Hello,
I'm new to the forum. My 1800ES quite suddenly developed a lighting problem. The headlights, driving lights, hazard flashers, dashboard lights, and brake lights quit working. The turn signal do work as do the reverse lights. All fuses are good. Any ideas on the cause? Perhaps a relay? TIA --RBS

R;

There are a number of fuses involved in the lighting circuits, check your manual or a wiring diagram like at: http://www.intelab.com/swem/1800ES%20Wiring% (mediocre, sorry I've gotta get a cleaner one up there...) 20Diagram.jpg...but if the fuses look to be intact, that is not enough!...the conical fuse ends and corresponding contacts may be corroded and not making contact...try the old "twist to get it working" trick on the fuses involved, and if that works, it's time to read "Gas-Tight-Joint" (http://www.intelab.com/swem/gastight.htm ), get some anti-corrosive paste, and get to work!

Cheers

Thanks Ron,

I did the twist routine on all fuses - no change. The strange thing about this occurance is that it happend suddenly with no warning. And, to have all of the circuits except for the turn signals go out at the same time???? --RBS

R;

In that case, I would arm myself with a large (readable) copy of the wiring diagram, and a test light or voltmeter and locate where you're losing power to the lighting circuits...and I would start at the fusepanel. The fact that a number of loads failed at the same time probably suggests a common cause....can't get more specific from here...

Good Hunting

OK. Here's what I have done so far.

1. Checked voltage at the light switch - no power from any of the four wires.

2. Checked the voltage at the fuse panel - power at 1 and 2 with the key off; power at 1-6 with the key on, but not at 7-12.

Problem: No headlights, running lights, brake lights, interior lights or flashers. But, the turn signals work normally, horn works, car starts and runs fine, even the door buzzer works??????

Is it possible that a relay died? If so, what is the diagnosis procedure?

Thanks again for all of the advice. --RBS

R;

From the info given: Relays and fuses are OUT OF THE PICTURE!

The Red wire at the lighting switch should have battery power (that is, with ignition OFF), coming from the fuse panel (but from the INPUT side of Fuse8 [therefore irrespective of fuse], where it is tied to the fat Red wire supplying battery power from the "big" starter terminal (30) to the input side of Fuse9). This is a problem!

I suggest you proceed in the following manner (and this should help you locate a poor, posibbly intermittent connection also). Refer to wiring diagram: http://www.intelab.com/swem/1800ES%20Wiring%20Diagram.jpg Conduct test carefully as it is to be done with battery wiring normally inplace.

1. Confirm that there is no power at the Red wire of lighting switch.
2. Connect and leave a test light connected to Red wire at lighting switch.
3. Locate open connection of Red wires at fuse panel terminals of Fuse 8 and 9 or Terminal 30 of Starter, by probing with an insulated small probe (such as a complimentary chopstick from the oriental restaurant of your choice). If a poor or intermittent connection is the problem, the test light will light when you reestablish the connection as you probe the connections or terminals.

If this helps you to locate your electrical problem, you owe me a six pack of Warsteiner! Lewt us know how you make out!

Good Hunting

Here is the address to a pretty detailed wiring diagram http://www.volvo-1800.com/wiring.htm. Like the person before me said try to clean off the bases of the fuses, twist them and then if that doesn't work I used sand paper on one of mine a few days ago and my lights went back on. Electrical isn't fun just be gald that some idiot didn't decide to rewire your car like what was done to mine.