1995 Volvo 850 GLT instrument cluster interchangeability

PavelG · Post by **PavelG** » 07 Mar 2012, 14:58

I got 1995 Volvo 850 GLT sedan 2.4L automatic non-turbo with VDO instrument cluster.

Prehistory: My cluster is dead (the speedometer, RPM, fuel level, clock), although the lamps (like ABS, parking break etc are on). I don't think that's it's a matter of a loose connection, my cluster died at once and absolutely. And if it's a loose connection it is some times on sometimes off (especially after hitting something)

I would like to find a used cluster and put it in. So my question is about interchangeability of clusters. Which ones I can put in my 95 850 non-turbo VDO?
1. Is any other year possible to put in 1995?
2. Is it possible to put instead of 1995-VDO 1995-Yazaki?
3. Is it possible to put wagon cluster instead of sedan?
4. Is it possible to use a cluster from say S70?

I searched the web and found some contradicting views. E.g. some believe that 95 are absolutely unique. Some that it's interchangeable with 94. Some think that 95 S70 cluster fits into 850. So any clarification would be appreciated

Post by **jblackburn** » 07 Mar 2012, 15:09

1994 and 1995 should be exactly the same. 1996-1997 were different. Who knows about 1993.

There was no 95 S70, so I have no idea what they're saying.

HOWEVER - once you start the car, try twitching your ignition key a bit. Do things work again? If that's the case, your electrical portion of your igntion switch is the one that needs to be replaced.

Post by **rspi** » 07 Mar 2012, 15:55

If your ABS light is on, that could be the problem to your cluster not working, bad ABS module???

PavelG · Post by **PavelG** » 07 Mar 2012, 16:39

jblackburn wrote:1994 and 1995 should be exactly the same. 1996-1997 were different. Who knows about 1993.

There was no 95 S70, so I have no idea what they're saying.

HOWEVER - once you start the car, try twitching your ignition key a bit. Do things work again? If that's the case, your electrical portion of your igntion switch is the one that needs to be replaced.

--- jiggling the ignition, hitting the cluster, driving over a bump do not make any result.
Thanks for the reply. Now I may try to install 94 cluster I got from pullapart. I just postponed this b/c I found on the web some people who said that speedometer would not work if swap 94 and 95. Although in one of the shops, they had told me that 95 isn't interchangeable with anything else.

Do you also know if VDO can be swapped with Yazaki?
BTW maybe you have a reference how to disable the airbag (how to remove the cluster I know)

rspi wrote:If your ABS light is on, that could be the problem to your cluster not working, bad ABS module???

--- the ABS light is completely different issue, probably bad ABS module. The ABS lamp becomes on with in about 50% of driving and it was long before the cluster died.

Post by **erikv11** » 07 Mar 2012, 18:33

I know you don't think it's a loose connection but there's what we think and then there's what we know ... I'd check the 2 connector plugs, just to be sure.

Post by **jblackburn** » 07 Mar 2012, 18:59

VDO/Yakazis are not compatible; the ECU system is different between the models. I don't think Yakazis even existed for US models in 1994, but I could be wrong on that.

As far as the airbag - I'm thinking you're talking about the passenger one? Yank both battery cables and make sure to drain the charge (tapping the brakes to light them up always works for me). Then remove the ground wire on the bottom of the dash pad to the airbag canister, and you're all set. Make sure you connect everything up just as before before putting the battery cables back on or you'll wind up with an SRS light.

PavelG · Post by **PavelG** » 18 Mar 2012, 12:12

I think I have to report the results.
I installed a instrument cluster and it worked (VDO from 1994 850 wagon into 1995 850 sedan)