I replaced all my dash lights not long ago. I think I found them at Pep Boys, I took them out and brought them with me to be sure, even though the manual says what they are. I used my other volvo to drive though during this time.

It was not easy getting into the dash, but that's why I replaced all of them, since they looked kinda blackish anyway.

My radio bulbs went out after that. I called all over, and the dealer said "we just usually replace the radio" I couldn't believe it! What a waste. I eventually ended up at Radio shack, after finding a post about replacing the bulbs with LEDs. I thought that was good, if I could find the same size LEDs and soldering them in. Well, I couldn't. Radio shack guy was helpful, but had no idea what I was doing. The problem was the socket that the bulb enters to tunnel the light to all the buttons, there are 5 bulbs I think.

So, they had these bulbs like I remember for tyco slot car headlights. I checked the voltage and they seemed to be in the range of the prior posting, I can't remember what it is right now, I'm at work. Anyhoo, I soldered them in place, using just enough solder and the bulbs are suspended in the middle of the board opening. I made sure not to let solder run all over the place and short something else out. And they have been great for about 4,000 miles of Michigan (cratered) roads so far. Even if they burn out, they cost like 25 cents a piece, so its no big deal now. The color is more incandescent than yellow, but I can live with that. You could also change the color of the radio bulbs if you wish, I guess.

I just replaced the bulbs behind the A/C controls. It's not too hard to do, but the bulbs are hard to find outside of the dealer. These bulbs come mounted in a little plastic socket base. At first I thought that the bulbs just snap in and out of the base, but then I discovered (on my '94 850) that the bulbs are permanently attached, and you have to replace the whole bulb+socket. I believe there are only two of these bulbs behind the A/C panel, they cost about $10 each at the Volvo dealer. I could not find them at Checker, Pep Boys etc.

1. Remove the three knobs by grasping the center bar of each knob and pulling straight back. The center knob (the big one) is hardest to remove because it uses an extra metal spring clip to hold it against the shaft - watch out that you don't lose that piece when the knob comes off. You don't need to remove any other switch knobs; the fan and A/C switches are mounted to the panel itself.

2. Unscrew and remove the two Phillips-head screws that are now revealed behind the two smaller knob locations.

3. Carefully pull the panal out several inches from the console until it can flip down out of the way. It is attached to some wiring connectors, but you shouldn't need to unplug anything.

4. The two bulbs are bayonet-mounted to an odd-shaped PC daughterboard that clips onto the main PC board behind the panel. Study where this daughterboard is snapped in and _carefully_ pry it away to unsnap it from the main PC board - it is thin and somewhat flexible but it can break. You will notice a springy metal contact strip at the bottom edge of this daughterboard, note where it goes as you pull away the daughterboard.

5. With the daughterboard free, turn it over and you will see the back side of the plastic bulb bases. Insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the slot and about 1/4 turn or so counterclockwise should release the bulb socket clips from the daughterboard.

6. After replacing the bulbs, install everything in reverse order. Make sure the daughterboard is correctly lined up for the metal contact and the snap-clip locations.

That's it. My next bulb replacements need to be in the instrument cluster, in the radio module and in the automatic shifter console - if anyone can provide similar hints for any of those before I start, I'd appreciate it.

Joel in Tucson
'61-'94 544,P1800,122S,1800ES,164,240,850

Buy miniature bulbs (Radio Shack, MCM Electronics ($.40/piece but need to order a lot to make out on shipping and handling), and etc)

Pry switch out of the dash with a thin flat head driver

Remove burnt bulb from the switch and solder (I think) a new one in

Bulb spec: 12-14 volt, 6-14 milliamp (current rating may effect brightness)

Suggestion for future: Reduce the dash brightness to 60 to 80 percent so that they will burn out less.

Ronjon
'93 850