Volvo 740 electrical problem

[Ed Rednik]

740 turbo wagon 1991
2.32 litres

Hi everyone,

Has anyone ever had this problem:

Regularly, the car goes into a "faulty electrical" mode, i.e. when
ignition is turned on, the usual dashboard signal lamps do not come
on, except for the overdrive lamp, and the battery does not recharge.
Local Volvo "experts" appear baffled. The main ignition switch was
replaced, with no effect. What would cause the car to do that?

Thanks

Ed

 

[Glenn Klein]

740 turbo wagon 1991
2.32 litres

Hi everyone,

Has anyone ever had this problem:

Regularly, the car goes into a "faulty electrical" mode, i.e. when
ignition is turned on, the usual dashboard signal lamps do not come
on, except for the overdrive lamp, and the battery does not recharge.
Local Volvo "experts" appear baffled. The main ignition switch was
replaced, with no effect. What would cause the car to do that?

Thanks

Ed

Did anyone check the small red wire @ the back of the alternator if this
wire comes off or has a loose connection this could cause your complaint
Glenn

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as
long as I live,
nor should any American.
"Mow Green"

 

[Michael Pardee]

740 turbo wagon 1991
2.32 litres

Hi everyone,

Has anyone ever had this problem:

Regularly, the car goes into a "faulty electrical" mode, i.e. when
ignition is turned on, the usual dashboard signal lamps do not come
on, except for the overdrive lamp, and the battery does not recharge.
Local Volvo "experts" appear baffled. The main ignition switch was
replaced, with no effect. What would cause the car to do that?

Thanks

Ed

Glenn Klein is right on the money with the alternator ground wire - in most
cars there is no such thing, but the 740 (and probably a lot of other
Volvos) have the alternator mounted on rubber bushes - yes, even the
adjuster arm - and it just won't work without the ground wire. The end that
goes to the block loosened slightly on ours (actually a 760, but the same
arrangement) and it drove me batty. Wiggling the wire revealed the loose
connection - it rotated with little pressure.

In addition, ensure the engine to chassis ground connection is good. When in
failure, there should be very little voltage between the engine block and
the body.

Mike

 

[Mike F]

Glenn Klein is right on the money with the alternator ground wire - in most
cars there is no such thing, but the 740 (and probably a lot of other
Volvos) have the alternator mounted on rubber bushes - yes, even the
adjuster arm - and it just won't work without the ground wire. The end that
goes to the block loosened slightly on ours (actually a 760, but the same
arrangement) and it drove me batty. Wiggling the wire revealed the loose
connection - it rotated with little pressure.

In addition, ensure the engine to chassis ground connection is good. When in
failure, there should be very little voltage between the engine block and
the body.

Mike

In addition, worn out brushes on the regulator will have these symptoms,
as will certain internal alternator failures.

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

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)