Instrument panel on the dashboard does not illuminate

shaun-norwich · Post by **shaun-norwich** » 19 Dec 2009, 14:50

hi there all. i have a 1996 volvo s40 1.8L t4
the instrument panel on the dashboard does not illuminate and i cannot find out where the fuse is for the instrument panel. is it possible for anybody to point me in the right direction
many thanks
shaun

Post by **billofdurham** » 19 Dec 2009, 15:29

Fuse #6 in the fascia fuse panel. However, it also covers seat heaters, rear interior lamps, parking lamps, number plate lamp, front and rear fog lights and switches and light switch illumination. Quite a busy little fuse but if all you have lost is the instrument panel lights I would check the instrument panel illumination rheostat. You may have inadvertently turned it off.

Bill.

shaun-norwich · Post by **shaun-norwich** » 20 Dec 2009, 03:36

yes the instrument panel and the lights behind the heater swiches are the ones that i have lost. how could i have inadvertantley turned the rheostat off, how do i turn it back on. if you are on about the wheel that you turn to dull the instrument panel lights turning the wheel does not do anything. still no illumination ???????

Post by **billofdurham** » 20 Dec 2009, 11:50

The wheel is the rheostat. They can be inadvertently turned off causing the lights to go out.

As none of the other lights on fuse #6 are affected the problem is with the rheostat or the wiring from it. Check that the plug on the back of the rheostat is properly attached.

You can test the rheostat with an ohmmeter or a multimeter set to the ohms reading. There are two terminals on the rear of the rheostat. Touch the terminals with the probes from the meter and slowly turn the wheel. The resistance reading should alter as the wheel turns.

Bill.

shaun-norwich · Post by **shaun-norwich** » 20 Dec 2009, 13:49

hi all once again. the problem was the fuse, just had to find which fuse box fuse no6 was in. down to the right of the throttle pedal. well i have changed the blown fuse and guess what???????? major problems now.
i now have a burnt out headlight switch, and melted main plug that plugs on to the back of the switch and another blown fuse.
trying to find a wiring diagram on the net, if not i will have to buy a haynes workshop manual

shaun-norwich · Post by **shaun-norwich** » 22 Dec 2009, 04:27

hi all once again. had to take my car to volvo main dealer who fault tested it and found that the wiring lomb from the passenger side front headlight had a short in it which had burnt right back to headlight switch.
the good news is that i went to a local breakers yard and got another headlight switch, the wiring lomb. it took me around 3.5hours to get it all out and around 7hours to get it all back into my car. at a cost of £35. quite abit cheeper than main dealership i presume.
job done,quite easy if you take your time.
the only light i have out now is the drivers side rear running light which volvo says is a light replacement as its a sealed unit. £12 of the dreaded ebay as local breakers yard has none.

thanks for all your help and wishing you all a happy christmas and new year.
happy motoring
shaun

Post by **billofdurham** » 22 Dec 2009, 11:45

Thank you for the update.

For future use if your local breaker doesn't have the part you could try CP Motors or Lea Valley Motors. CP specializes in Volvo, LVM does Volvo and Vauxhall.

I have used both and found them reasonably priced with fast delivery and a warranty on used parts.

Bill.

Krapitso · Post by **Krapitso** » 10 Mar 2025, 03:41

my s40 2.4 dashboard was not displaying light on the dashboard when turning key on.