Hi, long time no big problem until now. I guess thats why I like these cars...
The story goes like this:

First I hear from the spouse the car is giving her problems. So, I don my monogramed silk grease resistant sharper image cover-alls, dust off my complete snap-on rolling tool chest, fire up the air compressor and only after I have the car 6ft. up (on the lift) do I figure that opening up the hood might be the best way to wiggle the battery terminals. So, down with the lift, open the driver side door and pull the hood latch, after I place my custom ordered temporary grease guard paper floor mat, intending to leave it as a signal to significant other that her car was indeed serviced by a competent technician..me..
Thought the old optima battery finally gave up. Removed battery, recharged overnight and, reinstalled. Started up fine. Checked charging syst. (by disconecting neg. while engine running - engine still ran..)

I must have a short or something.. better go have a beer, watch the olympics on TV,

Symptoms:
Left turn signal causes high beams to light up slightly with each blink.
Flashing high beam stalls the engine!
Occasionally, the car will not start, idiot lights all come on and clicking sounds can be heard by the genius behind the wheel. That would be me.

Anybody have suggestions of where/what to look for or, if this is a short?

BTW, the spouse doesn't know about this place so, I would really appreaciate it if it didn't get out that I'm really a dumb ass.

You guys are the only reason she hasn't divorced me yet...

Respectfully submitted,
John McA - super genius..

The solution to this problem is simple. I had the exact same effect on my 1989. Just behind the battery there is a common ground terminal where multiple electrical devices share thier ground. Over time this ground degrades and can only handle so much power as the connections become poor. The installation of the new battery increased the amount of voltage in the system. This combined with the high beams is too much for the ground to handle.

But why does the car stall?

At that same grounding point the fuel innjectors get thier power. One beats the other. In your case (just like mine) the lights won over the fuel system. Remove all the plugs on this ground plate, sand it smooth and clean reinstall and grease (dielectric) and I bet your problems will be solved. While your at it there is another groung point behind the airbox in similar fashion which you may as well service too.

Hope this fixes the problem

Andrew P

John,

You might check the lighting grounds to make sure they are free of corrosion and tight. What ever your problem, don't add to it by pulling the battery cable while the engine is running. Use a multimeter to check the charging system performance. Again DO NOT remove the battery cable while the engine is running or you might have a lot more to deal with than your current (pun intended) electrical problems.

Think it's bad grounds.

Thanks again
John

HI John: What was the main complant ? No Start? Did your lighting problem exist before the no start condition? The way I read this is the car either would'nt start or it was starting slower and slower . Even though the hardware bolts are tight on the starter and the battery cable to the engine block ground are tight it does'nt mean the cables are making a good full connection. My negitive ground cable at the engine block came right off in my hand, I could'nt beleive it, but is true. It had rotted off just behind the crimped connecter and caused weak starting and very little recharging of the battery , getting back just 11.30 volts instead of 14.30 volts. After replacing and rerouteing the cable all was fine, strong starts, great recharging back to the battery and a good steady idle and steady tach reading. One thing I really hate to tell you but you should have never disconnected the ground cable when the engine is running , it will screw up your main computer. They are extremly sensitive to electrical spikes. On old Fords and Chevyes you could do this to check out your alternator by disconnecting the batery ground while the engine was running and have no negitive efects at all, but not on Volvo's, sorry to say. I would'nt tell your wife either, just blame the repair shop or a co-worker you never really trusted to begin with, that way she can only blame your choise of useing well intended advice from someone else. Good Luck and in this case silence is golden. Dan Metz.
--
Dan's 88 Volvo 740 GLE WAGON non-turbo

different shops to cover my tracks. I think the computer is alright for now but, who knows what might happen in the next millenium. At least the car doesn't fly by wire. The bat. charges at 14.2v and starts strong

Mums the word.
John McA

Well, I'm no supergenius, but see if you're getting power to the starter solenoid at the small terminal. Power at this terminal comes from the ignition switch. (Use your Blue Point test light!) If not, then bad ignition switch. also, clean up the ground termninal strips under the hood on the front inner fender area, both sides.
Hope this helps

Bob 87 745

the blue point test lamp. Darn foreign manufacturers. Sure glad this car isn't foreign too.. Will check grounds on fenders. Fingers crossed on Ig switch. Just recently changed both high beam head lamp and most likely pulled the ground wires while doing this.

So hard to change head lamps when standing on a ladder. Perhaps next time I won't lift the car so high. The plug on the back of the high beam was on sooo tight I had to use Channelock 480 slip joint pliers to break the bulb while hanging from wires after the ladder fell over.... Good thing I turned off the engine first though. You know what they say: 'Safety Third!' Right?

Gotta remember to remove the bicycles from the roof rack too...

Thanks for your help.
John McA

John..

The stalling high beams.. heh, heh. I've experienced this one.

The 700's become pretty quirky with grounding problems. In the engine bay, attached to each fender forward of the strut tower, you'll find a grounding block. I removed the connection, sanded the block and reconnected.

It should be that simple..

-meckel
'90 745t m46

Thanks for your help.
John