97 Volvo 850 dashboard and center console lights

Post by **scot850** » 14 Sep 2016, 13:01

After my brothers and I had our abortive trip to take the car to the US, I had the opportunity at least to drive the car at night. What we both noticed is a lot of the switches don't appear to be illuminated at night with the exterior lights on.

Can anyone tell me which switches should be illuminated? A good example was trying to find the speedo cluster brightness slider to the left of the speedo and above the fog light. Neither was illuminated to make it possible to see in the dark. I know the fog light has one bulb in the side but I think that is for the activation light to let you know it is on. But is there a second bulb internal to the switch? I pilled a slider unit from a car at PnP and again there does not appear to be any obvious bulb in it.

None of the air vents appear to be illuminated either and I can't see any wiring in the area or lighting so again I'd assume they are not lit up at night?

Window switches in center console and mirror adjusters?

Heated seats? Light comes on for the activation, but I was sure they had a soldered in light bulb? Again neither lights up.

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 14 Sep 2016, 13:28

I know you really need the detailed answer, switch by witch, but FYI the gist of it is this: Almost every dash switch uses the same, little free bulb, with wires wrapped around the base. They can be replaced very cheaply, under a buck a bulb.

Post by **scot850** » 14 Sep 2016, 13:47

I have a bunch of those, and I know how the V/S70 switches work, but on the 850 I can't see more than one bulb, and if that bulb is for the 'operation' or active/on lighting, is there also a second bulb hidden internally? I pulled a light slider switch for the dash lighting brightness apart and there is no bulb internally. I know the fig light switch under it has a standard replaceable bulb with the wires on them that you are talking about, but if that works for the on light, then is there a night-time light so you can find the switch also somewhere?

Thanks Erik,

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 14 Sep 2016, 14:49

On the 850 heated seat lights I seem to recall that they are the same style light as the pre-95 switches where the lamp is actually soldered into the switch and the switch must be disassembled to replace it. It is certainly not impossible but they are tricky and you need to be careful when you take it apart since a spring and the contacts want to sail across the room when the case is taken apart.

...Lee

Post by **scot850** » 14 Sep 2016, 16:39

Again thanks Lee. I've got a feeling you are correct on this, I just can't remember as it has been a long time since I had the 93 850, and I thought I had some other 850 switches to play with before tackling the real items, but they are either in a very safe place or I got rid of them.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 14 Sep 2016, 19:33

3 of the switches on the dashboard were not lighting up, the fog-light switch under the dashboard lights brightness slider (no light in there anyway), the de-icer button for the rear windshield and mirrors (don't know if they work as no ice to test them!!) and the Tracs button. All 3 have the 1/2" long white shafts with a led bulb that had failed. Swapped them out and all good now.

3 other bulbs that don't light up but do work are the 2 x heated seats switches (for California?). The on lights work in both, again don't know if seats work, and the transmission 'state' switch. Again the operation portion works but the switch doesn't light up. These I don't plan to tackle unless I have a spare and can be bothered to pull the center console.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 14 Sep 2016, 23:37

For the record you can get those console switches out from the top by just prying them gently. They do have the usual white porcelain bases, as well. It's not actually a LED, just a cheap incandescent bulb: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=67244

Post by **scot850** » 15 Sep 2016, 11:16

Erik you were 2/3rds correct. The 2 heated seat switches have the small led style bulbs like the other switches ( the long white stalks), but the transmission 'state' switch unit has no visible exterior bulb. Next time I am at PnP I'll pull one out to dismantle to satisfy my curiosity! I'll then post a how to if it is fixable.

You were 100% on switch removal although they were much more reluctant to come out than the dashboard versions!

Thanks again.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Sep 2016, 12:06

scot850 wrote:... but the transmission 'state' switch unit has no visible exterior bulb. ... .

Good to know, thanks!