Dash Switch replacement

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 07 Apr 2008, 19:56

The lights in all my 94 850's dash switches are out. Instead of replacing the entire switch I got a bunch of newer style switches out of a 96 that have the replacable bulbs. There is an extra pin on the back of the newer switches. Would that cause the lights not to work? Can I get these newer switches to work or am I stuck replacing the original ones? Tahnks for the help!!

Post by **tailor** » 07 Apr 2008, 20:13

Can I get these newer switches to work or am I stuck replacing the original ones?

I would think the wire harness for the respective switches would have to be changed as well if there is an extra pin as you described.It might just be too much work.
You may be better off just changing out the bulbs of the existing 94 switches.
Here is a post that will either give you an appetite for it or make you lose you enthusiasm

BTW use the bulbs suggested by Maxbaby.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... highlight=

Larmor · Post by **Larmor** » 08 Apr 2008, 15:47

Does the harness still fit the switch? If so, and there's no additional wire going to the spare pin, I'd expect it to be okay.

This is completely anecdotal, but the antenna switch you can get in the '95-and-later trim style has 5 pins on the actual switch body, and only 4 wires going into the OEM wiring harness. No idea why there's an extraneous pin, but at least it's not getting in the way.

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 08 Apr 2008, 22:18

Thanks. I'll have to go back and look at the wiring that feeds the newer style switches on the donor car. They plug in my 94 harness OK and operate their specific functions properly, but the backlights don't work. Maybe all the bulbs are no good. I was just hoping that somebody had tried this upgrade and could tell me if it would work or not.

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 11 Apr 2008, 06:01

I seem to have solved my own problem. The bulbs in the new style switches that I installed were ALL burned out. New bulbs work great. I still don't know what the extra pin on the new switch is for, but they all seem to function properly. This might be a less expensive option for 93-94 owners instead of buying new switches. Junkyards have plenty of 95-97 cars and a handful of switches shouldn't be too costly. You might even luck out and get some with working bulbs!!