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95 850, light in radio display burnt out?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Cassman500
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 February 2009
Year and Model: 850, 95
Location: Manchester, NH

95 850, light in radio display burnt out?

Post by Cassman500 »

since i have had my 850 the radio display does not light up. how can i fix this? is it just a bulb that i can replace? i'd really appreciate some help. thanks

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The lamp that illuminates the LCD display is soldered in and it is a bit of a bear to get to it. There is a metal frame that surrounds the LCD that must be unsoldered and removed to gain access to the lamp. Once the frame is removed you can use a Radio Shack 272-1092 lamp to replace the burned out lamp.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

Cassman500
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 February 2009
Year and Model: 850, 95
Location: Manchester, NH

Post by Cassman500 »

Hey thanks a lot for the knowledge. that is going to be a little project un-soldering and soldering it back up but it really is starting to get under my skin not being able to see it at night.

-cassidy

Cassman500
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 February 2009
Year and Model: 850, 95
Location: Manchester, NH

Post by Cassman500 »

do you think it would be more worth wild to just get a whole new used radio system from the junk yard?

-cassidy

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

If you have a SC-810 or an SC-813 (Cassettes only) it might be cheaper and less aggravation to just grab a new one. They go for around $30.00 on eBay all the time. If you have an SC-815/SC-816 with the CD player then they get a lot more expensive - in the $100+ range with the average I've seen of around $130.00. For $130.00 I'm soldering in the $1.50 bulb. This thread may help you get to where you need to go and I would suggest that you change the other bulbs while you are at it - they just twist in.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/volvo_ ... cement.php

Obviously, if you replace the unit the code changes so having the original code for the radio is a plus.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

JRL
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Post by JRL »

I have a perfect AM/FM/cassette radio (with code) out of a 96 that you can have for $25 plus shipping
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

WarWagon
Posts: 20
Joined: 25 September 2006
Year and Model: S60 2006
Location: Eastern North Carolina

Post by WarWagon »

I had the same issue with mine. There was a link somewhere in the forum to use Honda bulbs that cast me $.30 a piece and the maintenance was easy too. Get the radio code, push the two tabs in on the side of the radio face to pop out the two tabs and pull the radio. Unscrew the face around the perimeter of the radio face. Pop the face off and the little bulbs sit in the faceplate to back light the panel. Pull bulbs and keep little sleeves over bulbs to put on the new ones. Pop in new bulbs and reverse disassembly. I will look for the link in the forum with the Honda Part# but if Radio Shack has them that sounds good too. Good luck.
Mike

97' 850 GLT Wagon
06' S60
06' S40

db130
Posts: 308
Joined: 18 March 2008
Year and Model: 2002 V70 T5
Location: MA
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Post by db130 »

the honda bulbs would be an acceptable replacement to replace the bulb that illuminates the LCD display, but you'd have to remove the plastic base from the bulb.

if you are reasonably handy with a soldering iron(it would be helpful to have a solder wick or solder sucker to help unseat the metal frame as well as the old bulb on the circuit board), you could do it in about 30 minutes.
2002 V70 T5 169k
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2006 Mini Cooper S 90k

Cassman500
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 February 2009
Year and Model: 850, 95
Location: Manchester, NH

Post by Cassman500 »

ya the bulbs for the buttons all work fine its just the LCD display that is out. so the radio shack lamp is the one i need correct? i have a soldering iron, does it matter what kind of solder i use to reseal it?

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The Radio Shack bulbs will be the easiest to work with. Any rosin core solder is fine, just stay away from anything acid core.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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