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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Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:22 pm

I have been trying to point out the problem with my 480 for quite some time now and I can't quite figure it out. Most of my dash does not work including the speedo, odometer and info center, only the backlight, indication lights and rev counter, but now the backlight is gone too. Recently some new problems appeared apart from the previous ones, when I turn the ignition on the car it completely dies and it isn't until I open the bonnet that the battery starts functioning. I also noticed that the car radio does not turn off completely and I can still hear some faint audio coming from the speakers.

Help me out here please. :cry: :cry: :cry:

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WRDendy
Can tell where the 480 was built
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by WRDendy » Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:46 pm

Start here for your dash problems:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=35684
Sounds like a combination of dry joints and blown bulbs.

We might need some more information for the other problems - thinking out loud the only electrical difference raising the bonnet would make would be opening the microswitch that disables the pop-up motors. Definitely more information needed for the radio - what model is it, does it switch on and off correctly using the front controls, does it respond to the switched live on the loom, what exactly can you hear when it's off etc.

I see this is your first post, so hello and welcome!
Formerly known as 'Jaster'
Current: '94 GT & '88 ES
Former: '89 ES

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:45 pm

I think the positive pole made contact with the bonnet and shorted the battery, so I have to excuse myself for that one. However...

I have already resoldered all the connection points on the dash unit, to no avail. But I don't think the main issue is with the unit itself, because I have seen the IC light up and do the cycling check. And it was only yesterday the backlight was working.

The previous owner had to splice the original cable to fit a blaupunkt SQM20 with older connections. It lacks the one of the wires for permanent voltage which perhaps is why the radio never really turns off. What I hear is just whatever channel I have tuned in. Image: https://imgur.com/gallery/pQ8Ei0t

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by dcwalker » Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:26 am

Hello and welcome!

480s and their electrics :? . Enough sometimes to drive anyone mad as it can seem as if the car is possessed! :lol: Don't worry - I am sure between us on here we can get you to the bottom of the problems!

Which model do you have, and is your car post 1991?

If it is 1991 onwards, a possible contender for your IC problems lies in the fuse box - check that fuses 21 and 22 haven't blown and that the orange "bridge" is properly in place in slot 23.

Under the air filter box you will find the plug connection for the speedo - double check that is clean and making a good connection.

As Jaster says, the other things might need a bit more thought. If the battery positive pole made contact with the bonnet it must be sitting too high. Do you have the right battery/is it properly located on its tray?

My guess is you're right about the radio...

Keep asking and good luck!

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!

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:41 am

Max12 wrote:
Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:45 pm
I think the positive pole made contact with the bonnet and shorted the battery, so I have to excuse myself for that one. However...
Bonnet is fibreglass so should be safe there....

What year is the car?

Max12
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Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:27 pm

Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:55 am

It is an 87 model

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brinkie
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by brinkie » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:04 am

Model year 87 or late 87 which makes it model year 88? That might sound trivial but the electrics were changed in 1988, and again in 1989, 1991 1/2 (major change) and 1993 model years. Does your instrument cluster have yellow and red connectors? If yes, it's MY 1988. Blue and yellow makes it MY 1987.
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 » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:56 am

It is an 87, with blue and yellow connectors. Here is the diagram for the fusebox which might be useful: http://imgur.com/gallery/GqL2Glt

Max12
480 Newbie
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Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:27 pm

Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:00 pm

dcwalker wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:26 am
Hello and welcome!

480s and their electrics :? . Enough sometimes to drive anyone mad as it can seem as if the car is possessed! :lol: Don't worry - I am sure between us on here we can get you to the bottom of the problems!

Which model do you have, and is your car post 1991?

If it is 1991 onwards, a possible contender for your IC problems lies in the fuse box - check that fuses 21 and 22 haven't blown and that the orange "bridge" is properly in place in slot 23.

Under the air filter box you will find the plug connection for the speedo - double check that is clean and making a good connection.

