I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

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...

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
jonfrewin
Started learning about 480
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:53 pm

I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by jonfrewin » Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:00 am

Six months ago I overhauled my 1989 Volvo 480 turbo automatic. There were still a bunch of electrical problems to fix, and a volvo specialist in worcester park recommended a new CEMII, which I finally got around to buying last week. My local garage's auto electrician fitted it, and says it had no impact on ANY of the problems at all! He wouldn't even charge me for the fitting, as he felt bad that it didn't fix anything.

Does anyone know anyone in London or the south east where I could take the car for some tender loving electrical care? Failing that, is there a diagram of the pin outputs on the CEMII anywhere?

Thanks folks!

The problems are:
There is a trickle discharge somewhere in the car which leaves the battery completely flat after a few days (new-ish battery)
The car won't restart after a long journey. Turn the key, and it clicks. Leave it a few hours for the engine to cool down, and it starts just fine - I have a new starter motor which I've been advised should fix this.
Horn goes off as soon as the doors are locked - went off when i slammed the bonnet shut, with doors unlocked. Locking and unlocking doors stopped it. (Electrician did not reconnect the horn to test this)
Rear wiper doesn't work - have a new loom to fit when I get a chance
Rear demister - no light comes on when demister connected via new loom to tailgate connector. No voltage across window heater either - electrician did not check the new loom with this.
Intermittent front wiper problem - wipers work fine in normal mode, but when intermittent activated, just keeps on sweeping full time.
Reversing light fuse repeatedly blows. Have tried disconnecting the heated seats.
New engine temp sensor still provides erratic details - sweeps up and down between 140 and 170, or just says Cold. Sometimes works properly.

User avatar
glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 4830
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:28 pm
Location: GLASGOW SCOTLAND

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by glasgowjim » Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:27 am

Intermittent wiper function controlled by the CEM - in CEM 3 cars there is a fuse in the fuse box for this function. so there may be one in your CEM2 car as well.

(the number of fuses in the cem2 car is less than a later model cem3 .)

faulty engine sensor or info centre on way out.

trickle discharge turn off engine and put an ammeter between negative battery connection and battery on 10A range note current then disconnect the radio and see the difference it makes.

Get a £5 battery/alternator checker from Aldi/Lidl worth its weight in gold comes complete woth instructions which are easy to follow.

The locking unlocking doors does turn off the alarm this happens at random occasionally just a gremlin in some cars.

With the CEM disconnected the engine should operate as normal as it in no way controls its function.

The starter motor sounds about right I had a similar problem once and changing s/motor solved it.
However you can directly hot wire the starter to battery (search stone age technology for the post) and it see if that solves the problem.

hope this helps a little . Just a pity you are not Near Glasgow

jonfrewin
Started learning about 480
Posts: 65
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:53 pm

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by jonfrewin » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:04 pm

Thanks Jim,

I've checked all the fuses a couple of times. I wonder where the intermittent wiper relay is for a CEMII, as the new CEM should have sorted that if it was in the same place.

The new engine temp sensor is one that you sold me actually, in which case it must be the info centre? Or a dodgy contact to the engine sensor, perhaps.

I have a hunch the trickle discharge is related to the alarm. Is it possible to disconnect the alarm altogether? Where is the circuitry?

I was near Glasgow the weekend before last, by the way - we had a fantastic couple of days in Edinburgh, and then three days hiking in the Highlands. It was stunning! If you ever have reason to come anywhere near London..!

User avatar
glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 4830
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:28 pm
Location: GLASGOW SCOTLAND

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by glasgowjim » Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:18 pm

Hi Jon

the sensor is ok but can I suggest that you very carefully check the wires to the sensor as I had significant intermittent problems in daughters car and it was a broken wire that was jammed in position but made intermittent contact at odd times.

ted clutch
Advanced 480 rookie
Posts: 509
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 2:53 pm

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by ted clutch » Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:59 pm

a new starter should fix it. sounds like the solenoid coil has broken down and shorts when it gets warm, which is also common on ignition coils that stop working when thy heat up.the solenoid on the starter sounds weak and if its shorted somewhere when warm its will only be partially energised, when the starter comes in the resultant voltage drop is probably knocking it off.
the rectifier on the alternator could be a source of the battery drain. if the diodes are on their way out (and they do break down slightly with age and repeated heating) they will leak current down to earth from the battery wire. check it by disconecting the alternator main + wire from the battery and see if the battery current changes.
the alarm could be being triggered by a faulty door or bonnet switch telling the alarm something has been opened. you say it stopped when you slammed the bonnet, the bonnet switch is a good suspect there.

User avatar
Captain Slow
480 Expert
Posts: 686
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:13 pm
Location: St Andrews

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by Captain Slow » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:39 am

Just a thought on the intermittent front wiper problems: is it the version that when you go to full throttle with wipers on intermittent they quicken to full speed? If so, maybe there's an issue with the associated wiring?
Previously....
Whitney - 95 N White celebration No.449/480 now with Ladyforatey
Lula - 94 M Volvo 480GT Sold on...
Daphne - 95 M volvo 440si 1.8 73,000K (sold :()

User avatar
chris1roll
Friend of Club 480 Europe
Posts: 3927
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: Using LOTS of petrol!

Re: I think I need an electrician with Volvo expertise-know any?

Post by chris1roll » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:37 pm

Captain Slow wrote:Just a thought on the intermittent front wiper problems: is it the version that when you go to full throttle with wipers on intermittent they quicken to full speed? If so, maybe there's an issue with the associated wiring?
That would be right.
As yours is a 1989 car,on the acellerator cable under the dash will be a white cylindrical switch with two wires connect to it. I can't remember whether it breaks a circuit to make the wipers run full speed or makes one, but I expect you will find this is where that particular fault lies
2001 V70 XC 2.5T
1989 744 GL Auto

Post Reply