Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 8/2007 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

Strange, persistent lights with LED warning lights in cluster 200 1993

posted by  nullspacebasis on  Thu Mar 28 18:20 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

I've been upgrading the interior lighting. LEDs work well as far as I've used them, and recently I've swapped the instrument cluster warning lights for LEDs (nice and bright!). However, with the b8.5 led warning lights in, a few of the lights (SRS, ABS, parking brake, brake failure, SRS) stay on for a couple of minutes after ignition. The check engine light is on very faintly.

What gives? Using the traditional incandescent bulbs does not cause this behavior.









  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Strange, persistent lights with LED warning lights in cluster 200 1993

    posted by  machine man on  Thu Mar 28 20:25 CST 2019
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Wed Oct 22 15:40 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Hi,

    Do you have a voltmeter in your dash or have you used one on the battery to see what the alternator is doing?

    I suspect, because I really don’t know, but you will probably have to leave a traditional incandescent bulb in the battery light window portion of the instrument clusters circuitry.
    LED’s operate on almost nothing for current draw and at the same time they are a diode, of which, those regular diodes do not emit light. They will act like a one way-check valve in normal circuits.

    The original light bulb allows is designed to allow enough current through to excite a magnetic inside the alternator
    Upon startup it needs that current to get it going. Otherwise, it could take some time, at a higher RPM’s for the output TO RISE.
    The RISE shuts down a path to ground for that bulb and it goes out!
    You maybe getting feed back, within the cluster, that is coming back to the other bulbs and leaves them on.

    Again, I’m totally guessing on this. I’m just flying from the seat of my pants to how the LED’s are affecting things, but at least you know, it was something you just did, that will help others trying the modification.
    Definitely me!

    Watch for posts from those that are in the know, here on the BB!

    Phil







    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

      Strange, persistent lights with LED warning lights in cluster 200 1993

      posted by  nullspacebasis on  Tue Apr 2 19:58 CST 2019
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

      I’ve run a 100 ohm 2w resistor in parrallel with the alternator bulb to emulate the resistance - this does not fix it. When all 5 bulbs to the left (ABS, service, SRS, alternator, check engine) use regular bulbs, this fixes it.








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        Strange, persistent lights with LED warning lights in cluster 200 1993

        uid 33936's pic
        posted by  TheBrickTank on  Wed Apr 3 04:39 CST 2019
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Thu Oct 23 17:54 CST 2014
        [RELATED]

        Nullspacebasis,

        I think you have the right idea here, but possibly too high a resistor value.

        If I was doing this, I would first go back and measure the amount of current that is flowing through this circuit. I'd also find out what the resistance is at each leg of the circuit.

        Once you know that, you can then re-measure everything and find out where you are now with the LEDs in place. Then, and only then will you be able to figure out what resistor(s) value you will need to fake out the alternator's exciter circuit.

        Hope that helps.

        Matt








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Strange, persistent lights with LED warning lights in cluster 200 1993

      posted by  Trev29 on  Fri Mar 29 05:08 CST 2019
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Fri Oct 17 05:56 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      "LED’s operate on almost nothing for current draw and at the same time they are a diode, of which, those regular diodes do not emit light. They will act like a one way-check valve in normal circuits."
      Maybe a resistor put in the circuit will absorb the stray current?
      --
      1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb, M46 trans, 3:31 dif, in Brampton, Ont.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.