AboutRay Niemi Expertise ASE Master Rated. Ask any questions about Volvo models up to 2000. Runnability, starting and charging system, diagnostic codes, brakes, front end, where to get certain parts. Should I buy this Volvo or not? I will try to answer your question and give you the knowlege to make the best decision in your case.
Experience I started working on Volvo's in 1978 at the dealer and attended all the schools and achieved a Master rating. Since 1999 I have worked at independent shops and now own my own shop.
Organizations Alldata on line repair manuals. IATN network of techs.
ASE rating of Master.
Question Hi Ray,
I have owned my 1994 Volvo 940 GL from 1997 and enjoy the car a lot. I am getting a few technical problems now I cannot easily resolve and am wondering what to do. can you please help out? I would drive out to your shop if you were close to DC!
My Fuel gauge comes on sporadically and intermittently. it started with the needle dropping once in a while and now is is practicaly always down and indicating once in a while. the shop I took the car to wanted to replace a whole slew of stuff and the estimate was $600-$800. I cannot afford that so I run on the odometer now. The orange light for reserve does come on though and is reliable. What can I do?
Another issue I have is that the overdrive indicator light in the dash comes on half dim once in a while, I am wondering if something important is going to give out on me any time soon or if I should just clean a relay. if I press the overdrive button on, the arrow lights up normally, if I turn it back off it will still be lit dimly. this happens once in a while, not really often (yet?!?)
The last issue that has been haunting me is the broken light indicator. With the lights on: it comes on when I turn my left signal, it will flash in the same rhythm as the turn signal, if I then press the brakes it goes off again until I release the brakes. With the lights off it comes on when I press my brakes and when I turn the left turn ligths on it starts flashing. The odd thing is that I really have every bulb in my car replaced and is new and I still have this problem, it always passes inspection with it but it is getting annoying to me.
Your help is appreciated!!
Answer Rob,
Hard to say what is at fault. Needs some testing. If the reserve light is working that could mean the gauge is at fault. What I do is grab a working sending unit and hook it to the wire harness and try it in different positions to if the gauge works. That is the reason to replace all the parts at once to eliminate a mistake.
The OD relay is more than likely at fault. Replace the relay. That is the most common fault.
For the bulb dash light make sure that the rear bulbs all match each other form both sides. Find the ground wire and clean the grounding point on the body add a tooth washer so it will grab the metal as you tighten it up.
See if the shop you use had the ability to input ohms to the wires for the fuel gauge to see if the needle moves. Or has a sender he can try.
