1978 242 - B21A engine...

Idiot lights acting up.

TOday I noticed that when I turn on the ignition - only the "oil" light illuminates.

All stock idiot lights are in place - no after factory gauges...

All the other idiot lights that usually illuminate - do not. Only the one light...

No "Alt" light.
No "Brake" light.

The car runs fine, the alternator is charging.

I am assuming there is a ground short somewhere...??

Is the answer out there..??

Thanks in advance.

Look to the back of the alternator. You will probably find the small red wire broken or disconected. Very common failure. While you're down there, check the black oil pressure sender wire and the large red battery wire on the back of the alternator. The wiring wraps around under the crank. The large red terminates at the junction block by the headlight relay. The small red and black go into the engine harness and terminate at a rectangular 8 pin conector about the middle of the firewall.

someone claiming to be BOB!!!!!!! COME ON DOWN!!!!!

Yes, someone claiming to be BOB!!!!!!! , you have identified the solution to my dilema.

THank you for your input

Gord



(Please follow the attendant to the contestant prize booth to collect your winning prize)

Clean all the fuses and fuse clips.

Tighten (= bend) the fuse clips to increase gripping tension on the fuses.

You can clean the fuse clips using a 3M green "scrubbie" pad -- it's abrasive enough to cut glass (how do I know this?) but non-conductive, so you don't need to first disconnect the battery.

If this doesn't solve your problem, it's likely that your car needed this maintenance anyway.....
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Hi from the great white North

Sorry - while your answer was well thought out and I do appreciate the time you have taken ...-

It turned out to be the red small wire at the rear of the alternator.(broken off)

Thanks for the input.

Gord



(Please follow the attendant to the contestant prize booth to collect your consolation prize)

PS we hit +17c (+62.6f) today in Calgary - set a temperature record that goes back to 1913.!!!!

Hi from the great white North

Sorry - while your answer was well thought out and I do appreciate the time you have taken ...-

It turned out to be the red small wire at the rear of the alternator.(broken off)

Thanks for the input.

Gord



(Please follow the attendant to the contestant prize booth to collect your consolation prize)

PS we hit +17c (+62.6f) today in Calgary - set a temperature record that goes back to 1913.!!!!

Glad you found 'n repaired it. That's an obvious problem, but one I've not suffered -- whereas, I HAVE from mightly grungy fuses.

Thanks for passing it along.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Glad to see that you are still looking out for us Volvonians on the Brickboard.
I have always appreciated your solutions.


I remember when everyone would answer all the questions each day because we were a small group.

Now it is an global village. (It takes a village to fix your Volvo...)

Have you had any experience with the 900 series cars.

Are they much more "shop reliant" the the200 series that I drive now?

THanks

Gord Hull ( Alberta, Canada)

"Have you had any experience with the 900 series cars."

None to speak of. We have a '91 740, and the 940 is an improved version of the 740, so sometimes I can say things about the 940 that are half intelligent. But our 740 has required very few repairs (though the "to do" list is long), so even there my hands-on experience is limited.

--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

eom

Gord

Check the wiring coming out of the back of the alternator.It is probably the black ground wire.
--
philvo

Yes, it was the red wire at the rear of the alternator.

THanks again


Gord