Hello,

I installed a set of euro-style side markers and wired them as running lights as well as flashers. When the lights are turned off, the side flashers blink in tandem with the front and rear flashers. When the lights are turned on, the side flashers blink alternately with the front and rear flashers.

Why is this?

Any way to get them to work as running lights and always blink in tandem with the others?

Thanks.
--
Jim - '92 Red 245 "The Radio Flyer" - '85 245 270K "Old Girl"

You may have noticed that nearly all GM cars and trucks which have separate side marker lights on the front work this way. It's a cheap and easy way to get the 'extra' turn signal lighting and aside from the out-of-synch flashing, works well.

Marmc's interpretation of the circuit is correct. Like him, I wired the Euro side markers on my 940 to light in synch with the turn signals - otherwise they're unlit. This is the wiring method detailed in the instruction sheet that came with the harness (from IPD).

My personal feeling is that there's little to be gained by using the Euro side markers as running lights, since the wrap-around front parking lights are quite visible from the side.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar 77 MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

When wired to be running lights, it will perform the way you have described. You'd need a light which had 3 different contacts. 1 turn signal, 1 running light and 1 ground.
One can either wire a side turn signal to operate the way you have, or, have it stay off when running lights are on and only flash when signaling.
I recently added this to my 940 in the opposite way you have. I chose this direction so that they would be dark and only flash when signaling. I think it causes more notice that way.
The short version as to why, is:
A bulb needs a positive and a ground. You wired yours with the + to the turn signal and the ground to the + to the running lights. When either is off, the other acts as a ground, ergo your situation. Connect the wire going to the running lights to a ground instead and it will only work with the signal.
One single filament bulb can only do one thing. To achieve what I think you're looking for, you'd have to have a dual filament bulb to glow dimly in running light mode, and a second, brighter filament to flash brighter when signaling. To my knowledge, these are not typically available without modification, and if you look at late model European cars, they will operate independantly of the running lights. Hope this helps.
Mark
--
'94 940 NA Wagon, '84 244t, '84 245 DL

It's easier to describe with a circuit diagram, but here goes: Without the flashers being energized, the side marker gets a constant 12v power and is grounded to the the same ground as the turn signal light. But when the turn signal light gets energized, what *had* been the ground path for the marker light now sees 12v instead of a path to ground - so both sides of the marker bulb are energized, but there is no path to ground. Current flow thru the light stops, and the light goes out.

I put the side markers on my 245, and I actually think the blinking out of phase with the turn signals is an eye-catcher.

If you are determined to get the side markers in phase with the turn signals, I think you could use a double-throw relay to make that happen.

I just got my side marker lights from the PNP yard yesterday and when looking at the wiring diagram on the FAQ's I thought that something was wrong with the
diagram. I believe that the double throw relay will work because the relay will have a ground. I have several that I have pulled from other Volvo's and several have a ground wire with a eye on it so as to go to ground. I will talk to somebody tommorrow and they will have the answer that we both need. Check back tommorrow an I will post what I find out.
Thanks
Rodney