This Tiny Bulb Stopped my Volvo from Charging!

After the Volvo 740 Wagon started turning over slowly I tested the charging voltage from the alternator and found it was too low, in this video we discover it was down to a disconnected battery warning light bulb.
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[@Gothamauto]

Sorry to contradict you, but...EXCELLENT video. Thanks for giving us another place to look when charging system problems arise. Volvos are built rather well, so it sometimes is the simplest things that fail, rather than the expensive ones. A pair of worn fan belts on my 240 gave every indication of doing their job, so I tested everything else, replaced the alternator brushes, cleaned the grounds and so on.

[@Involvod]

Thanks! It's surprising what can catch us out isn't it 😄

[@fannycraddock99]

Brilliant light bulb moment Sledge.

[@Involvod]

Thanks 😃

[@BellaRocko]

That one "mysterious" light right under the 6 o'clock is the ABS light, according my 1987 760 owner's manual. Thanks for the video!

[@Involvod]

Thanks for checking that! I drove the car around the yard today and the light stayed on, this is going to be fun..

[@oliverjocher2999]

Another light that has no use in my '89 740, cause I don't have ABS 😂

[@RichieRouge206]

Oh so familiar removing a 700 binnacle, and those little bulbs! And the good old ‘ticky ticky’ seat belt warning - as familiar as the reverse collar click or that red block starter motor. Great fix fella.

[@Involvod]

It's like coming home isn't it 😄 Thanks buddy!

[@McDoofKnecht]

I have exactly the same problem on my 240, which has a brand new alternator and battery... I will definitely check that bulb out. Thanks for uploading this!

[@Involvod]

Hopefully it's just that or a bad connection! Good luck with it!

[@McDoofKnecht]

@@Involvod Thanks! I really hope so, Ive had some bad luck with mechanics so if this is something easy to fix then Ill be very relieved.

[@babyman134]

@@McDoofKnecht Was it the bulb?

[@gregcameron6047]

Alternator not working,,, check the battery charging warning lamp on the dash. The 240 has the crazy setup of "if the alternator warning bulb is blown, the battery will not charge. When you turn the ignition on the warning light will come on if it does not come on you have to replace the globe before the alternator will work. If you are heading into the country put a spare bulb in the glove box.

[@andrewpeterkin4510]

I had a similar problem with my 1990 Volvo 760GLE with the Peugeot V6 engine. I had no clear instructions of how to get behind the dash to access the bulb. I know it was either the bulb or an open connection in the wiring. So I wired a new circuit with a separate bulb and mounted it on the dash foot cover (above the brake pedal). At first I did replace the alternator, but later learned from calling Sam's Garage radio show that I needed to check the bulb exciter circuit. Although the old original alternator was still good, I did not regret replacing it because the brushes were badly worn.

[@Involvod]

Nice work! Thanks for sharing!

[@maplebones]

The brushes are a small thing to replace. It doesn't warrant a new alternator.

[@user-ONJFAN1998]

5:30 - yes, on the Volvo 700 900 tidy, when the ignition is turned on, signal lamps work like a garland, and since 1995, only the battery lamp lights up on the 940 960 S90 V90.Therefore, when a low battery lamp burns out, the rest do not turn on, as they are connected in series ...

[@Involvod]

Thanks, it really surprised me!

[@nigel-Rollercam-channel]

Looks like that 740 has an EDL, Electronic differential lock likely utilizing the ABS to apply the brake to which ever wheel is spinning. But I could be wrong. I really appreciate your channel and the mechanical journeys you take us on!

[@Involvod]

Thanks, I'll definitely do some digging into it and keep you guys updated!

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

That car 740 is coming nicely, keep up the good work,👍☝️👌👆👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Involvod]

Thanks! 👍

[@CaptainSlow1992]

The little contacts on the plasticy PCB dash cluster thing I think wear with age. You can often get the lights working again by twisting the holder just enough it's making contact on a different area without popping the holder lose. On my car nearly every bulb was out and it was a 50/50 split between blown bulbs and shitty contacts.

