A little quick on the trigger!

Ok, so my question is this:

I have a 1993 wagon, that has one fog light out, passenger side. I've checked the bulb and it is fine.

I looked at the wiring diagram for a 1993, and the wagon states that it does not have a wire for the passenger side. The wiring diagram also states this for a 1991.

Now I know this to be FALSE for a 1991 as I have one, and both lights work!

So I'm assuming the wiring diagram for a 1993 wagon is wrong as well.

The wire on the drivers side is violet, and it is receiving 12 volts when it is turned on. I believe the wire on the passenger side to be either violet with a white strip or white with a violet strip, I can't remember, but there is 0 volts on that wire.

Its too cold to diagnosis anymore than what I have done today, but if anyone can chime in here as to where this wire goes, or comes from I would be greatly appreciative as I'd like to get this fixed.

Thanks in advance,

Matt
--
1989 - 245, 1990 - 245, 1991 - 245, and 1993 - 245

I remember reading here on the BB that the later fog light set up was set to just have one side on when the fogs were turned on.

There was even a report here by someone who got pulled over for a failed tail light, and attempting to convince the officer that it was wired that way and it was not a failed bulb.

maybe a BB Search will bring up that thread.

CB,

I hear what you are saying, but I'm not buying it, yet.

Why would Volvo even run a wire to that side if it wasn't meant to do something.

At least on the sedan's there is not a wire there, so you know it won't work.

I'm gonna have to dig into this more and find out what is going on.

Like I said in my OP, my 1991 has it wired up, but the diagram says its not, so which is right, my car or the diagram?

Need to dig into this more.

Matt
--
1989 - 245, 1990 - 245, 1991 - 245, and 1993 - 245

Your search should turn up a lot of threads on this, as I've recalled seeing many. The year this changed was 1991: For '91 and later cars only the lamp on the side with the steering wheel is wired.

The reason Phil lists is close to my understanding. In fog, lighting both can be confused with braking. The wiring diagrams are correct, but to say yours represents the way the car was made assumes previous owners left it alone. So many people on the forum report making their own minds up to wire the "missing" fog light.

White wire.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.-Rodney Dangerfield

https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1635158/220/240/260/280/1992_240_wagon_right_lati_light_problem.html

Machine Man...Phil posted:

By your year of '92 the European head mucky mucks got around to regulating the idea. They could not argue "any" that it was not a good idea and we're sorry that they didn't think it.

I surmise more, To save face, "They" had to win or do at something for a salary, decided that the bulb should only be on the drivers side of the car in any country.

This made Volvo stop putting it in on the one side. They either just leave the bulb out or a connection is not made-up for the left hand drive cars and vice versa.


The reasoning behind all of this was for passing purposes, so the person behind, will pass on the proper side.
This is irregardless, that if, they cannot see the whole car and that they will pass anyway on a two lane road because they don't see bright headlights ahead or another's tail lights.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So Matt, what you need to do is run a wire from the Drivers side to the passenger side in in the rear of the wagon. Or snake your Body under the dash to find that wire for the passenger side(which wud be the Driver's side in England and wherever they drive on the otherside of the road and splice it into the Fog Light switch.

Be cautious about doing this. When I got my 92 someone had spliced in the right hand fog light and had melted the switch. I repaired the switch and cut the wire. I suspect the wire is only there so they can use the same harness for left or right hand drive.

My 1993 is the same, one side only. I think that is to avoid confusion with brake lights.