JohnK's Volvo - 740 GL 'E' Reg - Now belongs to JohnK.

[CreepingJesus]

Doesn’t work?

There isn’t one.

Should be: wee orange light under the empty mark.

To be fair on mine, the light and the needle can't agree either. It was showing over half a tank (roughly correct as I'm up to 130 miles since Tuesday) but the light was on because the needle was very slow to rise this morning. Then they both agreed to just not bother, so that solved the problem.

Also, never, ever reset the odo if you're moving at all. Only ever at rest. The odo gears are made of cheese and will strip at the least provocation. Then you'll have to write down/remember the mileage.

[danthecapriman]

I'm fairly certain mine has no low fuel light at all either, all it's got is the gauge and needle and when low the needle points in the red first section of the gauge.

But I've got an idea that they're not all the same depending on which make of gauge/instrument binnacle your car has.

 

I was told that about the odo too, by a guy who worked for Volvo so I would imagine it's true. Never had one that's broken yet though.

[vulgalour]

I wonder how much of these binnacle issues are PCB related?

[CreepingJesus]

Most of them.

[danthecapriman]

Indeed.

They don't age very well, corrosion and old age do them in but when they start playing up people resort to thumping the dash top or binnacle itself to make them work again, which works, for a while. But that too doesn't help matters long term.

 

I've been very lucky with both my 740's as they've both had the full compliment of gauges all working. The current estate occasionally has its fuel gauge be lazy but it's not often. When it does it it always picks up and works very quickly after driving away.

[cpjitservices]

Indeed.

They don't age very well, corrosion and old age do them in but when they start playing up people resort to thumping the dash top or binnacle itself to make them work again, which works, for a while. But that too doesn't help matters long term.

 

I've been very lucky with both my 740's as they've both had the full compliment of gauges all working. The current estate occasionally has its fuel gauge be lazy but it's not often. When it does it it always picks up and works very quickly after driving away.

I have had my eye on a full cluster on one of the Volvo facebook pages but as yet the guy is yet to give me a price and no he isnt responding to messages, so wont get my hopes up. I usually always reset the trip when sat still. 

[cpjitservices]

Thanks for all the info, they are great these cars! The just have a few quirks.

 

100 mile round trip tomorrow - hope she doesnt leave me stuck at the side of the motorway awaiting AA

[Ghosty]

I heard the odometer thing from the SVM. I remember Adrian talking about brass replacement gears at one point and what a bad idea they potentially were.

Sounds like mine’s the same as yours Dan - there’s definitely no light. The red bit of the gauge is basically ‘empty’ I’ve found.

[Shep Shepherd]

Volvo 700 Series instrument panels are notoriously rubbish and have been a bee in my bonnet for the past 14 years of my ownership of The Volvo, which is a shame, as the cars are brilliant in most other respects.

 

About ten years ago, I had no dashboard lighting at all for quite a while on The Volvo after I replaced its original VDO instrument panel with a Yazaki one. An electrician friend of mine bypassed the panel dimmer, and all has been well since

 

I'm lucky, as the car's current instrument panel works more or less correctly most of the time, apart from the panel dimmer. I'd like to send it away to someone in order that they can test and refurbish it and maybe get the panel dimmer to work, but I'm not sure if such a person or company exists. Any ideas?

[CreepingJesus]

The panel dimmer on mine has a mind of its' own, and up/down/middle provides no correlation to light output! Thankfully it hasn't given up altogether, but I wonder how easy the correct linear pot would be to source.

[cpjitservices]

250 mile trip I'm the Volvo was Sublime and faultless. Will probs need to fill her up again now as no idea how much fuel I've used but what a drive! Fantastic car. Effortless

[danthecapriman]

250 mile trip I'm the Volvo was Sublime and faultless. Will probs need to fill her up again now as no idea how much fuel I've used but what a drive! Fantastic car. Effortless

Glad it went well for you! It can be a bit of a worry in an unknown car, but this is an old Volvo! No such worry!

I love using these for long trips, they're perfect for it and such a nice place to sit and drive for extended periods.

[cpjitservices]

Here's the list of what it will need:

O/S/F Side Light fault, stays Dim with DRL, goes to normal birghtness with sidelights and headlights.

N/S Towing bracket corroded

N/S Track Rod End fault

N/S/F CHassis Corrosion

Fluid Leak on Power steering Pipe

[danthecapriman]

Doesn't look too bad if that's your fail sheet.