As Jaster says, the other things might need a bit more thought. If the battery positive pole made contact with the bonnet it must be sitting too high. Do you have the right battery/is it properly located on its tray?

My guess is you're right about the radio...

Keep asking and good luck!

David
Do you mean these red connectors? image: http://imgur.com/gallery/x0r29yh
I reconnected them and sprayed some contact cleaner.

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:38 pm

Max12 wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:56 am
It is an 87, with blue and yellow connectors. Here is the diagram for the fusebox which might be useful: http://imgur.com/gallery/GqL2Glt
Now, compare the colour of your instrument panel plugs, with the plugs on the wiring loom.

they Should be the same....

Max12
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Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:27 pm

Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm

Any suggestions, guys? I am still stuck with this. Pretty much everything works except the dashboard..

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Thu Nov 11, 2021 8:12 pm

Max12 wrote:
Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
Any suggestions, guys? I am still stuck with this. Pretty much everything works except the dashboard..
Did you check your plug colours? Dashboards aren’t interchangeable, despite physically looking the same.

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:43 pm

Could you explain to me, please?

https://imgur.com/a/QbAk1Cn I checked this underneath, seems to be in order.

https://imgur.com/a/QMjSGIj https://imgur.com/a/TRCwDpk Anything indicative with these cables? think they are radio.

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:50 pm

So.... when you said:
Max12 wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:56 am
It is an 87, with blue and yellow connectors. Here is the diagram for the fusebox which might be useful: http://imgur.com/gallery/GqL2Glt
I assumed you'd had the dashboard out?

If you had, you need to make sure that the colour of the wiring plugs matches the colours of the plugs on the dashboard. All dashboards look broadly similar, but the wiring differed massively until about 89.

The cluster is repairable, assuming you've the right one. See this thread

Max12
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:00 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:50 pm
So.... when you said:
Max12 wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:56 am
It is an 87, with blue and yellow connectors. Here is the diagram for the fusebox which might be useful: http://imgur.com/gallery/GqL2Glt
I assumed you'd had the dashboard out?

If you had, you need to make sure that the colour of the wiring plugs matches the colours of the plugs on the dashboard. All dashboards look broadly similar, but the wiring differed massively until about 89.

The cluster is repairable, assuming you've the right one. See this thread
Yes I did follow all those steps with the instrument cluster, but I don't know what you mean matching the colour of the plugs. In reference to what, the fuses?

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dragonflyjewels
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:13 pm

Jeff's talking about the connections on the back of the dashboard cluster (rev counter/speedo/info centre). The plugs on the cables should be the same colour as the connectors on the cluster that they go onto. Later cars are mostly one green and one grey, as pictured on the thread Jeff's linked to above.

I've been trying to talk to Jeff this evening as well but no reply so he must be busy, hence I've jumped in.
Last edited by dragonflyjewels on Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

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dcwalker
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by dcwalker » Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:14 pm

Two multiplugs go into the cluster. The connectors at the ends of the wiring will be yellow and blue or yellow and red or red and blue on your early car (later cars are grey and green). Where they plug in have plastic surrounds and they MUST be the same colours as the plugs.

Hope that helps!

David
Last edited by dcwalker on Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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!

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:15 pm

Image

So in the image, notice that the two plugs FOR the dash board are the same colour as the plugs ON the dashboard?

Are yours the same? not as in the same as the image, but if you've got red and blue wiring plugs, you should have red and blue dashboard plugs.

Max12
480 Newbie
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Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:27 pm

Re: Some electrical problems

Post by Max12 » Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:47 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:15 pm
Image

So in the image, notice that the two plugs FOR the dash board are the same colour as the plugs ON the dashboard?

Are yours the same? not as in the same as the image, but if you've got red and blue wiring plugs, you should have red and blue dashboard plugs.
yes they are matching.

jifflemon
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Re: Some electrical problems

Post by jifflemon » 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?

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