hello everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what an orange box with a green triangle and an alpha or wavelength looking sign in the green triangle might possibly be?

this light is not shown in the manual or the haynes. It is in the spot that the manual shows as check engine. Does not come on after starting until I hit the brake pedal? Anyone have any ideas?

does it stay on after you lift your foot?

yes, until i turn the car off.

I've never seen this. now, does your abs work? I've gone through my stuff also, and I haven't seen this. I even called up my volvo guru and he has never heard of this. if possible can you snap a pic of this and post it so that I can show him and for our other members who probably have read this and are shaking their heads also.

I'm on it, grabbing the digital camera, it amazed me aswell!

Guess what, I turned around and there it was "gone". Just started the car and no light. Pressed the brake pedal-no light. Drove around the block- no light. I'm not sure if anyone is familiar with this light so I'm going to draw a picture in hopes that someone might know.

Hey fellas, the infamous light has not returned so i drew a picture. Correct me if I'm wrong but it is my belief that upon turning the key to the II position all of the instrument lights should come on and the computer does an onboard diagnostics or "system check" before ignition begins in the next position. The box in that space has never lit up before-not position I-not position II- not upon starting.The strange thing is , for the short duration that this light entered my life it came on upon position II with the rest of the lights in the system check mode.This has never happened before and now once again is just a dead space. The car started as normal with the ABS and TRACS lights staying on and then upon hitting the brakes "POOF" the unknown light was on. I am going to have the hydraulic unit rebuilt to hopefully cure my ABS. Has anyone else seen this light before?

Sorry in advance everyone,
I am going to be out of town for a few days, driving the 850T . I will check the post as soon as i get back !

it looks like the half-life symbol haha i have never seen this in my life!

Hi,

This little critter is there to inform the driver (if it stops on after the engine has started) a fault has been detected in the engine's fuel or ignition system.

It's called the Check Engine Light (CEL) by some people and Malfunction Information Light (MAL) by others.

Also, if the MIL is on during an emission type test, your vehicle will be, most likely, failed.

Have a look in the 1995 Volvo 850 Owner's Manual on chapter 1, page 2.

It is the warning light shown located in position #21 on the bottom right hand side of the instrument panel (IP).

Please note that I have described the IP panel of my T5 which is a Right Hand Drive version therefore it is quite possible your IP layout may be different, I don't know.

See my reply to love2hatemy850T. (Looks like you might have to also, TheGreekMason).

The #21 spot chapter 1 pg.2 shows TRACS in the owners manual. The light came on at position #22 which shows a check engine light. I guess my car was fitted with a european style instrument cluster?

I doubt it.

My T5 is designed to meet the requirements of the Australian RHD market and it might be possible the LHD North American model could have warning lights in different locations (i.e. to that of my T5) so as to comply with specific U.S.A federal or state codes/regulations.

(e.g. the TRACS failure indicator light on my T5 is shown at position #20 in the instrument panel warning light cluster.)

For comparison, here's how the warning light clusters are laid out on my T5.

LHS of I.P
Top row:
1 blank
2 low washer fluid level
3 low fuel level
4 rear foglight on
5 main beam

Bottom row:
1 blank
2 bulb failure warning
3 bulb failure (trailer)
4 blank
5 SRS fault

RHS of I.P
Top row:
1 battery charge failure
2 low oil pressure
3 brake circuit failure
4 parking brake on
5 ABS malfunction

Bottom row:
1 automatic transmission W, 3 or L engaged
2 low colant level
3 TRACS failure
4 engine electronic system fault
5 service reminder

It's not like that in the us models. our CEL symbol is an engine. same location. might have been changed in the distant past on your 850, don't know. and, yes, it does look like the half life symbol. too cool, great call gates.

position consistent with Check Engine Light in US.
note UK uses this symbol drawn, same position but as noted, different name.
Instrument Panel UKhttp://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/service/850/InstrumentPanel.pdf

Hey me old mate.

All you yanks might have to sort out just what you have got.

My first reply was taken straight from my owner's operating manual which I stated appears to be laid out for vehicles sold to RHD countries of which Australia is but one.

In my pentultimate post I've quoted directly from the North American Volvo technical manual which is available for download from Matthew's Volvo site (I presume you have downloaded this manual).

If you look in the Instrument Panel 1995 Volvo 850 section, on the second page there is a front and rear diagram of the instrument panel labelled Fig. 2 followed by the explanatory note "Identifyinig Instrument Cluster and Bulb Location Courtesy of Volvo Cars of North America".

Here endeth the lesson. :amen:

(P.S. I note that love2hatemy850T hails from Ontario. The last time I glanced in my atlas, Ontario was in Canada, and I must admit I've no idea how Canadian cars might be set up.)

i know that most people fro the states(united) are perceived as morons, and truth be told, they are. but I checked not only my manual, and my copy of the service departments manual, but i also downloaded one from volvo NA, and that symbol is not there. I understood that you were specific for australia, my response was geared more for hater from canada, not yourself. and lessons can never end for life is everchanging, and so is info. thanks for your going the extra mile in tracking this symbol down. :beer:

No worries me old buddy!

I must confess using the outline of an engine for the check engine light (CEL) does make perfect sense to me; but maybe Volvo thought it would take too much lateral thinking to figure out the lambda symbol means the same thing - and therefore deemed it not suitable for the American market. :grin: :grin:

I guess we'll get to the bottom of it eventually.