Ok my brick has been parked for over a year because I cannot figure out why its not charging anymore. Backstory.... I had my speedometer rebuilt twice and the tac was fixed about two years ago. I replaced the alternator also. I replaced the larger cluster lights with LED's. I also just got a new/ used cluster and plugged it in on 05/19/16 and no luck.

When I turn my Volvo on the idiot lights turn on a faint amount. I know when it does this the battery is not charging. I go under the hood with the car running and remove the small red wire to alternator and plug it back in when the car is running, The idiot lights go away sometimes but if not I need to bring an outside 12 volt source( direct wire from the positive side of the battery) and the car charges without any problems.

I believe the issue is somewhere in line with the " exciter wire ". I don't know how to trace the exciter wire because it is wrapped up with all the other wires.

any help would be great. I really do not want to junk the car because of this issue. My family has owned the car since December 9th of 1990. I love my brick and want to get it running again.

You can email me direct at camarojunky67@yahoo.com. Please help

Are you saying you replaced the charge/no charge indicator light with a LED?
I think the exciter wire goes directly to this light and the other side of the light goes to 12v. The alternator depends on the current running thru this bulb to get excited. Maybe the LED won't pass enough current.
Just a guess, I'm a simple 544 guy. Tom

If true that charge indicator light is LED, that's messing up the charging system. Replace LED with the stock light.

You need a wiring diagram. Try www.volvowiringdiagrams.com . You can see the charging circuit, and all the parts connected to it.


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Could be as simple to replace the bush/regulator.

I have already replaced alternator and battery, but I will take them both off and taken to AutoZone this weekend just to verify. I will also check the grounds and run a direct ground wire from the alternator to the battery. Does anyone know the schematics of where the exciter wire goes to?

Clean both end of your battery cables and run a separate ground wire from you alternator housing to body ground. Clean all the multiple ground wire that you see in engine. Load test your battery to see if it's taking and holding a charge in all cells( Auto Zone). Just put a fresh battery in my 89 740T and it cleared up a few electrical problems . Also remember these car run a little rough until the computor re-maps itself from total lost of electrical current.