ok. here goes-

my 245's right taillight is out. it's not the bulb, and it's not the fuse. I assume it's that stupid bulb failure unit because I know it lives up to its name and fails itself. when i wiggled wires under the dash near the failure sensor, the taillight blinked. any suggestions/ideas?

thanks

Some more details would be useful. Which light is out? There are 4 of them as you know, and not all of them are on the bulb failure circuit.

That said, the '76 bulb sensor circuit isn't the type that will kill the lights when it fails anyway, if I'm not mistaken. Also (again, if I'm not mistaken), when the bulb sensor fails on the later models, it takes out both sides of the car, not just one. So I'd rule that out.

Also, wiring harness problems weren't as much of a problem until '81.

Check the bulb sockets with a meter to see if you are getting 12 volts at the connectors. If not, I'd double check those fuses. They may look fine, but I'd still remove them and clean the connectors with a wire brush, after disconnecting the battery at the negative terminal first. At the very least, I'd give the fuses a spin in their sockets.

If you are talking about the Brake lights only, I'd have a look at the brake light switch up by the pedal. Perhaps that's where the wire you jiggled was effected.

This is all assuming your bulbs are fine, and the connections are clean.

Good luck!
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as "Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!"

i'm talking about the actual taillight (volvo calls it the parking light).
not the stoplight, not the turn signal, and not the reverse light.
it's the rear right taillight.

the bulb is brand new. i jiggled it in its socket and that made no difference.
all i know is that when i went to turn on the lights one day, it wasn't working so i took a different car. the next day when i tried it, it worked. the day after that, i tried it and it didn't work.
i looked in my wiring diagrams book and next to the connection from the bulb failure sensor to the lightbulb is a penciled-in question mark.

thanks

Yes your year model is famous for the wiring harness failure,,it just disintergrates. other than that the rear printed circuit board needs cleaning or replacing..If you are wiggling the wires near the failure unit then I would think the wiring or connections..The bulb failure unit as I understand it will make all the lights work or not work.. Not real sure but there is a discusson inthe board about it just do a search in this forum......
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Max..1989 244 DL 5 Spd., Bilstein HD, Turbo Swaybars, Poly Bushings all round, Turbo Wheels, Black leather interior, Electric mirrors, LED dash and gauge lights.