1990 740 no brake lights

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Phil K - 05 Aug 2005 01:29 GMT

I've got no brake lights except for the top window brake light on my 1990
740. The #4 15 amp fuse is good and the back up lights work. Any help would
be appreciated. Thanks

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Peter K L Milnes - 05 Aug 2005 01:33 GMT

Check the earthing (grounding) for the rear light clusters and make sure
that both brake light bulbs are OK.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).

> I've got no brake lights except for the top window brake light on my 1990
> 740. The #4 15 amp fuse is good and the back up lights work. Any help
> would
> be appreciated. Thanks

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Mike F - 05 Aug 2005 13:38 GMT

> I've got no brake lights except for the top window brake light on my 1990
> 740. The #4 15 amp fuse is good and the back up lights work. Any help would
> be appreciated. Thanks

See if power is getting to the bulbs. If not, then chances are your
bulb failure relay is bad (round red relay in the fusebox "relay city."
If power is getting to the back, then you need to inspect/clean/fix the
taillight circuit cards, bulb holders and bulbs.

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

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Phil K - 05 Aug 2005 13:58 GMT

Thanks for the responses. I changed both bulbs even though the old ones were
still good and presto they worked. Thank goodness nothing complicated. I
have had problems in the past with the bulbs coming loose in the sockets.
I'm always refitting them as the sockets seem worn. maAny way to ke the
lights fit tighter? The dash warning light is on so often that I usually
ignore that, as all the lights are working most of the time. Again thanks
for the info.

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Randy G. - 05 Aug 2005 15:36 GMT

>Thanks for the responses. I changed both bulbs even though the old ones were
>still good and presto they worked. Thank goodness nothing complicated. I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>ignore that, as all the lights are working most of the time. Again thanks
>for the info.

Take out the bulb holder and emove the bulb. Looking at the socket you
will see two or three silver metal tabs like petals of a flower around
the socket. These are the contacts. These can be bent upwards SLIGHTLY
and CAREFULLY which will give better contact. Be sure they are clean
as wll as their mating contact surfaces on the taillight itself.
Giving them a thing coast of silicone grease can also help avoid
oxidation and moisture from interfering with a good electrical
contact.

__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

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Randy G. - 05 Aug 2005 18:03 GMT

>[snip]
>Giving them a thing coast....

... or, a "thin coat" would work as well... :-/

__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

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