240 extra earths
 

ok having come over from the world of Subaru, i thought i would try something to help with what i perceive to be poor headlights.
i made up a extra earth strap from battery to body. next i will add a extra engine earth.
the headlights now seam a bit better and for the cost of £4 for a earth strap its a cheap and easy start.
i also made up a new earth strap for the hatch [estate].

i did all this after cleaning my original earthing points which had some effect.

i did take before and after pics but they didn't turn out lol

one thing i want to add is some front spot lights. but tbh the car has other issues i want to address first.

Congratulations on owning a 240. :D

Good electrical earths are definitely thing to concentrate generally on with these modern classic cars.

It sounds as if you have an estate car. The wiring for all the tailgate electrics is basically a renewable or consumable item. Not only the tailgate earth.

The headlights. How old do the reflectors seem to be? They corrode. There are a few sources for new reflectors. Replacement is a bit of a chore but can be done. Two tricky aspects in replacement:

• The headlamp bodies are held to the car by three hex head machine screws per headlamp. The screws point out of the headlamp in to the car body like studs. The hex heads are held in hex recesses in the headlamp moulding. Inside the car body, the securing nuts corrode and "fix" themselves to the machine screws. So. For a time before doing the job apply a good penetrating service spray such as Plus Gas to each of those screws at regular intervals. I did that and the nuts undid easily. Otherwise, the machine screws can turn breaking the headlamp housing....not a good situation to be in.
• The reflector is held to its mountings inside the headlamp by plastic anchorage clips. They often/usually break during the process of fitting new reflectors. So when pricing up replacement reflectors, make sure those clips are included, and replacement clips to hold the lens to the body of the headlight.

I bought from Charlton Volvo Centre and all the clips were included.

Better headlight bulbs can help. Mine are Bosch. Up-rated but not LED.

LED are a contentious issue. Whether the beam remains right and whether the LED are legal in those headlights. They are generally sold as not for on road use.... &c.

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I only "know" what little I have encountered myself. I hope this helps a bit.


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While you are looking at headlight wiring check the terminals at the two relays.
There's an ordinary black (?) kind somewhere behind the centre console, and an aluminium chunky can on one of the inner wings (can't recall which side offhand). One's the stepper relay that controls the high/low beam switch and the flasher.

If you've ever had the lights suddenly go out on a dark road, you'll want to remember where they are and carry spares just in case :)