My 91 240 brick is having the "fickering headlights/dash lights" problem. I think it is due to one of two problems:

1 - I replace my Voltage Regulator a month ago, at 135k miles. One of the screws had a worn stripped head, and I needed pliers to get it off. I was in a hurry, did not replace it at the time, and used only one screw to install the new regulator. Perhaps the alternator/engine vibrations have loosened the screw, causing a poor ground connection, and I see it as flickering headlights and dash lights.

2 - While replacing the regulator last month, I noticed a thick green alternator wire with a copper "lug" (circle) connector was about to break off. I cut the old connector off, stripped some wire back, and crimped on a new connector. However, I noticed that the alternator end of the wire was very brittle, with corrosion inside the insulation. Perhaps this wire needs to be replaced.

Where does this green alternator wire run? To the starter? It dips under the engine, and I cannot trace it further.

The car has developed a terrible loping idle; the engine revs and drops every few seconds. Each time, the headlights brighten/dim. Which one would cause this to happen? Or is the bad idle a totally different issue?

[[ southern fried volvo 1991 240 136k mi ]]