light for controls below cluster 97 850 GLT wagon

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Jan 2008, 21:53

Lee, are those bulbs for a 93 available thru a dealership? If so, do you have a part number?

No, the dealerships replace the entire switch. I get the lamps at Radio Shack - Part number 272-1092. I think they are under $2.00 for a 2 pack. My local radio shack only stocks 2 or 3 packs at a time so every time I drive by the store I buy the entire inventory.

...Lee

Post by **meine39** » 05 Jan 2008, 16:34

The short life of the Volvo dash switch lights is caused by Volvo's primitive Daytime Running Light implementation. In DRL mode, your dash lights are on anytime the car is running. You may want to consider disabling the DRLs by adjusting the small 'set screw' on the headlight switch to put them into 'normal mode' (check the owners manual, its documented there).

Check ebay for 850 dash switches, they are a pretty popular item. I was able to purchase a near complete collection of switches in a single auction win. I cannibalized the old switches for working lights, and now have a nice set of spare switches to boot.

I was prompted to replace the lights when I couldn't locate the hazard switch (four-way flashers) - unfortunately, the light doesn't help much since Volvo blocked the sight lines to the switch with the steering wheel.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 05 Jan 2008, 17:40

I pulled the headlight switch on my Canadian spec model and couldn't see a screw to turn on the back of it. I started reading another post that said Canadian models don't have such a feature (to shut off the daytime running lights). Is that correct?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Jan 2008, 18:14

True because it's illegal to run without DTRL in Canada....but there is a way to do some surgery on the wiring behind the switch to turn the lights off...just can't find the link. Another option is to get a switch with the screw in it that turns them off from a junk yard and swap your switch out for that one.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 06 Jan 2008, 17:51

Lee, we don't have Radio Shack up here... we have "the Source" which bought out all the Canadian Radio Shacks... do you have the bulb specifications (watts or size or something like that)?

... Edit... did a little searching on the Canadian website. Would they be 12V 60mA bulbs?... if so, i found them, and under the same part number simply listed as 2721092 on the Canadian website. AND, I thought someone here, possibly you Lee, did a how-to on removing and re-soldering in such new bulbs, but I can't find it....

Post by **Maxbaby** » 06 Jan 2008, 18:05

MIJ, I had already found that post you're referring to... talks about cutting a particular wire, which I'd rather not do. I suppose I'll try to find a switch with that little switch on the back, maybe on Ebay or something.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 08 Jan 2008, 02:13

Okay, I replaced the bulb on 4 of my dash switches... 3 worked out just fine and look great. The 4th?... Well, that was my traction control switch and, well, I melted it. When I tried to melt it back together, it shorted out when I plugged it back in. I used a little too much heat to try to melt the solder around the original bulb wires, and the plastic surrounding it couldn't take it.

The other three switches went fine when I used less heat and went slowly. I guess it's off to the auto wrecker to see what luck I'll have.

Does anyone know if the switch for the traction control from other years will work in my 93?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 Jan 2008, 06:48

'93, '94, & '95 should work - The switches from a 1995 look slightly different but they are functional equivalents and they have the user serviceable lamps.

Tracs got changed in 1996 so that it is always on unless you turn it off and it appears that the switch changed as well.

...Lee