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Wiring on the instrument panel 200 1988

posted by  someone claiming to be A volvo lover on  Thu Jun 21 20:56 CST 2018 [RELATED]

I am trying to get a previously working temperature gauge and Fuel gauge on my 1988 244DL to work again. I had it parked for almost two years and only recently decided it was time to put this baby back in use. I recharged the battery and changed all four belts which helped the squeal that it had when it first started up, and then I got a new part for the odometer so I would know how far I was driving between gas refills since my gas gauge did not seem to be working now that I was using it again. Do they go bad just sitting there? In the process of doing the speedo rebuild, something must have worked loose or something because now my temperature gauge is not working now. Man if it is not one thing it is another on these things, or am I the only one who has these problems. I also noticed that my ignition must be a little sloppy because after cranking it over and then turning it to run I some times have to jiggle it a little bit to get the headlights and or wipers and or blower fan to turn on. Could this be part of the problem with the two gauges that now are not working? I don't even claim to be a shade tree mechanic, any time I have ever worked on this car or my 74 144 (which I still have and hope to make like new again one day now that I am retired) I have always had someone who knew their way around garage way better then I do, so it was mostly me helping them. But now it is just me, so help.
Where do start to look?
thanks e.k








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    Wiring on the instrument panel 200 1988

    posted by  machine man on  Sun Jun 24 14:40 CST 2018
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    last visit: Wed Oct 22 15:40 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Hi,

    If it were me I would start up at the instrument cluster to look around in behind there for loose connections. It's a good gateway into a host of things to check for.

    The head light relay socket is just to the right over the center console. They can get overheated.

    You can also look down from there to see if you can get to the ignition switch. The back end comes off with two screws but you might have to access them from beneath the dash.
    The plug may just be loose or corroded. The switch is in the center of a lot of electrical goings-on or off! It is something regularly touch by a human hands that wear out first. Some hands don't always wear a princesses gloves when the body is late getting somewhere.

    Yes, a fuel sender that tells the gauge what level the tank is can go bad just sitting in a tank. Gas goes bad and will gum up a rheostats wiper to where it stops making contact. Then there are other factors going on with bad gas. Sitting for Two years just doesn't sound good for anything.

    Since both are having an issue you most like have a bad ground on the clusters connector or even fuses in the door panel might be very corroded. It doesn't take much and I can advise you to getting them all cleaned. Keep some "electrical" anti-corrosion spray in that whole area as its a cold spot in the car that attracts moisture.

    Have fun with resurrection!

    Phil







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