I have a 1988 245, Just recently my right brake light went out and the light bulb housing was melted. Yes, I bought the aftermarket replacement lenses. That aside the brake light is always on until I step on the brake pedal. Any help to speed up the process of getting this fix would help. The last thing I need is a ticket.

So are you saying that the light was on constantly until the bulb burned out?

OR The light was on constantly until the Socket melted?
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'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

That I'm not sure about. I'm guessing that the brake light has been on constantly for a little bit now and caused the socket to melt.

OK so to clarify

Brake pedal pushed in = Drivers side brake light off and passengers side brake light on

Brake pedal not pushed in = Drivers side brake light on and passengers side brake light off

Brake pedal pushed in = Drivers side brake light off and passengers side brake light on

Brake pedal not pushed in = Drivers side brake light on and passengers side brake light off

Are the headlights or parking lights on during this test?

Can you distinguish between the two filaments in the dual purpose brake/tail lamp? Have you checked to be certain the bulb is installed in the socket with the side tabs correctly aligned, or is it a molten mess with no hope of getting a ground to the bulb's base?

My experience with aftermarket wagon lamps is also not very satisfactory. Had to grind the plastic just to get the bulb to fit past it. If you wind up soldering these wires in, use a genuine Volvo socket -- all the aftermarket sockets I've run into are a real bear to solder on.




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Art Benstein near Baltimore

When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.

Yes the headlights and the running lights are on during the test.

I am able to distinguish between the two filaments in the brake/tail lamp and socket is making contact with all three tabs.

The dual filament bulb is not getting a path to ground from its base. The base is the metal shell part, just below the glass bulb.

When you have your foot off of the brake, the two filaments are in series fed from the tail light circuit and finding a path to ground through the remaining two brake lamps. When you step on the brake, the series connected filaments now have the same battery voltage on each side. Fix the ground and all will operate normally once again.

That's easy to say, but with the plastic backing melted, there may not be enough contact to the bulb's base or to the 245's ground strip made by the bulb socket. Check the tab making contact with the bulb's base. You might get away with just tweaking it for more tension. Keep in mind, oxides and corrosion can be invisible. Take a bit of Scotch-brite with you.

This fix, unfortunately, won't last. You may resort to wiring around it as I have had to.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.