96 Volvo 850 dash lights back on

[brad850]

My dash lights have been out for about 6 months, I rather got used to it, and I do not really drive at night that much. Well, I replaced my stock Volvo 815 stereo/cd with the same model, which looks and works great. The dash lights are back on now. Great news, but I am not sure if they are connected. Why would they start working again.

[ChiNorm]

IIRC, there is a master ground behind the dash, which you likely bumped swapping the radio.

[brad850]

So you are saying I entirely accidentally, and with blind luck, repaired my dash lights?
Wow, I should have bought a lottery ticket that day.
That is really cool.

Thanks

[Ozark Lee]

My bet is that there is a dead spot in the dimmer slider. The nature of the dead spots is that they work intermittently. On a couple of my cars full bright is a dead spot but if I set the dimmer just a fuzz to the left they work fine.

...Lee

[brad850]

Ozark
I would rather think I was really lucky and I accidentally repaired it.

[Ozark Lee]

I always say I would rather be lucky than good.

...Lee

[1996 5door 850]

I just recently got around to "fixing" my dimmer switch. I removed the switch then popped off the button. Removed top cover and cut the wires then reinstalled slider bar and cover with button to dimmer body. I then removed lower casing which included half of connector/ dimmer guts and threw it away. I then made a short jumper wireusing two connector I trimmed to fit. I then installed the two wires so my lights on gauges are always on with key on. I then slide top dimmer body over connector from cars harness which fit inside and tapped to hold in place.

So my lights work again and even tho dimmer doesn't function it is installed and looks normal while housing jumper wire.
Took 30 minutes
Tools.wire strippers, chrimpes , side cuts electricial tape 3 " wire two spare connectors- male and 2 small flathead screwdrivers