Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > 300/66 Series General

Notices

300/66 Series General Forum for the Volvo 340, 360 and 66 cars

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

Failed MoT on rear light issue - where's the earth point?

Views : 2612

Replies : 15

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Aug 5th, 2021, 18:28   #1
Joseph Martin
Master Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 12:46
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Default Failed MoT on rear light issue - where's the earth point?

My 1988 360 GLE failed its first MoT in two years - two very minor issues.

With the headlights on, pressing the brake turns off the bulb completely on the right hand side. I'm thinking this is down to a bad earth. Where are the rear lights unearthed to, or am I looking in the wrong place?

Any advice appreciated.
__________________
CURRENT
340, 360 GLE, 440 GLT, 440 TD, 460 CD (x2), 850 T-5 (x3), 850 TDI, V40 Sport Lux, V40 1.8 S, C70 GT 2.0T
PREVIOUS
S40 1.6 (x2); 440 1.6i
Joseph Martin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 5th, 2021, 18:37   #2
Baxlin
Old Rocker
 
Baxlin's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 06:13
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Tring
Default

Rather than try finding the original earth, could you take a new one from the offending light, to at least test your theory?
__________________
Just my opinion, please don't shoot me if it doesn't match yours!
2011 C70 D3 (now sold)and JZR 3 wheeler
Baxlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 5th, 2021, 19:29   #3
Joseph Martin
Master Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 12:46
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baxlin View Post
Rather than try finding the original earth, could you take a new one from the offending light, to at least test your theory?
I could attempt to, I will be honest in that electrics are not my strong point at all, I'm more mechanically-minded. But I shall try to see what I can do.
__________________
CURRENT
340, 360 GLE, 440 GLT, 440 TD, 460 CD (x2), 850 T-5 (x3), 850 TDI, V40 Sport Lux, V40 1.8 S, C70 GT 2.0T
PREVIOUS
S40 1.6 (x2); 440 1.6i
Joseph Martin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 5th, 2021, 20:31   #4
john.wigley
VOC Member since 1986
 
john.wigley's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 00:46
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Leicestershire
Default

Might it just be a dodgy bulb, Joseph? Worth substituting it with a known good (new) one to eliminate it before delving deeper? I've had bulbs that appeared sound playing silly b's with me in the past ...

Regards, John.
__________________
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana .....
john.wigley is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to john.wigley For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 00:07   #5
Laird Scooby
Premier Member
 
Laird Scooby's Avatar
 

Last Online: Yesterday 21:57
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lakenheath
Default

If memory serves, the 360 rear lights have a crude multiplug to connect the loom to the clusters, very much like the Fords of the time.

The fault sounds very much like a bad earth on the stop/tail bulb, could just be the bayonet of the bulb is corroded and needs cleaning or the bulbholder itself or if my memory is correct about the multiplug, the contacts in that and on the cluster - clean them with a soft wire brush, emery cloth or similar but not sandpaper. Once clean and normal service is resumed, disconnect the multiplug from the cluster, smear silicone grease on the contacts of both and reconnect with a final test. The silicone grease will exclude more moisture from corroding the contacts again.
__________________
Cheers
Dave

Next Door to Top-Gun with a Honda CR-V & S Type Jag Volvo gone but not forgotten........
Laird Scooby is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Laird Scooby For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 08:40   #6
Joe Harding
Premier Member
 

Last Online: Today 07:50
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Bristol
Default

The galvanised strip in those lights is pretty crude as well. As above, a good clean, contact cleaner spray and don't forget to emery the bulb contacts too and it should be fine. They are prone to water ingress too. Our rear lights have a tiny hole drilled in the external surface to allow rainwater to drain out, otherwise the light is filtered through a pool of water.
__________________
"The more people I meet the more I like my God."
Joe Harding is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Joe Harding For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 12:42   #7
Joseph Martin
Master Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 12:46
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Default

Well having went from one working brake light with lights on, I've now got no working brake lights with lights switched on!

Tried replacing bulbs but haven't got a spare of each, switched bulbs round and this is what happened. Old cars eh....
__________________
CURRENT
340, 360 GLE, 440 GLT, 440 TD, 460 CD (x2), 850 T-5 (x3), 850 TDI, V40 Sport Lux, V40 1.8 S, C70 GT 2.0T
PREVIOUS
S40 1.6 (x2); 440 1.6i
Joseph Martin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 12:52   #8
Laird Scooby
Premier Member
 
Laird Scooby's Avatar
 

Last Online: Yesterday 21:57
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lakenheath
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph Martin View Post
Well having went from one working brake light with lights on, I've now got no working brake lights with lights switched on!

Tried replacing bulbs but haven't got a spare of each, switched bulbs round and this is what happened. Old cars eh....
"Borrow" a pair of bulbs from the rest of your fleet there - once you've proved the point that the bulbs are defunct, you can get your car MoT'd and then buy a 10-pack of bulbs on Amazon, ebay or similar for a couple of quid delivered.
__________________
Cheers
Dave

Next Door to Top-Gun with a Honda CR-V & S Type Jag Volvo gone but not forgotten........
Laird Scooby is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Laird Scooby For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 13:04   #9
john.wigley
VOC Member since 1986
 
john.wigley's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 00:46
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Leicestershire
Default

Are the circuits individually fused, Joseph, and if so, are they intact? If there is a fault with the light unit it is also possible that it/they may have 'blown'. The advice re cleaning bulb holders is sound, but the fault may have caused the fuse to 'blow'.

Do you have a high-level brake light? If so, is that working?

Joe H. is also correct in pointing to water ingress; we had the same problem with a 744 and resolved it in a similar way - a 1.5 mil bit in a hand brace and very light pressure, IIRC.

Regards, John.
__________________
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana .....
john.wigley is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to john.wigley For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 6th, 2021, 13:20   #10
Joseph Martin
Master Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 12:46
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Default

Thanks folks for all replies so far -

Replaced both with two good bulbs I managed to get, and we are back to the right hand brake light not working when tail lights are on. 3rd level 'middle' brake light works fine.
I'll check re fuses to see if this is the case, I lightly cleaned bulb holders but to no avail yet.
__________________
CURRENT
340, 360 GLE, 440 GLT, 440 TD, 460 CD (x2), 850 T-5 (x3), 850 TDI, V40 Sport Lux, V40 1.8 S, C70 GT 2.0T
PREVIOUS
S40 1.6 (x2); 440 1.6i
Joseph Martin is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Joseph Martin For This Useful Post:
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:24.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.