weird electrical stuff

Hi there. I'm a newbie to these parts so please be gentle with me!

My partner and I bought a 96 2.0S a few days ago and I've noticed some electrical strangeness that you might be able to cast some light upon. There's probably some I haven't even noticed but here's the main probs...

With the engine running and the headlights off, pressing the brake pedal makes the dipped beam headlights come on.

The brake lights don't seem to work at all, although I have only checked this with the headlights on.

When I turn off the engine but leave the key in the ignition, pressing the brake pedal supplies everything with power that was on previously eg: fan, radio, interior clock, intrument lights, windscreen wipers. I take my foot off the pedal it all goes off, foot back on it all powers up again.

Does anyone have any idea at all what is going on?

Forgot to say, it's a great car apart from that

That is well weird! Could be a bad earth? Not heard of this before but there are a few good techs on this site which might of come across it before. No brake lights is quite serious. I am guessing you have checked the fuses/lamps the fuses are behind the lower glove box which has a couple of clips one either side which will drop the box lower. and the rear light clusters can be removed by opening the rear side pockets and unscrewing the two wing nuts (try not to drop them once released) and pulling the cluster out a small way so you can disconnect the connector plug. One thing I have heard of before is a wrongly wired stereo causing weird electrical faults


Good luck, and WELCOME to the forum.

I'd suspect a bad earth on both rear lights.
Whent eh brake lights get power they discharge through the rear side lights and front side lights.

i would have a good look at the earths as well also if you have a towbar fitted have a look at the connections inside and the plug outside have seen this causing problems before usualy when not used for a while

Nice attachments But why?

random stab in the dark guess, not knowing these cars - but i would reckon your brake lights are in upside down.

hi stuart just like to show off my cars 96 ulysse the family bus and 96 volvo 850 dads taxi .some people show pictures of themselfs hint hint say no more me i like pictures of cars great site spend half my life here the rest on the volvo forum

I have no qualms about car pics, but why are they being attached each time you make a post?

Why not just design a signature, and add it that way - so much easier

afrade i dont know how only found out to upload pictures a few weeks ago any chance you can tell me how or point me to a thread that can .cheers no pics this time sorry

Hi

Thanks for your help so far - much appreciated. I am going to explore the wrongly wired stereo as the stereo remotes on the steering wheel don't work so maybe that points to someone having been messing about. There is a towbar also so that sounds like it's worth following up too.

Take it easy

seriously, just try turning the brake light bulbs the other way up. Or just remove them to begin with and see if the randomness continues.

upside down bulbs will cause everything you have listed

Really? That is pretty weird!

I'll give it a shot

any luck?

Not yet. The sub zero temperatures put me off last night

Hi again.

All sorted at last. Not by myself though, I copped out and took it to the garage. Sorry

Anyway, lanciak69 and arc get joint 1st prize for this one The problem was a combination of bodged towbar electrics and the rear bulbs.

Hopefully that's it for the next month or so - touch wood

Take it easy