Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 12/2004 200 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Door sensor 'plunger' 200 1989

Gah, sorry about the blank posts before this one. I accidentally hit Enter before moving into the proper field.

I've got a few questions related to the thing that senses whether the door is open or closed. First, here's a picture to show what I'm talking about:



The first picture is a closeup of the driver's side sensor, the second shows you where to look for it on the door in case you're lost, and the third is the front passenger's door sensor.

1. Should it be able to pop completely out easily? I'm guessing not. When I messed around with it, the plastic cover-and-tube came out, with the spring kind of hanging halfway out of the hole. I messed around with the three metal clips on the underside of the plastic cover, next to the tube part, and replaced the whole thing back in the door, hopefully so it'll work properly. I did notice that there were marks on the inside of the door that showed the plunger thing had been bending to the side when the door was closed, instead of going in to register a "shut" door.

Also, would the ease of complete removal of the plunger have *anything* to do with the overhead light not coming on when the driver's side door is opened? I'm guessing not, because the seatbelt light on the dash comes on when I open the driver's door (meaning the car knows it's open), but the overhead light doesn't. However, the light does work when the other three doors are opened. I suppose I'll have to check the wires for a break somewhere.

2. Why is the driver's side plunger different from the other door's sensors? The driver's side detector, on my car, was kind of like a rounded pen cap. However, the other three doors had a much more rounded, mushroom-like plunger that appeared to be those sensors. (Sadly, you can't easily tell that from the picture.)

Is the shape different because the driver's door gets opened and shut more often? Is the more pointed shape better for triggering all of the stuff that has to be detected when the driver's door is opened (perhaps that shape has a deeper movement, causing better electronic connections or something)? I'm just guessing here, but does anyone know for certain?








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

    Cleaning door switches for dome light, etc. (several pix) 200 1989

    These things can be a real pain. The switch on the left in the following picture is the newest type I've found. Think this was on a 92. It has a boot with a hole that fits around a groove in the button so the boot rubber isn't damaged by contact with the door. Compare that to the one on the right, which should be the kind you have and I had in my 89. The half-boot fits over the button, but the boot gets inflexible, cracks and lets the water into the switch.



    If you press both tabs at one time you can release the innards of the switch. I was hoping Trev's note on twisting to hold it in would work on the Volvo. I've been looking for that hint for years!! I just had a switch in my hands, but could not lock it in. I used to have some "interlock" switches for cabinets that would do that if pulled out slightly.



    Then you have this pile of parts, which as shown is fairly corroded.



    The contacts are silver plated -- I've been able to clean them up fairly well.



    But you can buy them for a couple dollars from the online suppliers. The next pic is of one from earlier 240s. These were in my 79.



    The drivers door switch has two contacts; one for the dome lamp and the other for the key in/ lights on reminder. Mac is exactly right about chasing down the other end of the driver's switch, but you probably don't have the vent on your 89 he has in his. Usually someone just loses the wire back inside there, because they sure don't give you any extra!
    --
    Art Benstein near Baltimore








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

    Door sensor 'plunger' 200 1989

    I might be confused with another type of car.. I think once the screw is out you can pull so far then you need to turn the device about 45 degrees and pull more rotating as you pull... I think the wire connector is at 90 degrees to the device..

    I have never known about twisting as is said in Trevs post.. I will have to check that out...

    Another way which is far longer if the device is broken in some way so you can't get it out normally,remove the ground cable at the battery, pull up the plastic door threshold, pull off the vinal weather trim, unscrew the kick panel and remove it and the vent rubber handle, then remove the top fuse panel screw taking note of the ground wires, then the screw in the fuse panel, and only loosening the one next to it, pull out the tar paper and look at the device from the rear... Certainly this would be only if the device was smashed.

    Probably the device is dirty, but if it is now off set in the holder it may be broken. Pretty much that switch is not so smart as you think.. it is just a spring loaded ground switch.

    With the over head lamp ON just touching the wire on the switch to a ground will make the lamp light.... You can pull the switch and even allow the wire to make sparks with no fear on this wire... Mac

    Pull the fuse panell out....








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Door sensor 'plunger' 200 1989

    "1. Should it be able to pop completely out easily?"
    Yes. From what I remember, undo the screw and pull the whole unit out. Wires are attached to spades at the back. It appears yours has seperated thus the loose spring.

    "The driver's side detector, on my car, was kind of like a rounded pen cap. "
    I think it was designed so that when pushed in and twisted it hangs up on something so it remains in. This allows you to have the driver's door open while you work on something without the bell going off. (My uncle, a mechanic, demonstrated it a while back but I wasn't able to engage it. Maybe I was pushing it wrong.)
    --
    1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans








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

      Door sensor 'plunger' 200 1989

      Hello Trev:

      The push in half way and twist to hold the switch closed worked on my '89 760GLE, but not on my '92 245. It is a shame, I miss it when I have to work on my 245 with the driver's door open!

      I haven't checked to see if the 760 parts are a possible swap into a 240...

      --
      Herb Goltz, London, Ontario, Canada '92 245 w/102K mi







<< < > >>



©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.