Volvo RWD 444-544 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 5/2005 444-544 INDEX

[<<] [>>]

THREADED

THREADED EXPANDED

FLAT

PRINT ALL

MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by Barongrey on Wed May 18 04:05 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Wed Dec 3 15:46 CST 2008

[RELATED]

You may recall several weeks ago I noted that I'd allowed someone to 'fix' an electrical problem on my '64 PV544, and after the work was done the front turn siganls were reversed; signal a left turn, the left rear blinker worked, but the right front one indicated a right turn! AAAGHH!

In that post I told you that I found a big wad of electrical tape hidden behind the radiator overflow tank.

Well, I finally felt good enough this past weekend to go out and tear into it. I traced out the wires coming from the dash bundle and installed a new screw block to replace the destroyed/missing gang plug on the left inner fender.

After finally getting everything in place, new terminals, wires re-bundled and snakeskin wrapped, I found that the left front turn signal had just a dim glow to it and the left side signals wouldn't trip the blinker relay. The left rear turn signal is nice and bright, so the problem lies outside the turn signal switch.

Initially I figured it was a bad terminal or bad ground, but when I stuck a probe through the insulation of the (green?) wire coming from the dash, all I read was 4.0 volts.

Since I was bypassing the bulb and its ground - my meter was grounded straight to the negative battery terminal - and the light was working before I 'fixed' the swapped wire problem, I'm certain it's not a bad ground or bulb.

Apparently I have broken the wire somewhere and will have to replace the whole length of it. I refuse to patch in a short piece of wire because jury-rigged repairs will cause more trouble in the future, guaranteed!

Today's job will involve un-bundling the wires and testing the problem wire back along its length until I find the break.

I hate old wires and old, stiff insulation! *sigh*

Anybody wanna swap bodies until I get this fixed? I REALLY don't fit under the dash, so I'm not looking forward to this!

Since I'll be out there anyway, maybe I can get some decent pictures of the upgrades I've done recently (the flex fan and the heater blower I fabricated from the NASCAR brake cooling blower).

;-) Steve in SoCal.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by revolvo on Fri May 20 04:39 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Mon May 20 22:34 CST 2013

[RELATED]

Here's my two cents worth; if you are using a wiring diagram, make triple sure that you are using one that is exactly for your car as per VIN. There are some pretty screwy differences between B-16 and B-18 544s (including the obvious 6volt vs. 12volt thing), and even within the various 12 volt models. For, example I went nuts until I figured out that the lighting switch on a B-16 model A and B used different terminals than the later C through G models.

Probably no biggie for someone w/ good electrical skills, but ,...
since my grasp of theory is sometimes shaky, I tend to keep everything bone stock. That way I can trace wires by where they are supposed to be, not by someone who was second-guessing the factory.

P.S. if you need them, I can send you copies of any of the diagrams.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by Barongrey on Fri May 20 06:35 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Wed Dec 3 15:46 CST 2008

[RELATED]

In this matter I don't need the wiring diagrams. I have several different ones, and none of them are exactly what my car has, so I tend to use the one that best fits the circuit I'm working on.

Anyway, I have the light end of the wire identified (green, in this case) and all I have to do is follow it through the bubdles and check it every few feet until I find the problem.

Still betting it's a loose connection somewhere.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by someone claiming to be cruzin on Fri May 20 01:30 CST 2005 [RELATED]

should have read your post more carefully. hope you find the problem.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by jmenacker on Wed May 18 06:43 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Wed Jan 21 09:31 CST 2009

[RELATED]

Hey Steve:

I'll swap my wrecked 544 body for your nice one but I'm not sure how that will fix your turn signals. Wish I were closer to really help out.

Best regards,

Joe M

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by mjamgb on Wed May 18 09:13 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Tue Sep 4 14:53 CST 2012

[RELATED]

LOL, right body? Don't think mine would help much either (too long)!

Suspect connector right at one of 1) indicator on stalk, 2) flasher relay, 3) gang plug under left side of dash.

Wires nearly never break in mid-run unless they were severely strained or have been rubbing on something.

It is remotely possible that the feed wire to the lights at the fuse-block is screwy (I say remote 'cause you don't indicate an issue with rest of lights and they were blinking strongly - if out of synch - before).

--
Mike!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by someone claiming to be cruzin on Wed May 18 14:16 CST 2005 [RELATED]

there should be a juction block under heater duct by steering column that may be your trouble

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

That's what I just replaced... 444-544

posted by Barongrey on Thu May 19 04:34 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Wed Dec 3 15:46 CST 2008

[RELATED]

The 'terminal block' on the left inner fender liner was a gang plug on my car. It was broken and I had the replacement work done by someone else...who didn't know how, apparently!!

Anyway, I put a terminal block there. The left turn signal lead coming into the block from the dash bundle shows only 4.0 volts instead of the 12 volts needed to light the light and make the blinker blink. I went out yesterday evening to work on it a bit but my meter is missing from my toolbox, so I'll have to go find it. I do have a spare...from the last time the thing went missing!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Remember my Turn Signal problem? 444-544

posted by Barongrey on Wed May 18 10:58 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Wed Dec 3 15:46 CST 2008

[RELATED]

It would be nice if it were simply a faulty connector...but I never have that kind of luck! It's just about cooled off enough out there to go lift the hood and start poking holes in the insulation with my probes.

I know I didn't pull on anything while I was working on it, but a connector may have either slipped a little or (more likely) it just shifted and let the dreaded corrosion take over the job of passing the electrial current along!

Looking at my clock thermometer, I see it's still early afternoon here, and the outside temp is still in the 80's. I think I will go get a nap until 6 PM or so, when the car is in the shade. I should have enough energy built up by then!

<< < > >>

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.