 

NSF chassis corrosion will be around the front jack point/outrigger under the front floor pan. They all seem to go there by this sort of age. I had to do my old saloon both sides here. Not too difficult tbh, I stripped out front seats, carpets etc to get access for mine.

 

What's the towing bracket thing?

Presumably something to do with a towbar?

[cpjitservices]

Doesn't look too bad if that's your fail sheet.

 

NSF chassis corrosion will be around the front jack point/outrigger under the front floor pan. They all seem to go there by this sort of age. I had to do my old saloon both sides here. Not too difficult tbh, I stripped out front seats, carpets etc to get access for mine.

 

What's the towing bracket thing?

Presumably something to do with a towbar?

Ah right well aslong as it is within budget Ill be happy  

 

What he means is the towing eye on the front, its bollocksed to say the least.

 

Ive got £250 to spend hopefully that will be enough! 

[Ghosty]

One of my running lights is a bit dim. There's a round part behind them with pins coming out of it (can't remember what it is), they fail sometimes and throw up the bulb warning light.

[cpjitservices]

One of my running lights is a bit dim. There's a round part behind them with pins coming out of it (can't remember what it is), they fail sometimes and throw up the bulb warning light.

Hmmmm MOT guy couldn't figure it out, its not a bulb issue! However I think there is a fuse that disables the DRL's I may just pull it for the MOT.

[danthecapriman]

Oddly, mine (also on an E plate) doesn't have DRL's. No issues at MOT time.

[Ghosty]

All 740s had them because SVENSK, someone must have pulled something because they didn't like them.

[cpjitservices]

Ill try and find which fuse it is and sort the issue after MOT - I quite like them!

[Eddie Honda]

All 740s had them because SVENSK, someone must have pulled something because they didn't like them.

My memory of 200s was that the DRLs were on a dedicated circuit, so pulling a fuse (no. 5?) made you look normal.

[CreepingJesus]

They must be on a fuse or relay of their own, as there's no adjustment screw as on the P80 onwards. On those there were three selectable settings, and the control board was inside the light switch. No such arrangement on our 765.

I don't mind so much, I tend to switch the main lights off in the street rather than shining them into everybody's living rooms. I can see where I'm going by the DRLs...!

[cpjitservices]

They must be on a fuse or relay of their own, as there's no adjustment screw as on the P80 onwards. On those there were three selectable settings, and the control board was inside the light switch. No such arrangement on our 765.

I don't mind so much, I tend to switch the main lights off in the street rather than shining them into everybody's living rooms. I can see where I'm going by the DRLs...!

Not sure which fuse it is yet! I like the DRL's so will get it sorted! 

[Ghosty]

Just checked my handbook, fuse 25 is DRL/dim-dip (15A).

 

I find the DRLs to be far brighter than the sidelights, so I don't use them, just skip on to the dipped beam.

[Guest Hooli]

If memory serves isn't it a twin element bulb so sidelights are 5w & DRLs are 21w?

[cpjitservices]

Just checked my handbook, fuse 25 is DRL/dim-dip (15A).

 

I find the DRLs to be far brighter than the sidelights, so I don't use them, just skip on to the dipped beam.

THanks

 

According to here: Fuse 25 is for rear fog.

 

https://www.vlvworld.com/indexframe.html?VolvoRepairManual/700_0_3.htm

[cpjitservices]

If memory serves isn't it a twin element bulb so sidelights are 5w & DRLs are 21w?

No Idea, my MOT guy tried a new bulb and they where the same! 

[Ghosty]

THanks

 

According to here: Fuse 25 is for rear fog.

 

https://www.vlvworld.com/indexframe.html?VolvoRepairManual/700_0_3.htm

 

That list you've linked doesn't refer to the DRLs at all. 

 

Otherwise it seems to be correct, except the owners manual has rear fogs on fuse 3 and DRLs on 25 as I mentioned.

[danthecapriman]

If memory serves isn't it a twin element bulb so sidelights are 5w & DRLs are 21w?

Correct.

I've not long ago converted my 740 to US front end and reused all the old bulbs and the DRL/sidelight bulbs are definitely twin element.

I'm not sure weather to reconnect mine to have DRL's again tbh, obviously DRL's with US lights!

[Ghosty]

If memory serves isn't it a twin element bulb so sidelights are 5w & DRLs are 21w?

 

Yes.