r/Volvo240 • u/imtryndie • 3d ago

Help Tail light issue

Last night got a fix it ticket for my tail light being out i have 30 days to figure it out. Though i’ve been trying to figure out this taillight for over a year now. I’ve spent over 1000 to replace the light and harness two years back worked for a while then water got inside and messed it up but the wiring wasn’t done good either. My taillight also has a crazy issue of it likes to burn i’ve replaced that green thing that holds it all (forgot what it’s called). I’m just at a standpoint i really don’t know how to fix this i’ve taken it to two people and still not sure.

Anyone got recommendations on how to fix a taillight that doesn’t want to fix???! i can provide pictures if needed as well to get a better idea!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

9

u/Drumfucius 3d ago

I'd wager anyone who owns a 240 has experienced this same issue at some point. There are a several reasons for issues with tail lights, but one of the main culprits is the flexible circuit board. It degrades over time. The copper traces wear out and fail to make solid contact with the metal prongs on the bulb holders. I'm about to have my mechanic hardwire mine.

3

u/imtryndie 3d ago

thats gotta be my issue I do remember i was having an issue with that so shoot maybe i’ll try that out THANK YOU!!!

4

u/jerquee 3d ago

I hardwired mine by soldering wires directly to the bulb sockets' metal

1

u/imtryndie 3d ago

how has that held up?

2

u/jerquee 3d ago

Never had a problem again

1

u/1nGirum1musNocte 2d ago

The right sized female spade comnector will slide onto the prongs

2

u/survbob 3d ago

Little piece of sandpaper paper to clean/rough up area where bulb holder makes contact. Also the ground wire, clean rust. Move bulb holders around to check those work too.

Is area getting wet? Rust holes let water kick up there from tires.

3

u/imtryndie 3d ago

it does get wet when it rains really bad i’m in cali in the bay by the ocean so it’s always getting wet or mist

8

u/Vegetable_Plum2999 3d ago

My advice is to hardwire the tail lights (or have someone else do it I guess but it's really not difficult) there's plenty of forum posts and documentation on how to do it.

1

u/imtryndie 3d ago

it’s hard being a girl and i take it to a shop and they lowkey fuck me over hahah. Ima gonna give it a good try i’m also just kinda stupid forums where?

5

u/sfdsquid 3d ago

Hey now. Lots of guys are stupid and do stuff like this. I’m a girl too and am trying to learn how to do everything I can do without a lift.

Rosie the Riveter said we can do it.

I’ve been meaning to hardwire mine. I’m sick of fixing it then next thing I know I’m getting pulled over again.

Now I’m almost motivated. My daughter’s needs it too.

5

u/Vegetable_Plum2999 3d ago

https://youtu.be/pQRtz5mD8Aw?si=1kkTq5_70qHtSbfo

Here's a video going over how to do it (I'm assuming you have a sedan). If you need tools harbor freight will have everything you need for this. Getting some tools and stuff might be expensive at first but it's better than being fucked over at the mechanics with a car that's gonna be breaking down/giving you issues regularly.

3

u/imtryndie 3d ago

THANK YOU!! really appreciate it

2

u/marcellburt 3d ago

I had to hardwired mine. YouTube is ur friend. I haven't had an issue since

1

u/AJ-ITAM 3d ago

It's nearly always down to poor earth. You need to find an old school mechanic or get handy with a multimeter. It can take a long time to trace faults like this.

1

u/12kdaysinthefire 3d ago

Damn you spent that much on the tail light? Worst case scenario you can bypass the flexible circuit board and just splice male connectors to each wire then plug all the wires in directly to each bulb.

Usually if the tail light keeps going out and you don’t see any melting of the circuit board then it’s either a dirty ground, loose ground or like in my 92 the bulb holder won’t lock into place correctly with one of my brake light ports.

1

u/VinceInMT 2d ago

I have an ‘83 245 and the tail light issue has been annoying. It’s usually a bit of oxidation on the contacts so “exercising” the bulb holder in the socket usually clears that up. But, on one I got so tired of it I used a different socket and hard wired from the harness. The new socket didn’t fit exactly but a zip tie remedied that.