there might be a different idiot light for that low reservoir

Im not sure about 92 but every 240 I oned had that stupid bulb check system , look for a big round red thing near the steering column.

I think the system compares the amp draw from left to right and if its different , like if you have a bit of corrosion or different bulbs it comes on and drives good men crazy.

If you clip the ( red? ) wire to the idiot light I would understand, but it's not "correct"

if you have deep pockets you cna sometimes replace the circuit boards that are the tail light wiring, they always seem to get scratched and loose contact, the newer they are the worse and thinner they got from all I've seen with them. I went to the extent to rip all that out and install all new regular style reliable light bulb sockets to get rid of those issues.


If you want there is a space for a brake light or a signal that is not used in North America at least in the sedans. Its a blank spot with a red lens. In europe it would function as a parking light , not needed over here. If you like you can stick an LED bulb in there in parallel with a brake light for extra insurance. a car that new will also have a third brake light.


it could be relay related.

Id unhook the battery, pull a few fuses and then find the two Phillips head screws that hold that whole fuse bar in , it will pull out a foot from the car ( remove that one trim panel) and then you can clean all that really well and also clean all the spade connectors. get a can of deoxit and something to scrub any green away , I have a thing that is like fiberglass strands in a pen that I like for that, or steel wool works fine , just clean up the remnants. chuck or clean any green fuses. if it doesn't fix your brakes it' ll fix something else because they are problematic

steel wool does burn so be wary of that, one would think steel was non flammable but if you make an arc you can get a good fire going by accident using a bit of steel wool.

the pedal switch can be the issue, especially if you have no lights at all. often the issue is that the tail lights work ok but the idiot light comes on to tell you you have a bulb issue. earlier cars sensed the brake fluid pressure but that car should have a switch right on the brake pedal , I htink I remember a spring hooked to it.

I check mine when I'm in front of a store with big windows , just look for your own reflection and test like that. no helper needed.

I think there is also a check engine light that gets triggered by the speedometer. If you pull the speedo out look at the back for a lever thing, I think its supposed to signal you to change your timing belt and then it comes on for about 5 mins upon each startup. I think that thing runs off the speedo and often the numbers stick in those speedos then the speedo works just no odometer or maybe no trip counter.

look if it has a trailer. if you wanto pull a regular 4 pin trailer with a volvo then you need an adapter to make trailer lights work , sometimes if there is or was a trailer the former owner may have hooked in to the wiring harness to do that. typically twisting the wires and no solder or those squeeze up crimps or some other faulty connections.. and problems to follow a year or two after that poor wiring job.



a volvo does not use the same bulbs for signals and brakes, but a ford or some US car does. by sharing the signal and brake they save a wire, you can add a unit to transfer from one system to the other if you like . then if you go rent a trailer the plug will be a typical run of the mill 4 pin trailer plug.

check against a manual for the bulb types, It's best to make sure the bulbs dont just fit but that they are also the right bulb number and wattage and also if you change bulbs always do two so they draw the same current , otherwise the bulb failure indicator goes troublesome.

volvo really over complicated the brake light system and that led to a lot of unnecessary failures and confused owners.