Login Register

Dashboard Switch Lights LED Conversion DIY...

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » How to Upgrade Switches to LED Bulbs
Post Reply
firestix
Posts: 31
Joined: 7 July 2011
Year and Model: 1998
Location: 70809

Re: Dashboard Switch Lights LED Conversion DIY...

Post by firestix »

For those purchasing let me lay down my experience... First my install was on a 98 V70R
I got the Neo-3 regular 2 lumen from and in hindsight I think the 6 Lumen HP's would be too much. And to answer someone's question from earlier in the thread you are looking for the T1 not the T1.5
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FNEO.htm
Image
They fit in a bit tighter than the original bulbs. This proved a bit difficult when taking them out. I ended up having to use two jewelers screwdrivers to pry them out when I needed to turn them 180 degrees to get the polarity right. It also bears noting that you will probably want a few different size flat head screwdrivers to find the right width to install them. Not sure why they made that Philips head looking thing which approximates the flat part of my #3 Phillips head bit but the bit would not grab so I used a flat had bit that had the right width to fit and grab.
When it came to the dimmer switch I had to Modify the bulb a bit. First I made sure I had polarity right. I could see a dim bit of light in the dark at full bright so I knew it was on. As this bulb goes in the side of the switch I marked the base of the bulb with a sharpie toward the front where I would want the LED to shine. Using an x-acto blade I cut the plastic sheath down to just above the lock tabs. This exposed the resistor and solder joints which I proceeded to gently bend 90 degrees in the direction of my mark. Then reinstalled it a viola this one is just as bright as the others.
Lastly the info switch bulb. I had to take the switch apart to get at the bulb. While I was in there I used a pencil eraser to clean up the switch tracks and contacts that would occasionally read DISC on the read out. So then the fun; the bulb was sandwiched between plastic backing and the PC board. If I were doing it right it looked like the only way I could switch the bulb would be to de-solder all the pin connectors to lift the pc board off the plastic base. While my soldering skills are ok I figured it best to take a different rout and not risk melting the plastic backing. Out came the high speed rotary grinder and I carefully cut a circle the size of the wedge base out of the plastic allowing me to remove the old bulb and install the new LED. I can't be entirely sure but It seems to me that I left plenty of plastic there to maintain sufficient structural integrity to the plastic back.
If someone else has worked on the info switch and found a better way I would love to hear about it. As far as I could tell the connector pins would not come off the plastic bit without removal from the PC board. I suspect the dealer would just replace the switch if the bulb blew. Honestly, thinking about it, I cant come up with a good reason they put this bulb in the switch the way it is; while the others are easily changed once the switch is out of the dash.
Summing it all up these bulbs worked out well. Although they are not as tall as the factory incandescent bulbs they have a sufficient beam that lights up the switches right nice. A minor mod and the squat bulb that was in the dimmer switch works well. They dim and brighten just as if they were incandescent bulbs and are available in a variety of colors. They are significantly cheaper than the dealership bulbs and will last significantly longer if not for the life of the car.

guido21
Posts: 1
Joined: 31 January 2012
Year and Model: S40, 98
Location: Manchester

Post by guido21 »

A big thanks to the OP for this guide. A quick trip to maplins and it's all sorted! :D

User avatar
LamboSE5
Posts: 380
Joined: 29 July 2010
Year and Model: Empty
Location: shlu
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by LamboSE5 »

This is such a cool thread.
When my car works better, I'd like to do some stuff like this - thanks

Arnettii
Posts: 14
Joined: 20 January 2012
Year and Model: 850, 1996/97
Location: Toronto

Post by Arnettii »

Hi all,

First post here, finally signed up after using the info from this site so time to give back and help how you guys helped me so here is another link on another how-to on this conversion also shows the guage cluster area.
Cheers guys
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/10 ... of-my-car/
1997 850 - 330,000 Km

iKernel
Posts: 10
Joined: 8 February 2013
Year and Model: 2007 XC70
Location: MoTown, WV

Post by iKernel »

Read the first post. Bought some parts. Did some cutting and soldering. Tested and created an account to post two things to add:

1. I went to my local Radio Shack. For the sake of making this work better on a personal level, say, using some other color than red or a rainbow of colors from buying an assorted pack, buy some LEDs and resistors online. I used 3V 45mW 3.5mm LEDs. The most important number is the last one. I bought 5mm initially (wanted clear green LEDs) and they were too big. Back to Radio Shack. Also used 470ohm 1/4 watt resistors.

