'06 s60 Back Lights climate control/Hu-850 radio lights

[cn90]

@firstv70volvo,

Thanks!

As it turned out, all the grey-color bulbs I removed from the junk yard were burned!
Got a Honda climate bulb lying around, transfer the blue cover over, all is good now.

PS: The fact that you see intact filament (when held it up against the flash light) does NOT mean the bulb is good,
you need to test using 9V battery or Ohmmeter as mentioned.

For testing these tiny bulbs, I used the 9V battery (the battery commonly used in smoke alarm etc.)
and alligator clips. Or you can test them using the Ohmmeter.

This is what I meant by test leads/alligator clips...

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Alligator-Clips.jpg (50 KiB) Viewed 525 times

[cn90]

For my 2007 S60 climate bulbs, there are 4 Grey and 2 White base bulbs.

The measurements are as in the photo below.
In the 1998 S70 (P80 series) that I used to own, we used the small bulbs
from Radio Shack etc.

In the P2 series, these bulbs are likely T4 type...
The blue cover is slightly different for these bulbs because the White bulb is 4 mm and
the Grey bulb is 5 mm (why the enginners did not use 1 type of bulbs instead of
2 types???)

Sure you can buy this bulb at Volvo for $10.
However, I want to know where one can buy these bulbs alone and just swap them in,
then transfer the blue cover over.

Does anyone know where we can buy these bulbs?
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T4-Bulbs.jpg (96.52 KiB) Viewed 517 times

[cn90]

Just stumbled across this...

If you go to eBay and search "Wheat Rice Bulbs Switch"...
You will see sellers listing 25 bulbs (just select size 4 mm or 5 mm) for $6.70 = ~ 27 cents/each.

I have not tried these eBay bulbs yet, but if anyone tries, please give feedback...

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Screenshot_20240313-091806.png (1014.83 KiB) Viewed 498 times

[firstv70volvo]

For my 2007 S60 climate bulbs, there are 4 Grey and 2 White base bulbs.

The measurements are as in the photo below.
In the 1998 S70 (P80 series) that I used to own, we used the small bulbs
from Radio Shack etc.

In the P2 series, these bulbs are likely T4 type...
The blue cover is slightly different for these bulbs because the White bulb is 4 mm and
the Grey bulb is 5 mm (why the enginners did not use 1 type of bulbs instead of
2 types???)

Sure you can buy this bulb at Volvo for $10.
However, I want to know where one can buy these bulbs alone and just swap them in,
then transfer the blue cover over.

Does anyone know where we can buy these bulbs?
----

T4-Bulbs.jpg

These are known as grain-of-wheat bulbs and you can find them at aircraft supply places, Amazon, Ebay and McMaster-Carr. The gray base ones are higher current 14V ~150mA bulbs so they are brighter and why they burn out more often than the white base bulbs 14V ~50mA. I think I just measured the resistance on the Volvo bulbs to determine the current draw on the original bulbs. You'll find it difficult to find anything more that 14V 100mA rated bulbs so they may be somewhat dimmer than the original Volvo gray based bulbs. LEDs lights (T4 base) are also available and what I ended up going with but they do have a polarity so you have to install them the correct way.

I haven't tried these bulbs but McMaster-Carr usually sells better quality parts than you'll find on Amazon or Ebay.

14V 100mA 6 lumens (for gray base)
https://www.mcmaster.com/9527T142/

14V 60mA 2 lumens (for white base)
https://www.mcmaster.com/1505K414/