Hey guys,

I have a '82 Volvo 240 and I was driving it today, until I saw that the rear lights went out, but the brake lights, the hazard lights, and the turn signals all work fine. In addition, my instrument light that illuminates the speedometer went out all of a sudden. Could it be a faulty fuse? All of the bulbs were replaced, so I'm perplexed on the issue.

Thanks!

Had some issues with my lights a couple of months ago and was surprised to read about checking the wires to the alternator, give it a look c.
I'm also thinking about the location of the infamous white socket. And lastly, new circut thingies. good luck and don't let the police catch you, a $1.00 bulb is costing me close to 2k.

Hello,

According to the wiring diagram in the green book, the 82 tail lights and the instrument lights both work off of fuse # 16. The other lights that would effected are:

Gear selector light (auto)
Clock would stop
Seat belt lock light
Lights on center panel
Parking lights

If the fuse is bad you will not get a bulb out warning because both lights are dead. Check the fuse and the connections around it to see if 12 volts is present when the lights are turned on. Hope that helps.

Mario
--
'I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane' Waylon Jennings

"According to the wiring diagram in the green book, the 82 tail lights and the instrument lights both work off of fuse # 16."

Hi Mario,
We disagree on this point. All the diagrams I have, going back to '78, show 2 separate taillight inputs to the Bulb Failure Sensor —

From fuse 15 (formerly 11) to BFS 57L, then out 58L to the Left taillights, etc.
From fuse 16 (formerly 12) to BFS 57R, then out 58R to the Right taillights, etc.

I think it was done like this for safety — so at least one set of Taillights will work if a fuse blows.


Bruce
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

Bruce,

You are correct, my tired eyes missed the dual feed. The only thing common is the feed from #58 on the light switch. It looks like that is the common point for the tail and instrument lights along with some others I listed. Thanks for correcting me.

Mario
--
'I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane' Waylon Jennings

I have been palgued with a similar problem in my 1987 245 and have determined that it has something to do with the entire fuse panel. If I stick my fingers behind the panel and wiggle the wires, everything comes back on line again. There must be some kind of short that occurs now and then, but I can't trace the source other than just behind the fuses. It knocks out 7 circuits whenever it does fail on me.
If that is not the problem, then I agree with one of the other writers that the dimmer switch (just above the headlight switch) could be at fault and I once had to replace that as well, in my 1984 240 wagon.

There is a drain channel on the other side (behind) the fuse panel which is a frequent cause of leakage - I think there's a plastic liner behind the fuse panel - do you ever get a wet carpet just below the fuse panel?

Nope, never have that Glen.

Well, I replaced the fuse, and what do I get? The fuses get blown as a result. I went through 4 fuses only for them to get blown. You guys think it may be a short somewhere? If so, where do I start to check the wiring?

In addition, fuse 8 doesn't seem to work since the interior lights don't light up, but that fuse doesn't burn out. What could that problem be?

Those are just two minor issues that plague the car, but other than that, it's a solid machine! I just wished that fuse didn't go out, because that prevents me from driving the car at night, which is needed for deliveries =(

...but just one out should give you a bulb warning light???


So is it rear light?

or rear lights?

Rear lights = tail lights, that come on with headlights and "parking" lights?

Anyway, since instr. cluster lights are out, have a look at the dimmer control, just above the headlight switch. They do burn out. Test with an electrical multitester, etc. Can be bypassed with a jumper wire on the switch. Can also be replaced from a junker, or maybe from fcpgroton.

What would kill of both taillights?

Just MAYBE someone rewired the dimmer to handle the taillights, and the failed dimmer killed the taillights. Not likely, but could be, so have a look at the dimmer first. It's an easy fix, anyway, as long as you understand the dimmer.

"Good" fuses maybe not making contact. The fuses and contacts are notorious for getting corroded. Wire slipped off fuse panel terminal?? Not too likely. Both taillights having their ground fail simultaneously?? Also not too likely, but look over the grounds and contacts in the entire area. Corrosion problems are common there, especially since the [[bulb & bulb holder & circuit board ]] system requires multiple good contacts for current to pass.

Correction.

If both instrument cluster lights are out, suspect the dimmer.
If only one, it likely needs a bulb.
If so, replace both, the 2nd may follow soon.