Electrical Glitch

[pushbutton]

A few months ago had a power window go down and after getting it fixed I have been getting a delay before the radio, dash, airbag sensor, wipers, inside lights, windows, air/heater, ect will go on. Outside stuff like the lights, antennae, engine fan, blinkers are fine. It started out being around 15 seconds, but now am up to 5 minutes or more....slowly getting longer. It is relatively consistent time frame though.....just getting longer. Sometimes though there will not be a delay if the car is turned off and quickly back on. But for sure anything over 30 seconds or so will have to wait again. This is not piecemeal or progression either, everything just does or does not work all at once. Any thoughts? .......99 volvo s 70.

[Jeremy airjer W]

what happens if you wiggle the ignition switch?

[pushbutton]

Just tried it and nothing.....or the same.....key has been stuck in it for years though.

[BryeGuy]

Hey PB. Go on to "Utube" and type in "Volvo Electrical Issues, bad ignition switch"

See if that matches what you have going on. I think there is a DIY link in the video.

[Scott K]

ignition switches are really common on them.

[pushbutton]

Interesting ....not exactly like the vid but he mentions it could be other things that I have going on as well. Never knew that these things were tied in to an ignition switch....granted I really don't know squat about cars. So is the jiggle a conclusive indicator or could it still be a switch going bad with out the jiggle making it work? Would you guys just pop a switch in and go from there or are there other diagnostics you would perform first....even though I might not be capable

[Jeremy airjer W]

Everything that turns on when you turn the ignition switch to the run position is controlled by the ignition switch. So when a bunch of things start not working at the same time than the first thing I usually check is power in and power out at the switch itself. A couple minutes to get access and a couple minutes to check with a voltmeter and you will either confirm a bad switch or at least eliminate it as a possibility.

You should see these wires.

Red - should have power all the time

Blue w/ yellow - power with the key in the on position

Yellow w/ violet - power with key in acc or on position (I suspect this circuit)

Yellow w/ white - power with the key in the start position (this is power to the starter motor shouldn't have to check this one)

Green w/ yellow - power with key in the on or start position

Yellow - power anytime the key is in the ignition

[Jeremy airjer W]

I should add the wire I suspect supplies power to the solenoid side of the overload relay which other closes the relay contacts which then supplies power to the fuses for many of the things you have described as not working. It's possible that it could be a bad relay as well.

One other quick thing you can do is locate the fuses for the items that don't work. Check for power at those fuses when the symptom is present. If there is no power work your way back to the relay. Two of the four pins should be ground all the time and the other two should have power with the key on. If there is no power to the relay than your back to the switch. If there is power at the relay than try swapping it with another identical relay from the fuse block and see if the items start working.

[pushbutton]

Everything that turns on when you turn the ignition switch to the run position is controlled by the ignition switch.

Doh....gotchya I maybe dumb, but not stoopid Thanks guys!

[pushbutton]

Quote:

It's possible that it could be a bad relay as well. One other quick thing you can do is locate the fuses for the items that don't work. Check for power at those fuses when the symptom is present.

Thats what I thought it was at first and was messing with them earlier today on the "main" box, and was confused because thought there would be some sort of pattern that would show up linking all the "bad circuits". Looks like the ignition area might very well be that key....pardon the pun. Thanks again!

[pushbutton]

Ok, so finally got around to taking it in. Appears maybe it was a relay after all as now the accessories do work....EXCEPT...some only work when the ignition is in the off position. Heater dash lights, radio when the car is on.....horn, windows, wipers, airbag when the car ignition isis off. Before the new relay was put in all used to work albiet randomly when then the ignition was on.....any ideas?

[Jeremy airjer W]

some only work when the ignition is in the off position. Heater dash lights, radio when the car is on.....horn, windows, wipers, airbag when the car ignition isis off.

can you share a little more detail about what is working and what is not?

[CAMAN]

It sounds like a normally closed relay was installed. How many relays were replaced?