i installed an alarm that goes off whenever a sudden change in current is made (such as dome light). Only my drivers door activates the dome lights. i bought my 87 used. each of the other button things in the door only have one-wire connected to it. I am sure it should have 2 but i cannot get it with a magnet rod or a coat hanger. what can i do i would like my alarm work to the way its supposed to.. Thank you very much

I think the dome light is supposed to get its ground from the mount screw. There is a metal ring built into the switch that the screw fits through. Clean the back of the ring, and if the body around the screw hole is rusty or corroded clean it also, so everything makes good contact. If that does not work pull the switch apart, the contacts sometimes get dirty. If that fails pick up some new switches at the pick-n-pull.
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Bruce S. near D.C.

Dave's right about the other switches having only one wire. The second contact in the driver's door switch is for the key/lights reminder on all of the 240s I've had, one I sometimes feel I could live without(!).

Last year I pulled the interior harness out of a parts car. I recall the dome light harness came up the left A pillar across the roof (sedan) but I think the crossover to the right door switches was under the dash. One of those fastons was doubled up to join the dome lamp harness one side to the other. You sure none of the other doors work the dome lamp? Do you have the delay relay clipped to the brake pedal support?


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Art Benstein near Baltimore

The other ones only are supposed to have one wire, the dual connection on the drivers door is part of the delay function. Try grounding the wire to the switches, this is how the lights are supposed to be switched on. If grounding the wires that are attached to the switches doesn't work I'm at a loss, the switched get corroded fairly easily.
Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California (San Diego area)
'84-245 200K+
'84-245T 190K+ on its way down to me (thanks Alex)
'85-244Ti 200K+
'86-740 230K+
'88-240 180K+
www.volvo2.homestead.com (Opens new window)