could someone tell me as the owners manual does not what the light beside the brake light on the dash is this is the symbol it has an exclamation mark ! and its in a circle O with brackets around the circle (O) i beleive it to be the break failure as this is what it is on our 1981 242DL and also our 1980 262C bertone coupe if anyone out there has a wagon of this yr 1989 245DL could u please tell me it has come on but very dim and the brakes seem to be fine just want to be sure as this light does not appear in any of our other cars
thanks
samm

Welcome, Samm...this needs to be checked out asap, as the brake warning light is not to be ignored. Often it's just the balance switch out of adjustment, but it can mean you have a problem in the system. Have a good look at the master cylinder, the "octopus" brake balance switch down below the M/C, and each of the calipers for a brake fluid leak.

Probably because of the Canadian regulations for everything to be in the French language along with English, Volvo decided to use instead the odd symbol which you see in your dash. Most USA cars indicate "Brake Failure" in that spot on the warning lights. This is pointed out in the owner's manual.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD and 89 745 (LT-1 V8); hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

... since Bob made the effort to understand Samm's dilemma and offer a logical answer to the problem posted.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.

Alright so Samm has been humbled.

Lets help this lad out as you boys have helped me so much already.

Yes the light is the Brake failure light.

Aye Roll. Can you offer some sound advice to this troubled Brickster. He knows not who he teases :)

PS Page 11 in my Owners manual tells me about warning lights on my 91
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91 Brick turning 400,000 this month

thankyou for all your help. Im a woman, not a man ,and we do maintain our own cars and appreciate your help. I have looked in the manual and this symbol doesnot appear there, just wanted to be sure this is what it was for sure. thanks so much for all your help and I already appolized for any remarks I have made to offend anyone here.
We have just recently purchased this car and am learning what its all about
tanks
samm

you see now I am humbled. Welcome Samm.
This is an awsome site. Answers to all your questions are here in the threads.
The warning light Yellow.
Yellow..you have a bulb out as Garry mentions or in my case an almost bulb out that has enough voltage drop to dimly light the yellow bulb failure light. no biggy
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91 Brick turning 400,000 this month

That's the punctuation warning light. It's where all your commas, periods, question marks, and parentheses go when they're not used.
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::: Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244 M47 211K ::: 90 745GL M47 273K ::: 88 245DL AW70 190K ::: 84 242DL Project ::: 70 VW Bus ::: 70 VW Pickup Project ::: 71 VW Notchback :::

you arent funny this is a serious question as this is on the dash of my 1989 245 DL wagon could someone please answer me with a serious answer, not this guy being a clown

I was just trying to make... light... of the situation. :)

Don't take it personally. I will try to be good from here on.

Connections at the dashboard dimmer pot need to be checked. If needed, simply connect those wires together, bypassing the dimmer.

Connections at the fusebox are a big concern. My own 92 has a minor water leak somewhere in the windshield- sometimes I get corrosion on the fuse clips. Clean off all the fuses, and make sure there is no white or green corrosion on the fuses or the holders.

The light bulbs can be replaced, though they are expensive. The little ears on them can be cleaned off if they are removed.

Good luck! And use some punctuation!
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::: Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244 M47 211K ::: 90 745GL M47 273K ::: 88 245DL AW70 190K ::: 84 242DL Project ::: 70 VW Bus ::: 70 VW Pickup Project ::: 71 VW Notchback :::

yeah i can reply but i dont think youllunnderstand but thats just the way it goes sometimes you know that thing is really unidentified sofar but i think youll get the answer eventurally if it doesn't surface then youll need to dig below the surface

You should know that Aye Roll is one of the most knowlegable folks on this board. And a real decent guy too. I'll admit, we're fresh out of living walking saints here on this planet but he's a decent guy if ever there was one.



--
Sven: '89 245 NA, 951 ECU, open-front airbox, E-fan, 205/65-15's, IPD sways, E-Codes, amber front corner reflectors. Wifemobile '89 245 NA stock. 90 244 NA spare, runs.

Now I saw your other posts.

Welcome to brickboard and brickland. Things should go well for you here.

These cars are pretty reasonable to work on.
Whatever work you can do yourself will save you plenty money as well as stress.

We just drove our '89 with 275,000 miles on the clock, from CT to SC and back for Thanksgiving weekend. Now it's at 277K and getting close to 288.
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Sven: '89 245 NA, 951 ECU, open-front airbox, E-fan, 205/65-15's, IPD sways, E-Codes, amber front corner reflectors. Wifemobile '89 245 NA stock. 90 244 NA spare, runs.

you must be new to the board so you'll get a pass this time... but for your info, rob is probably the most experienced tech (together with art bernstein) here and has saved thousands literally millions. we all look forward to him shedding light on our problems and his advice has always been on the money. i assure you, he is not a clown. you sir, are the clown.

now, go back to your whine cellar.
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oceanre 91 240 wagon 292k

Good call Garry. Aye Roll is THE man. The comedy flows tonight. Go back to your Whine cellar. Now that is funny. Had to reply because I am still laughing
I see your last name. I have a good friend Billy Mawhinney. Not real common around here. You a Scotsman too?
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91 Brick turning 400,000 this month

I appolize to both u and Rob. I thought he was being smart with me I am still learning about these cars and am trying to figure this out as our other cars dont have this on it Im truly sorry for anything I said to offend u or Rob.
When u read it ,it sounds like he is being funny about my question
sorry again
samm

dont think rob took much offense, so let it pass...

now, go to http://www.volvocars.us/tools/OwnersInfo/ and register yourself. once registered, you can look at or download the owners manual for your car (which i did) and look for yourself. in case you cant register, the owner's manual for a 89 240dl wagon says the light on the dash board is a "Bulb failure warning light (yellow)" which we have all seen on our own cars from time to time.

No big deal, it simply means that one of the main bulbs is out (headlight, parking light or brake light). have a look see which one is out and replace it. best to replace bulbs in pairs of the same make. the dash light should disappear.

you will never meet in real life (or in cyber space) a more honest, friendly, giving and down right loving bunch of guys (and gals) like you will here. there is true joy to learn that you are not alone in your quest to keep these old dogs running. there is an even greater joy to know that there is no such thing as a dumb questions here. if anyone laughs, they laugh with you, not at you.

we are all at a different place on the same timeline. slow down to learn from those who are ahead of you. rob is one of those who are way up ahead holding the flashlight - you and i are among those bringing up the rear.

the best resource is reading about a problem your car doesnt have yet beause sooner or later it will. take note of the fix or solution so when the problem happens to you you'll know what to do. (i really impress my wife when i an immediately diagnose and fix something that crops up from time to time - i quietly thank rob, art, marty, bob and all the others under my breath! - we all owe them a great deal.

best regards garry mawhinney/oceanre
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oceanre 91 240 wagon 292k

its most likely a short somewhere,,,like the tail gate where the wires pass thru the roof,howard stern rules!!!