground straps to check for corrosion.








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    Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

    You have described most of the symptoms of a defective ignition switch (the electrical part). Very common problem.
    When that happens again, wiggle the ignition key to see if all functions are restored.
    As I like to say, the ignition switch is not igniting or not switching.








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      Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

      I've been thinking that the ignition switch was overdue and occaisionally not "feeling" right. I'm going to have to check this out next time I have the problem. I'll give it a wiggle and a jiggle. Thanks!








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    Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

    This really sounds like a major ground going bad. My IM mentioned that there is a service bulletin on such a ground degrading over time. Sorry, dunno where it is.








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      Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

      Good suggestion. I'll poke around a bit and see what I can find. The car is 12 years old by manufacture date and spent a lot of time outdoors so a weak ground is a real possibility. Thanks!








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        Intermittent electrical problem - ABS, TRACS, speedo, heated mirror, microswitch 850 1996

        try the volvo jiggle.. put the key in the ignition and move it around a bit up and down and all around... see if this changes the situation and confirms that your ignition swith needs replacing!
        --
        93 850GLT 430,000km * 94 850 300,000km * 86 240GL 360,000km







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