[@Involvod]

Good point, it's the same deal with the rear lights as well I've had problems with the 240s having to twist the holders slightly to get them working again

[@completeexteriorcleaningse750]

Spot on Sledge we use to test the Alternators with a warning light once they went out the unit would charge we also had to test some of the alts with LED bulbs to excite them

[@Involvod]

Nice, I used to go to a guy in a shed to have my starters and alts rebuilt, great little business you should think about a side hustle, put those skills to use 💪

[@completeexteriorcleaningse750]

@@Involvod I use to sit and solder in new diodes I to rectifiers replace slip rings on rotors and all sorts unfortunately its a dying trade everyone just buys new hints from euro car parts ect

[@marcinbujok7388]

Thanks for another great video! Been workin on my alternator tension adjustment before Christmas ;). Had enough of squeeking belts but the nut was seized so had to cut it :D. Metal saw is quite busy when working on the 240. That's how it is ;). Cheers!

[@Involvod]

Haha sometimes you gotta do it! I've been quite lucky with these so far, I can't recall anything being seized in. Glad to hear you are still making progress! Cheers!

[@fuman0]

good job! handy the cluster was loose for you. for the future you can test that small D+ wire (exciter) by taking off the alternator end and grounding it with the ignition on in position 2. all the lights in the cluster should light up as per normal. if not then well you know..more investigation necessary!

[@Involvod]

Thanks, that's really good to know!

[@cheharrison7107]

Happy New year dude, thanks for the informative video, didn't know about exciter bulbs, gives me another place to look when chasing those oh' so fun electrical gremlins. 🤘

[@Involvod]

Thanks man! Happy New Year!!

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Keep up the good work that car is going to be on the road in no time!

[@Involvod]

Thanks! Getting close now 😃

[@mralex841]

05:05 think it's brake system or abs sensor if you have abs

[@timbre7999]

Super video, in fact more interesting than an alternator-swap imho; this bulb business is just plain weird but fascinating.

[@Involvod]

Thanks! That's what I thought!

[@davidblood9882]

Another excellent video! Thank you! I’m learning from your experience.

[@Involvod]

Thank you!

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Odd little fault that isn’t it. Glad you sorted it mate.

[@Involvod]

Yeah I really was surprised! Cheers

[@SimpsonsClassics]

@@Involvod the 740 is really coming along. Do like it.

[@jaywood8540]

this made my day i’ve been replacing part after part and i just checked to see if i have that light and i dont so i’m hoping fixing the bulb will work thx so much!!

[@Involvod]

Fingers crossed for you mate! 🤞

[@babyman134]

So did fixing the bulb help?

[@barkster1971]

you can just cut the wire to the seat belt clasp and it stops the annoying flashing.

[@Involvod]

Tbh after how loud the 240 is I can barely hear this one 😃 And I thought about disabling it on that but I can't bring myself to do it.

[@user-ONJFAN1998]

Hello, I Am Nikita, VolvoFan from Belarus 👍😀🇸🇪🇸🇪🔥💝💝 My Age is 23 years old!))) 4:44-this is Lamp ABS, lamp with picture of rear axle with differential with ABS wheel... In rear axle ABS wheel have 96 teeth , the ABS pulse wheel and speedometer come with a pulse converter from 96 to 12 pulses per revolution for the Speedometer and cruise control

[@Involvod]

Hi! Nice to meet you I'm Sledge! Thanks for the info 🙂

[@siebendorfer-siebenkirchen5852]

This Alien-bulb is about the brakesystem. Your next issue?!? Hope not. Good Luck. I'm planning to do Waterpump and all the Belts on Ruby myself 😊

[@Involvod]

Thanks, I'll surely need it 😅 Good luck with Ruby, I've got a couple of videos more to release on her soon, it will be a nice break from these dark winter videos 😄

[@JMassengill]

I had an 86 VW Golf that you had to rev up before it would charge but I always had a problem with that car overcharging (26vdc)

[@Involvod]

That's some serious voltage! 😄

[@JMassengill]

