Love my 740SE but have a few problems

Hi Everyone

This my first message so I am hoping its how you present it.

I have always had problems with the electrics for instance:- bulbs always blowing - now even worse the running lights do not work in the off position - the dipped lights and the running lights do not work in the dipped lights position - but the running lights/dipped lights/headlights/and the main beam all work in the full postion.

I need to get this sorted as a friendly policeman has already given me a warning. I have been to Volvo they said they had corrected it but as you can see Im back to square one.

I have a few more problems but this is the priority as the nights are drawing inquite fast.

Any help will be appreciated but if you could keep it non technical as I am still learning.

Many thanks

Terry Clark.
:-)

[Peter Milnes]

Hi Terry, what year is your 740 SE? It can make a difference to the lighting circuits particularly concerning day running lights. What is the complaint your friendly(?) policeman has picked up on? If you can use your normal lights when driving the car he should not have a complaint.

All the best, Peter.

Hi Peter

Thanks for replying

The year for my car is September 1998.

As regards the policeman I was in an industrial car park going to B&Q he must have seen me driving in, he was there just having come out of Halfords he was all right about it he just mentioned that the car should have the running lights on in the daytime.

I did not mention this in my previous message as I not want to make it to long but I have had the car for about seven years and always carry at least two or three boxes of bulbs around.

Although I have problems at the moment but I do think the car is really good it runs beautifully touch wood always starts first time. looks great for its year 16yrs young and really will persevere.

Please call again if you can help.

Best Regards

Terry.

Think this needs a bit of looking into as far as the bobbie is concerned. Has parliament passed a special law as far as volvos are concerned? Surely we swedish brick drivers fall under the same law as everybody else as in we use dipped headlights at lighting up times when on the move and parking lights when parked (other bits and pieces apply to this, see highway code). I had a 740 which drove me nuts with the bulb warning light on the day running lights so I pulled the fuse for a bit while I fixed it. No problems from the police and passed the mot at the same time. Regards - Roy

Hi Roy

Thanks for replying to my car problem.

By the way my car is an automatic September 1998.

As regards the policeman he was ok I don't think he was officious he may of had a bad day.

I like you have the bulb warning light on all the time now so I am hoping someone will come up with an answer very soon.

I have other problems with the car such as:-

Fuel indicator erattic even when full.
Intermitant windscreen washer not working, but works ok on main.
Slight whine at idle and in gear, but not in park position or when driving.
The sunroof has dropped in one corner.

It seems that there is an electrical vault but the car always starts first time (touch wood) and drives very well.

We were going to get a new car but I have become very attached to it (I have not given her a name yet) so I will get it refurbished when all problems have been corrected.

Hi Terry, Had a 1988 740 for ages. Loved the car but it eventually had to go for an 850. The lights on volvos as far as the warning lights are concerned work in pairs and should be replaced as such. Any slight voltage difference between the two will trigger the bulb warning light. I suggest you clean up as many connections and fuses you can get to. The sidelight/day running light holders tend to corrode and fall to pieces. Any can be replaced at not a great cost. The 1988 740 was notorious for the fuel gauge being erratic. I don't know about the later ones. If you have a haynes manual, there is a test using resistors to test whether it's the fuel sender or the gauge. There is a post elsewhere on this. i had a theory that the problem with the guage (if it proves to be this) is down to the pins that plug into the printed circuit at the back of the speedo head. Do you mean intermittent wiper or washer not working. If the wipers I would be looking at connections or more likely the relay. Are they still behind the ashtray. Not well up on auto boxes so can't help there. Sunroof seems to be one of those problems you stare at with a brew for half an hour waiting for a eureka moment :-) best of luck - Roy