The third brake light assembly on my '95 850T sedan is intermittent. I had it worked on when I had my 60K mile service, but it's back to the intermittent thing again. I've checked online and can't find anyone who carries this part. Any suggestions and/or ideas on a home fix for the esisting unit?
(The shop cleaned the contacts, replaced the bulb and used a dialectric grease.)

How do you know it is not working? The idiot light on the dash lights up? How intermittent is it? Do bumps effect it? How long since your 60K service? Is the whole assembly loose? Did you check the wires in the trunk to make sure they are not rubbing on something?
Obviously, I need more info to make an educated guess. Sorry,
Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Forgot to add that bumps do not affect light function (or malfunction).

Um, I know it isn't working because the dash light comes on AND there's no light at the assembly (can check with car running and weight placed on brake pedal--this is how I determined which brake light). Light on was constant until I detached the assembly and fiddled with the wires/contacts, etc. Then it was intermittent. Sometimes when I depressed the brake pedal the dash light would go on and then flick off again. There doesn't appear to be a set pattern for this. Sometimes the light is on when brake pedal depressed and stays on until I remove my foot from the pedal.

My 60 service was on Monday Jan. 24th. My mechanic then replaced the bulb (it was not burned out), cleaned the contacts and used the dialectric grease. He says next step is to buy a unit from the dealer. I prefer not to spend that much if I can help it. I'm already looking at needing brakes and roters next month and a new power steering rack if the seal he used as temporary fix doesn't work (he claimed 50 to 75% success but only for 6 to 12 months). I trust this mechanic who has 20 years experience as a MBZ/Volvo specialist, but I'm a retiree with a pretty unexciting pension, so saving $$ is rather important.

Looks like you are on the right track for a solution. Mechanics have a hard time with electrical problems. Check the ground wire for a good solid contact, unscrew it from the body, clean the contact area, and tighten it up again. You needn't buy a whole new assembly, that's silly. It's the wires, remember what you did earlier when it didn't work at all? Make sure all of the wire contacts are solid and the wiring isn't chaffed somewhere along the way.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)