And that was after an alternater change. That was 30 years ago and I could be remembering it wrong

[@bobdelaplage690]

So after deep thinking it over, i could conclude that the best title for your video could be” this failing red dashlight didnt show me that the alternator was not charging.’.” ( in case that was the case) , if yr alternator was ok, the title should be, “ the failing warning light, didnt tell me that everything was ok with my alternator.....😀😅

[@fredrikjacobsson25]

This is a commn issu on most cars. so many times i change alternator and battery and the issue was the bulb

[@Involvod]

Thanks, I was wondering if it was a common thing

[@fredrikjacobsson25]

@@Involvod yes it is. The first thing you should check IF your Volvo didnt charge The battey:)

[@englishgrandad3298]

My 406 alternator loved me ....twice.

[@DeanofMachines]

My racer boy instincts tell me thats a rear axle with the skid marks in that little indicator. Did the EU spec cars have some sort of traction control?

[@Involvod]

Looks like it eh, I'd be very surprised if it did being an '88, but then again I was also surprised to discover it had A/C!

[@666Natalia]

i got a 84 244, was a major storm an hit a massive puddle and a pot hole, same night on my way home. Once I got home and turned off the car, the battery light stayed on. Edit: It is also lowered, if that makes a difference.

[@Involvod]

The light stayed on even with the ignition off and key out? If so that is super weird, or is it just on whilst it's running?

[@666Natalia]

@@Involvod The light stayed on when key is out of the ignition. I took out the cluster, and pulled the bulb and that fixed it, no drain on the bat hahah

[@Involvod]

@@666Natalia that's wild! These things have a mind of their own 😄

[@liamstacey419]

Who would have guessed! Should we expect the same thing in a Mercedes from the 80s?

[@bobdelaplage690]

Ps Are the wheels interchangeable over all the years 87 till 92? 240 and 245 all same wheels that fit each other?

[@bobdelaplage690]

Do you say that the small light is part of the circuit? Or is there a chance you didntstart the alternator by not reving up in your start up....? I always thought thatthe bulb is part of a circuit that shows you the info on the dash...but is not necessary to actually let the alternator do its job?....i check this too. Thanks all thesame brother!

[@Involvod]

Yeah it's part of the circuit, it gives the alternator the exciter current to get it to start charging, but I think with it disconnected you can rev out the engine to get it to charge, I never actually tested that!

[@bobdelaplage690]

@@Involvod i will look into that indeed...i somehow think that the dashboard is a way to make contact with the driver, to show what is happening, but a small warning light , in my opinion does not affect the carparts...but in the other way the failing carparts will affect your dashboardlights to communicate with u as a driver. My guess iss that the light itself does not influence your alternator....its interesting enough....me too i find these oldtimers great teachers, and they make us curieus in a domain that is like mechano for adults, isnt it? Great channel, thx bro, bob Belgium

[@bobdelaplage690]

So after some research, i have the solition: my friend mechanic, gave me the solution today: so the dashboardlight has no other function than show you what is wrong with the alternator.the title is therefore misleading. The dashlight is a subcircuit, that measures if yr alternator gives more power than your battery: if that is the case, the battery can be loaded... The only thing that a blown dashlight does, is not showing you what is going on under the hood. in normal condition the red light dims from the moment you start the motor, in some cases ye need a short rev to initiate the light from going out... to put it different: the blown light is not at all the root of yr alternator failing, it is just a communicator with the driver...Did you mean that by your video? Than i probably misunderstood the title, respect for you to share your queste and filming some( on the first glance) strange behaviours of enigmatic electric circuits😅😀At least im glad you think about things, you question them, film them....and you invite us to think with you, hope that is ok with you? Hope no offence, Bob Belgium, big fan, ps i started and did 1 st testdrive with my 1987 volvo 240, was parked outside for few months, but under roof...started like a sharm! Great cars, love em!

[@oliverjocher2999]

Same happened me yesterday 😂😂😂

[@tommiemcleodjr.2174]

No way

[@davidalsum7713]

Any Volvo transmission experts out there? Legit ones?