1996 850 Dashboard lights

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 27 Jan 2011, 15:45

Ok, so by now I've made several posts about the 850 I recently bought. I fixed the brake light issue, and I got the car scanned to see if it still had a fail code showing on the ODB II. It passed, so it seems like there are no real issues, other than the fact that the check engine light doesn't seem to be coming on when I start the car. Also, there are some other bulbs behind the speedometer that don't seem to come on very brightly. In fact, the whole left side seems to be a little dark. Is this a big deal to switch out? And what bulbs would I even need to get?

I feel like I'm turning this car from something in OK condition to something much better. After we work out all the little kinks, we're starting on the seats and paint scratches. Eventually it will look as great as I feel about it!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 27 Jan 2011, 16:40

The lamps are easy - once you get the instrument cluster out. The odometer gear replacement writeup gives some very good instructions on removing the cluster.

Odometer fix how to

Particularly if you have a turbo read through the comments for some extra tips since you have the boost gauge.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 1308#11308

Anytime I have the cluster out I re-lamp everything (except the service engine light). The main lamps are very common and you can get them at any auto parts store. The idiot lights are tougher since they have a funky twist in base. Volvo wants big bucks for them but I buy mine in a couple of 10 packs at a time from these folks.

http://www.12velectronics.com/servlet/t ... Categories

The same lamps also work in the later model manual climate controls. If you have a VDO instrument cluster this is also a golden opportunity to replace the odometer gear since they all break eventually. I source my gears from http://www.odometergears.com . I think there are some cheaper sources but I know nothing about the quality of the cheaper ones.

...Lee

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 28 Jan 2011, 12:53

Thanks! The repair page with pictures is really helpful. I haven't read through the whole thing yet, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the specific bulb was so I can try to find it in a store nearby. I looked online, but I found three or four different types of bulbs that all claim to be check engine bulbs for a 1996 Volvo 850.

I checked the 12velectronics site, but they said the product in the link was no longer available.

I appreciate the help on this. The check engine light was the only thing that failed us on inspection, and they wanted $200 to replace it. If anyone can help me find the bulb, it would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Jan 2011, 15:50

That is a bummer about the 12velectronics not having them anymore, they were under $1.00 each in the 10 packs. The lamp is an Osram 27219 also called the 2721 MF. Online they seem to run around $3.00 each. It might be worth a call to a local auto parts store to see if they can special order it for you.

Push comes to shove, if your service engine light is still good you could swap that lamp into the Check Engine position to get past the inspection.

...Lee

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 28 Jan 2011, 17:01

I read through a lot of the comments, and I found a guy who mentioned replacing the indicator bulbs with flosser 12v 1.2w. I searched for those and managed to find a 10 pack for around $10.

I pulled the cluster out using the instructions you gave me the link to (thanks again, by the way), and we were actually missing like six bulbs. As in, no plastic sockets or anything. That's why the light wasn't coming on. We ordered the 10 pack of bulbs that came with the sockets so we can make sure that we have all the lights on. For now, because I might have to get the car re-inspected before the bulbs get here, I'm going to switch one of the other bulbs over to the check engine light so that we'll pass.

billy · Post by **billy** » 29 Jan 2011, 06:09

caution should be mentioned here. i tried this and dash did not go back in exactly right, and has a couple of "when you hit a bump the dash rattles" a minor bit. I may have broken the dash, not sure....possibly needs to be handled more gently than I did.

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 31 Jan 2011, 19:58

Got the cluster back in ok, and managed to pass re-inspection today. I ended up shuffling some of the indicator bulbs around to make sure we passed before the bulbs get here, since I don't think they're even shipped yet. The only thing we have to deal with now is the fact that we need new tires and a new radiator. Thanks to everyone for the help!

NYC-Volvo · Post by **NYC-Volvo** » 12 Mar 2011, 16:46

I first want to say thanks to all the great posts on this website. I am a new user and I am happy to be here and I look forward to contributing.

I have a 1996 850 R with just over 150k miles on it. I am about to change the dash bulbs and fix the odometer. (thanks for the great odometer fix instructions with pics! https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/2005/0 ... ix-how-to/).

I am trying to get clarification on the bulbs for the dash. I have been through the many posts on this site on the subject, and while I did get information, some of it was conflicting, and I did not get clarification if the idiot lamps use the same bulbs as the trip computer. I would like to have all the bulbs I need before I take apart my dash, so if you know which bulbs are for what, then please contribute. This is what I have so far:

Bulbs - Main Instrument Cluster (4 bulbs)
PN 942571 (Bulb “194”) 3 watt, reuse the base
--> Is this correct? (specs, PN, etc.)
--> Is the part number a bulb number or a Volvo part number?
--> I'd like to buy the bulbs at a local store, so a bulb number would be best
--> What does "bulb 194" mean?

Bulbs - Idiot lights (up to 20 bulbs)
PN 977709 1.2 watt bulb + holder/base, Alt PN 989806 and PN 966326
--> Is this correct? (specs, PN, etc.)
--> Can anyone sort out those two alt part numbers?
--> Again, are these bulb numbers or Volvo part numbers?

Bulbs - Trip Computer (2 bulbs)
PN 2452MFX6 1.5 Watt bulb
--> Once again, is this correct? (specs, PN, etc.)
--> It seems weird that the wattage would be different from the other small bulbs
--> It seems weird that the bulbs would be different from the other small bulbs (but nothing surprises me)

If anyone can add the bulbs for the various switches, it would make this thread even more valuable to those who need that information.

mattwarner · Post by **mattwarner** » 02 Nov 2013, 02:47

I need to replace a bulb or 2 on my dashboard (850)1997 too but the link isn't working, has it been removed?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Nov 2013, 06:46

The repair database got reorganized a while back. Here is a link that should work.

Odometer fix how to

The comments, there are many but they are worth the read, are here.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 1308#11308

I will edit the original posts to reflect this information.

...Lee