Classic 240
11-16-2009, 12:00 AM
Like the title says, this will give you quad brake lights for extra safety and visibility on your 240, while keeping the rear fog light feature working, as Volvo intended. The tail lights are spade lugs, so adding a jumper wire or slipping in a diode is easy. Most cars have a driver side "fog" light; some might have passenger side too.
List of equipment and supplies needed:
package of various spade lugs that fit the Volvo tail light wiring, including several double lugs
package of butt connectors
3 amp 50 volt diodes
package of heat shrink tubing
piece of wire, 16 gage, 2 feet long
wire stripers
crimping pliers for the lugs
lighter or hair dryer to shrink the tubing
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6867&stc=1&d=1258343214
pic of materials
Volvo has set up a fog light feature in the tail lights. By installing diodes, you can make use of the rarely used fog lights as regular brake lights. The diodes block the brake light power from going up from the light to the fog light switch, as well as keeping the fog light power from turning on the brake lights. This is so that they both can use the same light bulbs.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6868&stc=1&d=1258343289
diagram
Let's start with the passenger side first.
Usually the bulb for the fog is not used. If your tail light doesn't have a bulb holder in this spot, then get one from the junkyard.
Install a double lug (red insulator in the picture) on one end, and a regular spade on a piece of wire long enough to connect the brake light to the fog light.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6869&stc=1&d=1258343289
double lug and wire
This double lug (red insulator) will allow you to hook up the original wire and the jumper wire (the one you are adding) to the brake light wire connection on the tail light assembly. It is a piggyback arrangement.
Hook this wire up the the previously unused fog light connection with a regular spade lug. Done.
(early cars may have had a passenger side fog light hooked up. If yours has the fog light wire hooked up, then you'll need to add diodes, like we will on the driver's side.)
Now the driver's side.
A similar jumper wire will be made up with double lugs on both ends. The diode is in the middle with a butt connector. This diode keeps the fog light power from turning on all the brake light bulbs when you are using the fog light. The heavy-line side of the diode needs to be toward the fog light bulb (see diagram). Use the double lug to connect this wire and the original brake wire from the harness to the tail light assembly.
Next, install the other diode in the wire that goes to the fog light switch in the dash. A lug goes on each end of the diode (see picture below for orientation). Install the diode with the heavy-line toward the tail light bulb. Use heat shrink to cover the diode. This keeps the brake light signal from going up to the fog light switch. Connect the fog wire to the diode and the diode to the double lug that was connected to the fog light socket from the brake light. Done.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6870&stc=1&d=1258343289
diode
The diodes and bare leads should be covered with heat shrink tubing.
brake light switch -------- brake light bulb------->|--------fog light bulb------|<---------- fog light switch
List of equipment and supplies needed:
package of various spade lugs that fit the Volvo tail light wiring, including several double lugs
package of butt connectors
3 amp 50 volt diodes
package of heat shrink tubing
piece of wire, 16 gage, 2 feet long
wire stripers
crimping pliers for the lugs
lighter or hair dryer to shrink the tubing
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6867&stc=1&d=1258343214
pic of materials
Volvo has set up a fog light feature in the tail lights. By installing diodes, you can make use of the rarely used fog lights as regular brake lights. The diodes block the brake light power from going up from the light to the fog light switch, as well as keeping the fog light power from turning on the brake lights. This is so that they both can use the same light bulbs.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6868&stc=1&d=1258343289
diagram
Let's start with the passenger side first.
Usually the bulb for the fog is not used. If your tail light doesn't have a bulb holder in this spot, then get one from the junkyard.
Install a double lug (red insulator in the picture) on one end, and a regular spade on a piece of wire long enough to connect the brake light to the fog light.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6869&stc=1&d=1258343289
double lug and wire
This double lug (red insulator) will allow you to hook up the original wire and the jumper wire (the one you are adding) to the brake light wire connection on the tail light assembly. It is a piggyback arrangement.
Hook this wire up the the previously unused fog light connection with a regular spade lug. Done.
(early cars may have had a passenger side fog light hooked up. If yours has the fog light wire hooked up, then you'll need to add diodes, like we will on the driver's side.)
Now the driver's side.
A similar jumper wire will be made up with double lugs on both ends. The diode is in the middle with a butt connector. This diode keeps the fog light power from turning on all the brake light bulbs when you are using the fog light. The heavy-line side of the diode needs to be toward the fog light bulb (see diagram). Use the double lug to connect this wire and the original brake wire from the harness to the tail light assembly.
Next, install the other diode in the wire that goes to the fog light switch in the dash. A lug goes on each end of the diode (see picture below for orientation). Install the diode with the heavy-line toward the tail light bulb. Use heat shrink to cover the diode. This keeps the brake light signal from going up to the fog light switch. Connect the fog wire to the diode and the diode to the double lug that was connected to the fog light socket from the brake light. Done.
http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6870&stc=1&d=1258343289
diode
The diodes and bare leads should be covered with heat shrink tubing.
brake light switch -------- brake light bulb------->|--------fog light bulb------|<---------- fog light switch