I've recently purchased an '84 360 GLT and spent most time rebuilding it, rather than enjoying the driving. I thought i'd change this by taking it for a drive the other night. With the engine going fine, after refueling and leaving the service station, as I turned the lights on the engine shut down instantly. Restart, lights on again, immediate engine shut down. Got it going by turning lights on with a few RPM, drove fine for rest of night. Tested charge system - 12.9 volts ignition off, 14.2 volts steady with engine running at idle and above(tested to approx. 2000rpm), 14.00 volts with lights on (after stalling a couple more times). It's obviously a sudden voltage change upsetting the engine management system. Has anybody experienced this and if so what is the most likely place to start looking for a solution? I don't have access to a wiring diagram so any help there would also be appreciated.
hey dusty, have a look at the engine bay earthing points, your probably best off cleaning them, may or may not help, I know it solved a few gremlins on mine!!
Another member, Fuse, had a similar but intermittent problem of non starting
unless the lights are on - your problem is the reverse but may have a similar cause. I reproduce my comments to him.
Hi Fuse,
Interesting !. Can't see an obvious connection between parking lamps and ignition but a possibility.........
Main power enters the fuse box via terminal 91 (big red wire bottom right under cover). 12v is then supplied to both the ignition switch and the lighting switch via plug D (the red plug on the back of the box, under the dash - should see 3 plugs red, white ,black - red is the plug on the left). Power then comes back from those switches into the fuse box, again via plug D. (and out again to the Renix and lights (but by just about every other plug except D).
I've looked at the internal wiring of the fuse box and can't see an obvious conflict (but they are damnably complex inside - especially when they get water in them).
Based on your description I would start by looking at that plug D for looseness, corrosion, water ingress, loose terminals , etc, etc, It is just possible that the load of the parking lights is affecting a marginal contact in an adjacent terminal in the same plug.
Other than that, with very intermittent problems, you are just as likely to find the answer by studying the entrails of a goat !
Sometimes all you can do is wait for the problem to get worse, and become more obvious.
I think it is unlikely that a load change is spiking the ECU as they are pretty well regulated - you would probably get the same voltage change when operating other consumers. If it was purely voltage doing it you would have a problem after starting as the alternator upped its rate to recover the battery. The figures you quote are fine by the way (specs.give a votage of 13.7 - 14.5 after start up dropping a little (.3 or .4v with a warm reg).
When I get a chance I'll scan the injection, ignition and lighting circuits and post in this thread.
Anyway a little to being going on with - but have you actually determined what you loose when you switch the lights on ? ie. feed to renix, or ECU to injectors, or injection system relay output etc.
G'day Mac, thanks for the directional assistance, especially with the rear of fuse box. I'll check it out in the morning. Vehicle has sat for an unknown period of time prior to my purchase so likely every connection I check could assist in overcoming problem. I'll follow Stuntman's advice too as most of the underbonnet connections were a bit average. Have cleaned and reconnected 50% of power wires while sorting other mechanical issues, including every fuse, relay, block and spade connector visible. Might tackle the starter solenoid +ve post as well however doubt that is corroded as the area was covered in oil from a PCV that has never been serviced until I rebuilt it the other day - was so choked with burnt oil that it blew apart and started misting oil over lhs of engine block. Haven't paid much attention to earth points so far, except near battery. Are there any specific earth points for the lighting system? Are all earth wires brown with this model? - it's a 2 litre injected 5 speed.
Following on with your advice, I've secured services of a goat and a strange girl dressed in black (claimed she was a virgin but that seemed a bit doubtful) for tomorrow afternoon as a back-up plan. Is this a standard way for Volvo Owners to diagnose faults or is Voodoo also popular?
Dustydick wrote:Following on with your advice, I've secured services of a goat and a strange girl dressed in black (claimed she was a virgin but that seemed a bit doubtful) for tomorrow afternoon as a back-up plan. Is this a standard way for Volvo Owners to diagnose faults or is Voodoo also popular?
Nah! forget voodoo - goat guts are the way to go - although a virgin - humm - rather rare I fear.
Seriously, Yes all the earths are brown. PCV breathers often forgotten - don't they make a mess. No specific earths for lighting - each unit has its own - pretty conventional really. I'll see if I can post those wiring diagrams this evening (UK time).
You say your car is an '84'. - In the UK that would have a B19E engine with Bosch T 28H hall effect ignition. 360GLTs didn't get Renix until the B200 engine in '85' I will assume, at present, it was the same in OZ. The following scans will give you injection, Bosch ignition, lighting, and fuse box wiring. I havn't included 'day running' lights as I don't thing you got them until '85' (but I am a bit sketchy on the oz market).
Click on the pix to enlarge them !
If you need more - or your motor has Renix ignition, let me know!
Hi Mac, Thanks very much for the wiring diagrams. Lots to play with now - should keep me going for days. Will post the result when I find problem. For now just avoiding darkness. Has started raining today too - after 4 weeks of beaut sunshine not much to complain about really, except not the best for fixing electrics outdoors.
Hi Redline, yes you were right, she wasn't a virgin. But good!!!
"What's that honey, more carrots and you need milking again? Okay, I'll just finish this message."
Restart, lights on again, immediate engine shut down. 
Got it going by turning lights on with a few RPM, drove fine for rest of night. Tested charge system - 12.9 volts ignition off, 14.2 volts steady with engine running at idle and above(tested to approx. 2000rpm), 14.00 volts with lights on (after stalling a couple more times). It's obviously a sudden voltage change upsetting the engine management system. Has anybody experienced this and if so what is the most likely place to start looking for a solution? I don't have access to a wiring diagram so any help there would also be appreciated.
