Glowing Dash Lights on 240

[scott]

Hi all,

I have a 1989 240.

If I am cruising at a steady speed (say 60 mph) eventually most of the
dash lights will begin to glow. Not fully on, but a dim glow.
Sometimes if I let off the gas, slow down, speed up, etc. they will
turn off (sometimes not) , but as soon as I recume a steady cruise,
they glow dimly again.

If I am driving on a secondary road where I must vary my speed, I don't
observe the problem. Only on highways at steady speeds.

What's going on? I checked the grounding strap and fuses have contact.
Should I worry or is it just another Volvo quirk?

--Scott

 

[James Sweet]

Hi all,

I have a 1989 240.

If I am cruising at a steady speed (say 60 mph) eventually most of the
dash lights will begin to glow. Not fully on, but a dim glow.
Sometimes if I let off the gas, slow down, speed up, etc. they will
turn off (sometimes not) , but as soon as I recume a steady cruise,
they glow dimly again.

If I am driving on a secondary road where I must vary my speed, I don't
observe the problem. Only on highways at steady speeds.

What's going on? I checked the grounding strap and fuses have contact.
Should I worry or is it just another Volvo quirk?

--Scott

Does the car have a volt meter? It could be a failing voltage regulator or a
slipping belt.

 

[Mike F]

Hi all,

I have a 1989 240.

If I am cruising at a steady speed (say 60 mph) eventually most of the
dash lights will begin to glow. Not fully on, but a dim glow.
Sometimes if I let off the gas, slow down, speed up, etc. they will
turn off (sometimes not) , but as soon as I recume a steady cruise,
they glow dimly again.

If I am driving on a secondary road where I must vary my speed, I don't
observe the problem. Only on highways at steady speeds.

What's going on? I checked the grounding strap and fuses have contact.
Should I worry or is it just another Volvo quirk?

--Scott

This usually indicates a bad connection at the fuse for the instruments
or one of the connectors on the back of the instrument cluster. Try a
new fuse for the instruments, and disconnect and reconnect the plugs on
the back of the instrument cluster. Also it wouldn't hurt to look at
the condition of the wires (insulation) on the back of the alternator.
It is possible that insulation is breaking down inside the alternator as
well, although I've never seen that as an intermittent problem before.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

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