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headlights will not dim 200 1982

posted by  muskox37 on  Thu Aug 18 12:20 CST 2016
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last visit: Wed Oct 8 11:54 CST 2014
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I just brought the car back from some autobody work and I had removed all of the headlights, tail lights, turn signal lights, grille, etc. I now cannot get the headlights to dim.

All four lights come on when I turn on the light switch and the 'bright' indicator shows on the dashboard and the relay at the front left fender moves when I pull the stalk but the lights do not dim.

To add to the confusion I installed Daniel Stern's relays about nine years ago. I am considering removing them so that I can reinstall the original plugs [I did not remove them despite their being cut out when I did the modification]. But I would prefer to not do that.

I am suspecting the step relay but it is moving when I pull the dimmer stalk back.

Bob








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    headlights will not dim 200 1982

    posted by  machine man on  Thu Aug 18 15:10 CST 2016
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    last visit: Wed Oct 22 15:40 CST 2014
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    You mean moving but in what sense? Are you just hearing a click?

    Remove the cover by twisting the tiny tabs straight. Take a gander in there to see how the lever is rocking from one position to another.

    You might have to clean or tweak something as they can get sticky from age or moisture intrusion.

    Have good clean terminals as it also makes them "clicks" into more of a snap over!

    Phil








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      headlights will not dim 200 1982

      posted by  muskox37 on  Tue Aug 30 12:21 CST 2016
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      last visit: Wed Oct 8 11:54 CST 2014
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      Hello Phil,

      It did turn out to be the relay and I did remove the top after buying a used one [basically a hundred dollars!] at the local Volvo auto wrecker. I plan to try and get it working again and I can see what you are saying about points and the rocker mechanism. But for a hundred, it is worth spending a little time with it to see if I can get it 'back on the road'. I should have cleaned off the terminals before I went out and bought the other one I realize now. But in any case thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

      Bob








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        headlights will not dim 200 1982

        posted by  machine man on  Tue Aug 30 17:39 CST 2016
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        last visit: Wed Oct 22 15:40 CST 2014
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        Hi Bob,

        Glad to hear back from you!
        Im happy it out to be only the relay that got hung up in bright mode.

        I'm truly sorry that I did not mention anything about getting one used.
        If I had thought about you doing that, I would have definitely advised you against it at even half that price. Did you get a long long warranty!

        That's got to make you feel "bad" or "sad" but you are not letting on! You are a better man than me!

        Everyone else on the board here should feel "mad" for you though.
        We know that dismantlers can be high but those people resale the cream of the crop in parts. Mostly really perfect seats, body parts and hard to get items that look like new.

        That relay is not from 1920's or some car that they only made a couple hundred of.

        At worse case the owner should be taking the price into a range to somewhere less than half of new. That is a new one, from standard parts vendors that sell aftermarket replacements. Not unrealistic Volvo stealerships.

        Did the wrecker person price the part from a local source to come up with that price?
        That would have been normal business practices. IMHO.

        I wonder what his "standing" is with your towns Better Business Bureau or like agency.
        That wrecking yard should be boycotted by your local folk there!

        Yep, you are a better man than me!

        Phil







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          headlights will not dim 200 1982

          posted by  muskox37 on  Mon Sep 19 17:05 CST 2016
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          last visit: Wed Oct 8 11:54 CST 2014
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          Hi Phil,

          I guess I was not too surprised at the price. This outfit pretty well controls all of the used Volvo parts on Vancouver Island now and he is not cheap. I will try to refurbish the old one just in case the replacement one goes south. I am just relieved to get the whole thing behind me and to get on with other things that the 82 needs fixing.

          Thanks for your interest and input.


          Bob








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            headlights will not dim 200 1982

            posted by  Volvodad on  Mon Sep 19 18:54 CST 2016
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            last visit: Thu Oct 23 16:18 CST 2014
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            These relays are listed on eBay at around $50US. Then you add the usual ripoff "International shipping" at $40 or so, and add in charges for import duty, etc, and the foreign exchange math and you are well over $100CDN. Your used parts guy knows this.

            I am shaking my head, because in my Pick n Pull excursions a few years ago, they wanted about $4-$5 for a "large" relay, so I picked one or two of these as spares and to take apart and see how they worked. Guess I should put them on eBay and end up with "free" beer for a month.

            I bet your supplier makes regular excursions to the Lower Mainland's self-serve junkyards for these and other parts he can then mark way up, because he and his customers are on an island.
            --
            Bob: Son's XC70, my 83 244DL, 89 745 (Chev LT-1 V8), 98 S90 (recently sold) and 2010 XC60. Also '77 MGB and four old motorcycles







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