What does this plug go to? Attached to the back of a blank

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 03 Nov 2009, 12:56

I have a '94 850W 5speed and I just recently upgraded my instrument cluster to have an on-board computer (I love pull-a-part!). During my install I had to install the switch which controls the OBC, which fits in a blank switch hole to the right of the steering wheel, to the right of the sunroof switch. However, to the left of the sunroof switch, attached to the back side of a double-blank, is a wire harness. What does it go to? Traction control? It doesn't go to my trip computer.

In a somewhat related question, are heated seats wire harnesses usually existing in non-heated-seat cars? I was going to add aftermarket to my existing seats and would like to use the OEM wire harness. I haven't even peeked in my center console, yet...

9394volvo850s · Post by **9394volvo850s** » 03 Nov 2009, 17:06

shagginwaggin wrote:I have a '94 850W 5speed and I just recently upgraded my instrument cluster to have an on-board computer (I love pull-a-part!). During my install I had to install the switch which controls the OBC, which fits in a blank switch hole to the right of the steering wheel, to the right of the sunroof switch. However, to the left of the sunroof switch, attached to the back side of a double-blank, is a wire harness. What does it go to? Traction control? It doesn't go to my trip computer.

In a somewhat related question, are heated seats wire harnesses usually existing in non-heated-seat cars? I was going to add aftermarket to my existing seats and would like to use the OEM wire harness. I haven't even peeked in my center console, yet...

yea its a traction control harness. tried putting a switch on mine but it didnt work. as for the heated seats you would have to look. i have never been in a non heated seat 850 so idk if they have the harness or not. if not get it from the pull a part.

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 04 Nov 2009, 06:03

You are right. I nabbed a TRACS switch when I was at pull-a-part and the wire colors matched up. I installed the switch and it has power but does nothing, of course.

Didn't have a chance to check under the center console for heated seat leads, yet.

Gazoogleheimer · Post by **Gazoogleheimer** » 04 Nov 2009, 07:34

Am I correct in assuming that one cannot add the trip computer functionality simply by adding the INFO switch (rather, it requires an unnecessarily expensive dealer programming?)

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 04 Nov 2009, 07:42

Gazoogleheimer wrote:Am I correct in assuming that one cannot add the trip computer functionality simply by adding the INFO switch (rather, it requires an unnecessarily expensive dealer programming?)

You are incorrect. No programming necessary. I just converted my clock-only 1994 850W (non-turbo, 5 speed) to a instrument cluster with info display. It was easy. If you're pulling it yourself you need to be sure to get the switch and the wiring. There is no "harness" to the dashboard switch, the wiring from the switch runs directly into the back of the instrument cluster display. If your experience is like mine you'll have to cut the factory zip ties that make it *look* like it's part of the instrument cluster wiring harness. Also, don't forget to nab the ambient temp sensor from the lower spoiler housing (which I forgot).

The hardest part for me was finding out the gear in my "new" cluster was broken. I had to swap out my working counter from my "old" cluster into the "new" cluster and everything went together great, that part was easy, too. The donor car I pulled my cluster from was a 1996 sedan with automatic transmission so there was no automatic-to-manual transmission specific differences.

Another suggestion: if you have working bulbs in your old cluster go ahead and switch them into the new cluster since those bulbs may not work.

I also updated the odometer readout to read the correct mileage for the car. So now my odo reads 275,288. My "new" cluster reports a mileage of 312,754 (the mileage of the donor car). To be clear: when I say that my new cluster "reports" a mileage--I'm talking about via pin #7 on the diagnostic connector (if you don't know what I'm talking about search for "actual mileage" in the 850 section).

Gazoogleheimer · Post by **Gazoogleheimer** » 04 Nov 2009, 08:33

I have a feeling that the s70 might be rather different from the 850 in this regard.

(the s70 also already comes with an ambient temperature sensor, and the INFO switch wiring is plugged into one of the blanks.)

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 04 Nov 2009, 10:03

Gazoogleheimer wrote:I have a feeling that the s70 might be rather different from the 850 in this regard.

(the s70 also already comes with an ambient temperature sensor, and the INFO switch wiring is plugged into one of the blanks.)

Mechanical or digital odometer? If mechanical then I bet it's the same. Even easier for you--just switch out the instrument cluster. You don't have to worry about the switch and wiring. Are you sure that's not the TRACS wiring on the back of the blanks? TRACS wiring is grey; info switch is yellow (I think).

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 04 Nov 2009, 10:08

One more note: both my car and the donor are non-turbo. I don't think that would make a difference, though. All of the 'calculation' goes on within the cluster, itself, based on RPM and throttle position signals from the ECM. The only difference is that you'd have an extra gauge on the turbo cluster which you could remove (or you could combine the two clusters, using your old faceplate).

Gazoogleheimer · Post by **Gazoogleheimer** » 04 Nov 2009, 10:45

The s70 has a fully digital instrument cluster.

The prewiring behind dash blanks is for front foglights, sunroof, TRACS, and info switch. (I have none of the above.)

There is prewiring for seat heat in these cars.

shagginwaggin · Post by **shagginwaggin** » 04 Nov 2009, 11:00

Gazoogleheimer wrote:The s70 has a fully digital instrument cluster.

The prewiring behind dash blanks is for front foglights, sunroof, TRACS, and info switch. (I have none of the above.)

There is prewiring for seat heat in these cars.

Yep, sounds like you could change out the cluster, alone. I'll have to look at pictures. For my cluster the info display and the cluster were separate pieces, attached by a plug (inside the cluster), even though they look like one single piece. That may be the case with yours, too. The bummer for you is that your car is too new; pull-a-part is not an option. eBay is, though...