Got a tail light giving me problems on a '97 850. Everytime I start the car the inner bulb on the right side is out. I can hit the rear lense and it comes on.
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Finicky Tail Light
Started by elfnmagik, Mar 03 2006 08:22 PM
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#1
elfnmagik
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Posted 03 March 2006 - 08:22 PM
'97 850
#2
the underlørd
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Posted 03 March 2006 - 08:28 PM
QUOTE(elfnmagik @ Mar 3 2006, 12:22 PM) 
Got a tail light giving me problems on a '97 850. Everytime I start the car the inner bulb on the right side is out. I can hit the rear lense and it comes on.
sounds like you have a loose connection/bulb.
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#4
turbobrick
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Posted 03 March 2006 - 08:56 PM
lol.. mine does that too, too lazy to fix it
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#5
elfnmagik
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Posted 06 March 2006 - 03:48 PM
I've read that the electrical systems are finicky on voltage variances concerning aftermarket bulbs. It seems like I remember the common advice being that if you replace a bulb on one side replace the same bulb for the other side? Any advice or clarification on this?
'97 850
#6
850-Turbo
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Posted 08 March 2006 - 07:38 AM
QUOTE(elfnmagik @ Mar 6 2006, 07:48 AM)
I've read that the electrical systems are finicky on voltage variances concerning aftermarket bulbs. It seems like I remember the common advice being that if you replace a bulb on one side replace the same bulb for the other side? Any advice or clarification on this?
I'm not familiar with Volvo electrical, but from electrical point of view, it doesn't make much sense. Is there some other piece of information missing from what you read?
Replacing both sides would ensure same brightness if old and new varied in resistance, but I doubt you'd notice it if they were a little different.
As for your current issue at hand, it may not even be the bulb. Check for corrosion on the contacts. Even if they look half good, try scraping the contact gently and see if that helps.
If it's the bulb, you can tap it gently and see the filament move. If it's broken you can usually see it.
'95 850 Turbo Wagon
#7 Guest_TAThomas_*
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Posted 22 March 2006 - 03:40 AM
QUOTE(elfnmagik @ Mar 3 2006, 08:22 PM)
Got a tail light giving me problems on a '97 850. Everytime I start the car the inner bulb on the right side is out. I can hit the rear lense and it comes on.
Try a little Dielectric grease on the inner contact.
#8
TRACStar
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Posted 22 March 2006 - 04:11 AM
QUOTE(AlvinL @ Mar 3 2006, 03:55 PM)
Change the bulb.
+1000
Chase ideas all you want but spend a dollar on a bulb first. My third brake light was doing the same thing for about 3 months and I was too lazy to change it, took the car to get inspected and got charged 5 dollars for a bulb
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#9
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Posted 22 March 2006 - 07:43 PM
QUOTE(elfnmagik @ Mar 3 2006, 08:22 PM)
Got a tail light giving me problems on a '97 850. Everytime I start the car the inner bulb on the right side is out. I can hit the rear lense and it comes on.
Seems like an earth fault to me. Fairly common on the 850.
Remove the bulb holder and take the bulb out. Looking into the hole you will see two contacts. At the bottom is the live which should be shiny, if it isn't scrape any dirt/corrosion off it. Around the circumference of the hole should be two semi cylindrical earth contacts. Working from the end of the hole where the live contact is insert a small screwdriver under one of these and very gently ease it away from the plastic. Do not move it too far or the bulb will not go back in.
This has worked for me on rear, brake and indicator lights which were showing the same intermittent fault as yours.
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