Volvo Repair: Tail lights, fuse box, ground wires

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I replaced my passenger side tailight assembly with a new unit for a 1986 DL Volvo. When I turned the lights on it didn't work. I checked the fuse and it was blown.  I inserted a new fuse it also blew. I reinstalled my original tail light, change the fuse and found it also shorted out.  The ground wires are properly grounded to the body screw.  Both tailights are now inoperable.  Is there a relay or transfer switch which may have grounded out?

Thanks for your help.

Mike Schenck



Mike Schenck
Answer -
You need to eliminat the circuit that's causing the problem. Disconnect both rear connectors to the lights and see if the fuse still blows. Then reconnect one at a timee and see what happens. If this problem wasn't there before, then it was created during the change over. Backtrack what you did.

Do your headlights work with the switch on?

Thanks for your help.  Last night (09/22/04) I disconnected the passenger tail light, replaced fuse #16 and found the fuse blown again.  This fuse also controls the front dash console lights.  The drivers side tailight works fine.  I assume I must remove the front console to try to determine the short.  This car sat for 2 years before I decided to get it road worthy.  It runs great. I've replaced all struts, brakes, discs, plugs, rotor and cap, flushed the radiator, changed the oil and changed the relays for the automatic door locks.  
The brake light worked fine until I tried to install a new assembly.  I feel I've narrowed the problem to the instrument panel.  Is there a common problem I can look for at this location?

The headlights work fine with the switch on.  Obviously the instrument lights don't work.

Again thanks.


Answer
You can isolate the circuit even more. At the fuse box at #16 wire, there should be two gray wires exiting to the circuits. To make sure, separate the two wires and plug them in one at a tme and see what still blows. If your tail lights work, look toward the front. If your dash works, go back and look at the rear lites.
Also make sure your right front corner lite is ok, controlled by same fuse.