Additional Rear Light- 240 Estate UK.

[Bob Meadows]

Volvo 240 additional rear side light: ~
One of the things that I found wanting on a 240 estate had been the lack of rear lighting in terms of being visible by others.
This is a modification that can be carried out quite easily if you are not so keen on LED bulbs and the type of light that they omit.
The top lens fitting is generally reserved for a 21w high visibility application- probably not used that often but in this conversion it is retained.
The bulb holder is adapted by removing the internal metal fitting that would normally go to the original single contact bulb- this bulb holder has two contacts i.e. live to the bulb & earth- leave the earth in place for the new holder.
Purchase a couple of metal bulb holders as pictured- classic car electrical suppliers will be able to help- you will need one that will take a double filament bulb and in this case parallel pins. The new holders are approx. 17mm OD so you may have to remove some of the ID of the original fitting. The new bulb holder is fastened into place with J.B.Weld epoxy adhesive (recommended product & very useful for a number of application)
The product tends to slump initially but by using some masking tape it can be controlled and once the product begins to set just remove the tape so you can mould the exposed epoxy as required- leave overnight to fully cure.
Make sure that the earth contact meets the new metal bulb holder and the distance is correct to accommodate the bulb once it goes back into the lens etc.
You will need some new double contact wiring spades to accommodate the new bulb holder wires- i.e. take one from the existing 5w fitting to the new 5w side light- you also take an extension from the 21w connector to the new 21w holder.
Earth points remain original- both sides/lenses will need to be done noting the colour change for LH/RH side wires.
You now have an extra rear side light together with the high visibility lamp being retained.
Hope it helps
Bob

[Stephen Edwin]

That, thank you, is a very interesting idea indeed. It means greater visibility and "fail safe".

I'm wondering. Could one make an adaption so that a 240 stop/tail bulb holder could be fitted? Snip or file a little bit of metal here and there .... quiet smile.

I have some new lamp assemblies ready to fit. I'll very likely follow your idea. Thanks.





And it is an idea, but I can't find a light bulb emoticon.

.

[Clifford Pope]

If I've understood you correctly, you are replacing the existing fog light single filament sockets with a pair of doubles?
I don't think double filament bulbs are intended to run both filaments at the same time are they? Won't they overheat and blow quickly?

Usually one of the pair of a double filament bulb only operates momentarily - flasher or brake light, not continuously. Or are you wiring it so that turning on the fog lights automatically switches off the corresponding extra tail lights?

[Bob Meadows]

Clifford the conversion isn’t a problem in terms of both filaments being on at the same time: ~ stop & tail lights are the same principle on most classic cars i.e. 21/5w – one bulb.
You will obviously have a warmer bulb when the two have to be on together- i.e. side/high visibility lamp but the fitting has good clearance from the lens if set correctly- plus the fact the higher wattage bulb is not left on under normal conditions.
(Been on the car for over 12months & 2 MOTs now so well & truly tested- no blown bulbs-no great heat build-up)
Regards Bob

[loki_the_glt]

Originally Posted by Bob Meadows

Clifford the conversion isn’t a problem in terms of both filaments being on at the same time: ~ stop & tail lights are the same principle on most classic cars i.e. 21/5w – one bulb.
You will obviously have a warmer bulb when the two have to be on together- i.e. side/high visibility lamp but the fitting has good clearance from the lens if set correctly- plus the fact the higher wattage bulb is not left on under normal conditions.
(Been on the car for over 12months & 2 MOTs now so well & truly tested- no blown bulbs-no great heat build-up)
Regards Bob

If you put the HIRG on then both filaments will be on continuously; stop lights usually only stay on for a few seconds - unless you hold the car on the footbrake.

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Bob Meadows

Clifford the conversion isn’t a problem in terms of both filaments being on at the same time: ~ stop & tail lights are the same principle on most classic cars i.e. 21/5w – one bulb.
You will obviously have a warmer bulb when the two have to be on together- i.e. side/high visibility lamp but the fitting has good clearance from the lens if set correctly- plus the fact the higher wattage bulb is not left on under normal conditions.
(Been on the car for over 12months & 2 MOTs now so well & truly tested- no blown bulbs-no great heat build-up)
Regards Bob

I just wonder though, how much of a test is two years use. Gone, for ever I hope, are the days of horrible widespread blankets of serious fog. How much and for how long at a time have you used your high intensity rear lamps with double filament bulbs?

[loki_the_glt]

More often than you might expect, at least around here, where there are fields that generate fog. I had to drive back from Manchester one night when visibility improved to 20 feet at one point and my then daily driver had only one HIRG fitted.

They're meant to be used whenever visibility is below 100 yards so in driving snow and, theoretically at least, driving rain/heavy spray such as you get on motorways.

Plus there are the idiots who use them as vanity lights. But they don't drive Volvos so they won't know about this trick.

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by loki_the_glt

More often than you might expect, at least around here, where there are fields that generate fog. I had to drive back from Manchester one night when visibility improved to 20 feet at one point and my then daily driver had only one HIRG fitted.

They're meant to be used whenever visibility is below 100 yards so in driving snow and, theoretically at least, driving rain/heavy spray such as you get on motorways.

Plus there are the idiots who use them as vanity lights. But they don't drive Volvos so they won't know about this trick.

I had to drive back from Warrington one night many years ago when the fog was 'orrible and the passengers (my siblings Grrr.... ) were not drivers and were generally useless.

When I reached civilisation aka darn sarf the jam jar was absolutely filthy with by products of fog.