I have a 1994 940 Wago. All of sudden all the brake light don't work including the 3rd brake light. I have replace the bulbs, dual filament, and still no change. I have checked all the fuses seem ok...the only thing left is the brake switch at the brake pedal. I am tryign to find the part now, any other areas to check? I don't think there is any type of in line fuse???

Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks
Chris in VA

The Relay is the SAME, the location is different from my '89 200. I hope this helps. I jumped mine out But since then I went in a resoldered it and now it works fine.
Click on the Envelope by my name and e-mail me you E-mail address and I will send you some pics of it. If you want.

OK, first let’s make sure you have power to your brake switch.
Pull down the carpet material that is up above your knees when you are sitting in the car. Just undo the top three clips, you don’t need to pull the whole thing down.
Follow the steering column toward the firewall until you see a switch just about where the brake pedal meets it. You should see two wires (green with red trace and blue with a red trace) going to a round ,brownish colored switch. With a 12 volt meter or 12v light connect one end to the chassis for ground and the other end touch the green/red wire. You should have 12 volts to this point, all the time.
If you don’t then this is your problem, you need to get 12 volts to this side of the switch.
IF YOU DO. You have 12volts to your switch. “Let’s check if the switch is working”. Continue on.
Keep the ground connection on your meter but connect the other side to the blue/red wire. Step on the brake pedal and your meter should read 12 volts or the light should go on if you are using that type of meter.
If you don’t then this is your problem, your brake switch is bad.
IF YOU DO; then the brake switch is good. Continue on.
Sit in the drivers seat, reach under the dash with you left hand, just above your knee. There is a round, Red Can (Bulb Failure Sensor) with about 12 wires going to it through a bumpy looking black connector. It is held in place by a spring clip, pull it toward the firewall. It will drop down with wires attached.
Look for the blue wire with the red trace (blue/red) going into the connector. It will be next to a yellow/silver and next to that a solid yellow wire. These two yellow wires run back to your brake lights.
Slightly separate the Red Can from the bumpy black connector so the metal pins from the ‘Can’ are starting to show. Again take your light or meter and have one end grounded and with the other end, touch the metallic pin that goes into the connector that is attached to the blue/red wire, step on the brake and you should have 12 volt (or the meter light will light depending on what type of meter you have). This test was to check to see if the blue/red wire was broken.
Now, between the connector and the Red Can (Bulb Failure Sensor) where you have the metal pins exposed a bit, with a paper clip or some other metal object, even a small screwdriver, touch ONLY the blue/red and the yellow/silver one next to it. With you making an electrical connection between the blue/red and the yellow/silver wire, step on the brake. You should see one brake light turn on (the left one I think). If a brake light works then your Bulb Failure Sensor is bad for the brake lights.
Now to fix this you can do two things; 1. Cut the two yellows and the blue from the connector and solder them together or
2. Mark the Red Can with a marker as to which pins are the blue/red trace, yellow and yellow /silver. Look at the bottom of the Red Can I think these pins are numbered “54S, 54L, 54R”. Then totally disconnect the Red Can, take it out of the car and solder a wire to these three pins. You must keep the wire very close to the body of the can so you can plug it back in for the other light sensing. And make very sure that you do not make any connection to the pins next to it.
After you have soldered the wire (should be about the thickness of a small paper clip) to the pins, install it back into the connector and with any luck…..the brakes will work again.
It’s easier then it sounds. When you start to look at it, things will make more sense.




--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

Tony:

Thanks...everything checked out ok,my relay switch is in a different spot couldn't perform your test, did try to manipulate the bulb sensor relay..no luck. It appears this is th culprit!! I will replace it and hope this is the answer...$113 at the dealer5...ouch!

Chris

Dear Chris,

Good p.m. and hope this finds you well. Before you shell out $113, look into getting a bulb failure relay at a salvage yard. You might find, in your area, salvage yards that will allow you to gather the items you need. This will save you money - and get you better quality parts - than the salvage yard, where the parts are removed by workers, and brought to the office.

If you find the first type of salvage yard, be very careful not to damage anything, in the process of getting the part you need. All parts on a salvage car have value, and damaging parts that you don't intend to buy, is like taking money from the owner's (owners') pocket. If you operate carefully, you'll be a welcome customer, and over time save yourself a big PILE of money.

This relay, as you know, is easy to remove. You need only a Screwdriver, to access it. I believe that this relay is the same in any 940/960, so you have a wide range of cars, from which to choose.

I'd recommend you take two of these bulb failure relays. Both are unlikely to be bad. If only one works, you're still way ahead. If both work, you have a spare, for small money.

While you're there, collect overdrive relay (white, 1" sq., and 1.5" tall) and some of the other relays. At some point, you'll need a spare.

Yours faithfully,

spook

Great suggestions...thanks! I am assuming because everything else checks out that it is likely that the bulb sensor really has failed? I did open it up and could smell a little of that burnt electrical smell if you would...I have been without a car for 2 days now working at night and it is hard to get parts at night...smile

Hopefully this is the answer! if the bulb relay doesn't work, what is next...I hope this is not the case and it appears from other postings this is my culprit!

Thank you!

Chris

Bulb failure realy sensor was bad, once replaced all works!!

Thanks

CT

When the bulb out indicator relay fails (big round red one), the brake lights cease to work. Try swapping that with a known good one and checkout the FAQ.
-Gil

Gil:

Thanks...I am a little lost on this one. Where can this be found?

Thanks
Chris

If you take out the ash tray and the shelf below the radio you will see the fuses and relays.
To take out the shelf below the radio, pry off the cover around the ciggarette lighter and then remove the two phillips screws. The bulb out relay is the round red one.
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/ElectricalCircuitsRelays.htm#LightsDontWorkBulbOutRelay

-Gil