Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 4/2018 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


 VIEW    REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Flickering interior lights and low indicated voltage on dash only 200 1993

On my 93 240 wagon, I have a long standing issue of apparent low voltage and electrical load sensitivity on interior circuits only. This issue worsens as the car gets fully warmed up. The symptoms are:

1. Dash mounted VDO voltmeter drops to 12-13 V after starting at 14-15 V.
2. Dash light brightness flickers randomly, and dims notably when a high load accessory like the blower motor, wiper blades, or turn signals actuate. I also see extreme dash voltmeter jumps downward when large accessories are used.

Generally, as loads increase (headlights, foglights, etc), the voltmeter drops to 12 V or sub-12 V levels. Levels that would make you think you weren't properly charging the battery.

When this issue occurs, I can put a calibrated voltmeter directly on the battery terminals and read 13.8 - 14 V steady. The voltage fluctuations in the cabin appear to be independent of the true charging voltage on the battery (engine running).

I was running a 100A Bosch alternator, but as a sanity check, I installed a Denso 100A unit and got the same results. Steady charging voltages at the battery, but low voltage and load sensitivity inside the cabin.

I'm thinking this looks like a bad or partially bad ground somewhere. Is there a ground tree located somewhere that could cause this issue just on interior circuits, but leave the primary charging circuit alone?






THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

New 1 Flickering interior lights and low indicated voltage on dash only [200][1993]
posted by  drj434343 subscriber  on Mon Dec 16 14:31 CST 2019 >


<< < > >>



©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.