Volvo Radio Light Bulb Replacement

[MadeInJapan]

darryllr, I'm not trying to be a jerk here but this is a thread for radio lights. Please post a new thread in regards to the climate control lights...believe they are the same as the instrument panel lights however and someone will see your new post and respond, while they might not here....thanks!

[ablebaker]

I just used this info to replace the radio bulbs in my wifes car. Worked out great - as advertised. I cheaped out and used the Radio Shack bulbs. Of course they are open on Sunday so I was able to purchase the bulbs and do the repair all in one day. I also used the same bulbs to re-illuminate 4 of the control switches on the dash. It's a bit of a pain to extract the dead bulbs from the old holders but for me it was worth it.

Best regards from West Hartford,
ablebaker

[MadeInJapan]

I have changed the bulbs out on the right side of my SC-816 twice now. The first time was over a year ago and that solved the problem, then one bulb burned out (top right) then the one that illuminates the last 3 numbers. After my second replacement (today) these bulbs still don't work. I may have to get back into it and try to clean the contacts. It's so hard to tell if bulbs are actually burned out (used a bright light and a magnifying lens) or if the bulb receptacle just isn't getting power anymore. I usually don't ask questions here (I'm the one with the advice) but if anyone has a clue on how to proceed, please post back.
Regards,
MIJ

[lewismug]

If the cables in your car are as long as mine, then you should connect them to the stereo, and take the faceplate off, just like if you were going to replace the bulbs, but leave the faceplate connected to the stereo. That will give you access to the bulb contacts and the faceplate will still have power going to it. Crank the car, turn on the stereo and headlights and check for voltage on the bulb contacts with a good DMM. You can also ohm out the bulbs in question with your DMM to see if they are still good. After doing this, you should know for a fact if it's the bulbs or the contacts themselves.

[MadeInJapan]

Thanks for your reply. My cables are extremely short and it was some doing (each time) to even change the bulbs, but I'll give it a try.

[VCA]

easier than the radio shack bulbs. If you look in the above thread, there is a place on line you can order from.

<delurk>
I visited my local Radio Shack to pick up some bulbs (what can I say, it's Sunday and I want my radio fixed *today*), and only after did I check my Mouser catalog. And what did my eyes find on page 114? The exact unit: a Neo-Wedge base, T1 size unit. It's a JKL Components part, number CNW1-23. They're $0.65 over at Mouser. I checked the CAD drawing against one out of my radio (an SC-816) and they're an exact fit.

Victor

[Ozark Lee]

Victor,

You need to delurk more often. Three lines down from the CNW1-23 is part number WWT1-EW10. It looks spot on as a replacement for the idiot lights in the cluster as well as the backlights on the manual climate control. The stealership charges over $8.00 a copy for those lamps - Mouser price is 75 cents.

...Lee

[MadeInJapan]

Good news!
Apparently the contacts for the bulbs do corrode a bit (being a smoker in this car I'm sure doesn't help). I took a small emery board and buffed the contact points as well as the wires on the bulbs some and now all of my lights work. Other news is that ALL of my little black bulbs were no good while the small gray Honda ones were ALL good. So, eventually these Volvo bulbs do burn out and need replacing. I did what lewismug suggested and left everything plugged up. This way it was easy to test each bulb until I got one to light up. Thanks lewisburg for the suggestion. Another thing I did (or actually didn't do) was to not bend the little metal tabs back onto the board. I figure that next time access will be easier and the LCD display screws hold the board on anyway. It's nice to have my radio lit again!

[lewismug]

Glad you got them back in working order MIJ!

[gutnick]

Question: Will replacing all the bulbs cause the digital display to light or is there a bulb hidden below the face plate board?

No replacing the 5 won't and Yes, unfortunately there is one single light bulb under the aluminum housing that surrounds the LCD display. I replaced mine but it is a bit of work. You need to know how to solder small electronic items. Take your time and you can do it.
Here goes:
1) You have to remove the circuit board that has the 5 light bulbs. There are about 10 screws. This is show in the step where it mentions disconnecting the connector
2) Remove the 3 slider controls with pliers covered with cloth to prevent scratches.
3) Hard part 1 - you have to unsolder the two top corner holders that hold the silver frame around the LCD to the circuit board. You can then pry up the metal housing, Dont worry if you bend it. It will go back. Be careful not to break any of the tiny switches. There are also two twisty aluminum holders at the top that you have to loosen.
4) Hard part 2 - you can see the blue light on the side. You have un-solder the light from the circuit board. It comes out pretty easy. Leave two holes open after you remove it.
5) Remove the light bulb but keep the black housing and the blue cover.
6) You can use the Radio Shack 272-1092 bulb. Run the leads through the black housing and put back the blue cover. Carefully solder the two thin wires back. Dont over heat them. Just a tiny bit of solder to close the hole and then blow air on to cool it so you dont damage the bulb.
7) Now push the metal housing back and resolder the two corner connectors.
If you have never replaced the bulbs before, this is a good time to replace them with the 5 mentioned in the article.
9) Put back screws and sliders and you're done!

Bad design by Volvo to solder it in instead of making it removable, but it can be replaced.

PS> Special thanks to Anthony who did the story about the bulbs. Outstanding work!
Bernard Gutnick [email protected]