V70 Wagon 1998 Driver's door closed (dome light) switch

Tronman · Post by **Tronman** » 17 Mar 2009, 16:08

Hi all

I got the Volvo running from the computer and other issues I had (Thanks, forum!) and now, intermittently, the courtesy lights at the driver's feet stay on all the time. Also, a lot of the time, the 'door open' chime keeps going after you get in and close the door. If you then slam the door harder it will go off.

What's happening is the dome light switch seems to be staying on all the time. However, unlike any other car I've ever owned, there doesn't seem to be a visible dome light switch, as in the door jamb, the door itself or otherwise. It's kind of a drag, as it runs the battery down in a day and a half.

Is this switch a part of one of the hinges, maybe inside the door? I looked at all the doors and couldn't find any external switch anywhere. Years ago, we had a Nissan that did this, and the dealer recommended cure was to tape a penny to the door frame where the switch hit it=problem solved.

Do I have to take the door apart to get at this switch, or is it behind a hinge on the frame?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Mar 2009, 16:13

The switch is built into the door latch assembly. I have heard of folks removing the interior door panel and "adjusting" the switch but in most cases a replacement latch from a junk yard is the ultimate solution. I've never had to mess with any of mine so I don't know if the switch is a microswitch that the actuator arm can be bent on to make it work or if it is a sealed unit.

...Lee

Post by **VCA** » 17 Mar 2009, 16:51

Ozark Lee wrote:The switch is built into the door latch assembly. I have heard of folks removing the interior door panel and "adjusting" the switch but in most cases a replacement latch from a junk yard is the ultimate solution. I've never had to mess with any of mine so I don't know if the switch is a microswitch that the actuator arm can be bent on to make it work or if it is a sealed unit.

...Lee

Sealed up tighter than a drum. In this case "high security locks" == "no user-serviceable parts inside". Save the trouble and buy a new lock module--the ones in junkyard cars are old enough that they'll fail soon too and you'll have to do the job again.

Tronman · Post by **Tronman** » 17 Mar 2009, 20:38

So that means I have to replace the actual assembly inside the door which latches it shut? Wow. Well at least I know where the switch actually is now. I'll have to see how much one is, or how good I can get with JB Weld

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » 20 Mar 2009, 09:39

While you can get to the microswitch, to do this you must take the entire latch mechanism out of the door, which means you've dissembled the door to get the latch mechanism out.

At that point, the microswitch is accessable since it's on the outside of the latch mechanism. Held on by two tiny allen screws. Not adjustable per se, but you could poke a pin into the head of it or such to effectively adjust it.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 20 Mar 2009, 21:15

I'm with VCA...Just get a new one and be done with it.