Wiring issues?

From CEM to VEM, from LED to lightbulb and more. If you have an electrical problem, like a broken info-centre, search for answers in this category. This is also the place to be when you expect the problem to be of an electrical nature...

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Suovas
480 Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:41 pm

Wiring issues?

Post by Suovas » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:48 pm

Just bought a 1987 volvo 480ES and one of the issues with it is that the popup headlights last tested didnt go down and when tried to get them down white smoke comes from the ignition key area. And im clueless on what it may be

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MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Wiring issues?

Post by MisterH » Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:26 am

Hi there Suovas, welcome to the club.

Firstly, whereabouts you based? Its just that german cars had a different mechanism to the rest of the 480s due to stringent laws, as such its a bugger to fix. Pop up issues are usually with the relay or the plastic pivots on the light itself, I am extremely surprised to learn of white smoke from the ignition switch, have never heard that one before
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1485
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Wiring issues?

Post by Alan 480 » Tue Sep 07, 2021 11:40 am

MisterH wrote:
Tue Sep 07, 2021 8:26 am
Hi there Suovas, welcome to the club.

Firstly, whereabouts you based? Its just that german cars had a different mechanism to the rest of the 480s due to stringent laws, as such its a bugger to fix. Pop up issues are usually with the relay or the plastic pivots on the light itself, I am extremely surprised to learn of white smoke from the ignition switch, have never heard that one before
I think that Joseph Lucas had a small market operation selling jars of the stuff?

have a read here :-)

https://www.mgexp.com/forum/mgb-and-gt- ... y.3765167/

seriously though smoke is not a good idea, sounds like overheating in a serious way, relays for headlights are 'different' I'm sure Jeff or Brinkie will keep you right
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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jamescarruthers
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2500
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
Location: Cambridge

Re: Wiring issues?

Post by jamescarruthers » Tue Sep 07, 2021 12:13 pm

Headlight adjustment isn’t electric, it’s utter garbage hydraulic pushing everything up/down— that won’t be your issue.

You need to get the black part of the dashboard out (instructions on here) and report back which wire looks like it is heat damaged. Don’t try to repeat the smoke thing again unless you have fixed this— your whole car could go up in even more smoke and flames!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

Spainal
Started learning about 480
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Russia, Siberia, Krasnoyarsk
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Re: Wiring issues?

Post by Spainal » Tue Sep 07, 2021 1:32 pm

Suovas wrote:
Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:48 pm
Just bought a 1987 volvo 480ES and one of the issues with it is that the popup headlights last tested didnt go down and when tried to get them down white smoke comes from the ignition key area. And im clueless on what it may be
Hey!
I found a problem in the headlight control toggle switch, they are weak, look at it first. for good it must be unloaded with an additional relay as I did.
Volvo 480 Turbo!
I was born and live in Siberia! :hopping:

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