Some electrical problems

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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Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:17 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Sun Nov 14, 2021 8:29 pm
Ok, so what currently does and doesn’t work?

Have you checked that the dimmer rheostat isn’t turned down?

If you shine a light onto the infocentre, can you see any activity on it?
There is no activity what I can see, the only light that comes on is door open and side indicators. There used to be backlight but no longer for an unknown reason.

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dcwalker
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by dcwalker » Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:51 pm

Max12, whereabouts are you?

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:36 pm

Sweden

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:54 am

So, no ignition warning lamps with the key switched on?
Is the car currently starting and running?

Check the earth points in the engine bay at the lifting hook (left hand side of engine bay as you look at it) as well as at the alternator - Sometimes that one is earth to the alternator, sometimes to the alternator mount bracket.

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:31 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:54 am
So, no ignition warning lamps with the key switched on?
Is the car currently starting and running?

Check the earth points in the engine bay at the lifting hook (left hand side of engine bay as you look at it) as well as at the alternator - Sometimes that one is earth to the alternator, sometimes to the alternator mount bracket.
No ignition light, car does start and run.

I measured the earth points near the battery and alternator, aswell as the engine, all measure the same 12.22v.

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:47 pm

Earths should not read 12.2v!

So, to be clear, remove the bolts from the below, clean the ring terminals until they're bright metal and bolt back on.

Image

I'm assuming you've done a check of the fuses? Fuse 1,9 and 10 all should be working (they're the main ones for the cluster)

Do you have lights across the rest of the Dashboard? (clock, heater panel, fan switch, ashtray, heated seat panel)?

If you flash the headlamps, does the dashboard warning light illuminate?

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Tue Nov 16, 2021 12:09 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:47 pm
Earths should not read 12.2v!

So, to be clear, remove the bolts from the below, clean the ring terminals until they're bright metal and bolt back on.

Image

I'm assuming you've done a check of the fuses? Fuse 1,9 and 10 all should be working (they're the main ones for the cluster)

Do you have lights across the rest of the Dashboard? (clock, heater panel, fan switch, ashtray, heated seat panel)?

If you flash the headlamps, does the dashboard warning light illuminate?
Sorry, I placed the probe on the wrong pole...

I measured 0.5v on fuse 1, is this normal? The beam light does illuminate on the display when activated. Also, when I removed the fuse 9 and put it back while ignition was on, the backlight and the rest of the interior lights returned.

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brinkie
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by brinkie » Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:32 am

Max12 wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:31 pm
No ignition light, car does start and run.

I measured the earth points near the battery and alternator, aswell as the engine, all measure the same 12.22v.
No ignition light? Not even with engine off and ignition on? If you have 1000 kroner to spare for your car, you could send the instrument cluster to me for repairs.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:21 pm

brinkie wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:32 am
Max12 wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:31 pm
No ignition light, car does start and run.

I measured the earth points near the battery and alternator, aswell as the engine, all measure the same 12.22v.
No ignition light? Not even with engine off and ignition on? If you have 1000 kroner to spare for your car, you could send the instrument cluster to me for repairs.
Are you sure that is necessary? Because when I unhook the top part of this cable: https://imgur.com/a/tda2wcM. The IC lights up and does the usual cycling check.

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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:33 pm

Ok, that's the main power cable......

That makes NO sense what so ever. :crazy:

Does anything else on the cluster work with that disconnected?

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:03 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:33 pm
Ok, that's the main power cable......

That makes NO sense what so ever. :crazy:

Does anything else on the cluster work with that disconnected?
No, but the IC is displaying incorrect information and does not respond to turning the knob.

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:55 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:33 pm
Ok, that's the main power cable......

That makes NO sense what so ever. :crazy:

Does anything else on the cluster work with that disconnected?
To clarify, There is ignition light and the infocenter does work (without this cable). But I can't comment on the speedometer because the fuel pump depends on it, hence the car wont start without it. So with this, there cannot be anything wrong with the instrument cluster itself, right?

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jamescarruthers
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jamescarruthers » Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:19 pm

Max12 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:55 pm
jifflemon wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:33 pm
Ok, that's the main power cable......

That makes NO sense what so ever. :crazy:

Does anything else on the cluster work with that disconnected?
To clarify, There is ignition light and the infocenter does work (without this cable). But I can't comment on the speedometer because the fuel pump depends on it, hence the car wont start without it. So with this, there cannot be anything wrong with the instrument cluster itself, right?
I don’t think that’s true about the starting. Maybe you are misunderstanding a translation of the engine’s computer needing to see the engine turning (with the crank sensor, which detects engine speed, or RPM)? A 480’s engine will run perfectly happily without its dashboard in.
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)

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