2. Solder the resistor to the cathode. Look for the flat spot. Use that lead.

I had some relatively good luck, at least 3/4 are working. After re-reading the thread, I'm going to check polarity within the switch before making a third trip for more LEDs (tried to buy enough to make 10).

Thanks for this post, super helpful and awesome, as these lights have been in some of my previous cars; Toyota, Subaru, Volvo... They are common, go out, and it's a pain to find some new. So it's usually been left to a pick n' pull for them as well.
Swedish metal and Swedish death metal. Perfect combo.

Current:
  • 2007 XC70
Previous:
  • 1999 V70XC
    1986 245 DL (two of them)
    1985 744 GLE

iKernel
Posts: 10
Joined: 8 February 2013
Year and Model: 2007 XC70
Location: MoTown, WV

Post by iKernel »

I further invested some time into this project as part of an overall LED conversion with IPD parts. Will be considering some others as well (purchased both existing IPD kits for my vehicle)...

To update my last post, in a shorter version of so many words, that was my problem... Bulb was backwards.

Success and failure:
First, the bad. Could not successfully sustain 1.2w bulbs at 220ohm for more than a few days. Swapped out for OEM replacements for now. Same goes for the radio bulbs that were out. Hitting auto search while attempting to tune the stations manually in the dark is a pain. Same with opening the sunroof instead of turning on the rear/side mirror defog in a snow storm... That's what motivated me.

Now the good: for the lower profile bulbs, particularly the heated seats, I was able to pull off the same setup, 470ohm with LEDs, soldered into the switch. For this, I suggest making a tester with a resistor and LED to check polarity. Take a picture. It lasts longer. Also this helped me since my soldering iron and vehicle are a little distance apart. These still work, used yellow LEDs, make a nice combo with the factory orange.
Swedish metal and Swedish death metal. Perfect combo.

Current:
  • 2007 XC70
Previous:
  • 1999 V70XC
    1986 245 DL (two of them)
    1985 744 GLE

V70T51997
Posts: 17
Joined: 21 January 2013
Year and Model: V70 T5, 1997
Location: Finland

Post by V70T51997 »

I read the post, and I've tried to search everywhere, with slim & none success. I, too, have done this conversion a few times (the conversion had been written on a Finnish Volvo site a couple of years ago too) and I've managed to modify my setup in a way that I have quite even color on my dash and on my switches.

The normal switches and dash are easy, as they receive 12 volts, but window switches aren't as simple. As far as I know, they have LED's from factory. And they are green. At least they don't have the green hood on top of a regular bulb. I tried soldering a blue LED as replacement, but the LED did not turn on. As a matter of fact, after the factory LED was removed, the switch died. The window operates from the drivers door switch, but not from the back door switch. :)

I could do the conversion (routing 12 volts from somewhere else) but I wonder if there is a way that is not as complicated? Yeah, yeah, green vs blue LED, completely different voltage needed to light it up, but even so... :D Also, if no one has opened the windows switch, there seemed to be some diodes attached to the LED, but I have no idea what the base idea of the switch is.

Nico1722
Posts: 1
Joined: 25 April 2013
Year and Model: V70 AWD LPT GPL 1998
Location:

Post by Nico1722 »

Scuse my bad english I'am a frog.
Can you resume the type of bulb?
For:

Instrument -->
LCD trip computer -->
AC -->
Switch -->

walterwurst
Posts: 1
Joined: 23 February 2020
Year and Model: 2001 V70
Location: Germyany, Rheinland-Pfalz
Has thanked: 1 time

Post by walterwurst »

Hey David,

I just fell over your LED conversion guide and wanted to do the same. But all of your images were removed. I know it is an old post and maybe no one ever thanked you for doing the guide. I hope you still read my reply and can update the old images on your server:

for example
Any pictures would be greatly appreciated! I hate these expensive bulbs :shock:

:D
Thanks a lot in advance!
Cheers
Walter
Last edited by walterwurst on 23 Feb 2020, 10:31, edited 1 time in total.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post