I have a 3rd Brake light assembly from an 87 model 245 (with the metal mounting tabs). I'm thinking about installing it on my 85 model. My manuals tell me that the wire for this is already in the tailgate. Is this true, and if not, any ideas on where to pull power for the light? Can I do a double splice from both sides, or will this drive the bulb failure sensor crazy? I'd probably be better off pulling an extra wire from the brake light switch and not even utilizing the LFS circuitry. Hope Art sees this and responds.

I mounted a third brake light on my '85 245. It came from some Jeep wagon (had a Chrysler part number too) and used three little bulbs. I located it on top of the rear window. I had previously run a wire from the brake switch back to a little "converter box" for my trailer lights, so I used that same wire to power the new light. I had done the "bypass harness" for all the rear door wiring, so I just added this wire to the harness and it worked like a charm. Even with the tinted window it was very visible.

Charlie

I put an aftemarket 3rd brake light in the 83's rear window many years ago. Too lazy to run a wire from the brake pedal switch through the cabin, and to avoid triggering the BFS warning light, I used a small relay usually used in printed circuit board applications (Rayex LEG-12F, $1.89, available from Jameco.com). This has a coil resistance of 400ohms, and the tiny amount of current it passes doesn't set off the BFS.

I spliced into the left brake light wire to trip the relay, and powered its input terminal from the Green wire near the left hinge that feeds 12v constant to the trunk light, and a power antenna if you have one.

Been working fine for about 20 years now.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F-M46, dtr's 94-940 B230FD, my 83-244DL B23F-M46, 89-745(LT1 V8), 98-S90, 77MGB and four old motorcycles)

As ONLY240 said run a seperate wire from the brake pedal switch.I did this for an 82 240 and that is how the intructions from volvo said to do it.

Bill aka Stickbuilder:

Are you a carpenter or does this refer to Volvo add ons?

Just after the US DOT required that all new cars have the 3rd rear brake light I ordered an option from Volvo to add it to my '85 245.

I think I got it is '87 or so.

The kit had the light as you note and the wiring harness and instructions to run it from the brake lignt switch up under the brake pedal back to the 3rd brake light. You should use a duplex connector at the male spade at the brake light switch.

By doing this the Bulb Out Sensor will not be affected.

Good luck.

Al

Neither.

I design, draw and build Giant Scale R/C Model Airplanes from the 30's, Most are the different Waco Biplanes.

Bill:

Have you ever been to the Rhinebeck Aerodrome www.oldrhinebeck.org

in Rhinebeck, NY.

The full size real bi and triplanes and you can get a ride!

Check it out.

Al

If it were me, I would either snake a new wire direct from the Brakelight switch as you mentioned or I would Jump the Blue/red and two yellow wires together at the Bulb failure sensor (54S, 54L and 54R) to jump out the sensor for the Brakelights. Then just grab one of the Yellows at the tailgate for the third light.
To answer your original question... I don't know if that wire is sitting there waiting to be used.
--
'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 http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

I see it, but can't contribute any ideas you haven't already thought of. It doesn't make any sense to me the -85 harness would have included the extra wire, but I don't know for sure they did not.

If you tie the two sides together, the BFS will not go crazy, it just won't notify you of a brake light problem any longer. But what the hey, you'll have three of 'em then.

Saw an 83 sedan in the junkyard years ago, with a high mounted stop light that was LED. I looked to see if it had two feeds to balance the warning light, but it did not, so I left the thing.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

The math professor went crazy with the blackboard; he did a number on it.

My plastic cover for the 3rd light is falling apart - any ideas where to get a replacement? It's a sedan.

Thanks!

If all else fails go by your hobby shop, and pick up a small bottle of cyanoacrylate glue and piece it back together. Then take some fiberglass cloth, and some resin and fiberglass the cover completely. Add another layer of the cloth and more resin, and then when it's cured put on another coat of the resin and when it's cured, sand it smooth and paint it semi-gloss black (Krylon works well). This one should outlast your brick. Maybe you too.

It probably is irrelevant in this context, but epoxy/glass does not stick to that kind of plastic. Well, not the way epoxy/glass are supposed to stick.
Applied clear packing tape for now. Tasca has them for $38.
Thanks.

I glued a crumbled one together figuring none in the junkyard would be any better, but I lucked out and found one and managed to get it loose without crumbling it too.

If you're into dealer parts, p/n 1312847-5 will get you a black one for a sedan.

1312848-3 brown
1312849-1 blue
1312850-9 beige
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Dr. Epstein was a renowned physician who earned his undergraduate, graduate,
and medical degrees in his home town and then left for Manhattan where he
quickly rose to the top of his field.

Soon he was invited to deliver a significant paper at a conference,
coincidentally held in his home town. He walked on stage and placed his
papers on the lectern, but they slid off onto the floor. As he bent over to
retrieve them, at precisely the wrong instant, he inadvertently farted. The
microphone amplified his mistake resoundingly through the room and
reverberated it down the hall! He was quite embarrassed but somehow regained
his composure just enough to deliver his paper. He ignored the resounding
applause and raced out the stage door, never to be seen in his home town
again.

Decades later, when his elderly mother was ill, he returned to visit her. He
reserved a hotel room under the name of Clark and arrived under cover of
darkness.

The desk clerk asked him, "Is this your first visit to our city, Mr. Clark?"

Dr. Epstein replied, "Well, young man, no, it isn't. I grew up here and
received my education here, but then I moved away."

Why haven't you visited?" asked the desk clerk.

Actually, I did visit once, many years ago, but an embarrassing thing
happened and since then I've been too ashamed to return."

The clerk consoled him. "Sir, while I don't have your life experience, one
thing I have learned is that often what seems embarrassing to me isn't even
remembered by others. I bet that's true of your incident too."

Dr. Epstein replied, "Son, I doubt that's the case with my incident."

"Was it a long time ago?"

"Yes, many years."

The clerk asked, "Was it before or after the Epstein Fart?"