brickers,

lately, my alternator and parking break warning lights are staying on together when i start my 89 240 sedan. as i give it the gas, they dim together and then go out.

my battery has been fine and the lights have been plenty bright.

has anyone had this problem? any advice? could my alternator be going? any advice is appreciated.

2oldvolvos

1 - Check the voltage regulator, making sure brushes are not worn down.

2 - Check the ground wire leading the alternator to the engine block. Make sure there is a clean connection, and the wiring is not frayed or corroded. Replace if necessary.

3 - Check all electrical connections in the charging system, between battery and alternator. Make sure all connections are clean. If the positive and negative battery cables are showing signs of internal corrosion, consider replacing them soon.

[[ southern fried volvo '91 240 143k mi ]]

My 89 has the same issue, even after I sprung for a slightly less filthy junkyard alternator, and even put new brushes in it...no respect.

The problem seems to be torpor on the part of the regulator. There are articles about rewiring it to use a Motorcraft external regulator, and I've thought about it many times (once the car died from electrical exhaustion while I was sitting idling (lights on) and talking to someone, and they had to help me push-start it), but it seems like a lot of bother, compared to living with it.

You can pull the regulator pretty easily with the alternator in place, and then check yer brushes. If they need replacing any auto-electric place will have something that's close enough to work.

I paid around $5 for a set that were too long and had to trim them with a nippers once I had them soldered in. The old solder/clamp combo wouldn't let go, so I nipped the old ones off before installing the new ones, and so far they're fine, other than the above issue.

Disconnect the negative battery terminal before removing the regulator, JIC you happen to let your wrench glide over to the big positive terminal on the back of the alternator while undoing the regulator bolts ⎖mm socket, I think].
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You must be present to win.

Your volatage regulator brushes, in the alt., probably need changing. I thought the parking brake light was on a different circuit, are you sure it isn't brake failure? Maybe I've got it wrong. Whatever.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans