When the auto is cold (30 degrees or so);I start the engine and all the guages work fine. I turn on the running lights or headlights and get the following: no fuel guage, no speedometer, no tachometer, no temperature guage and all the dash lamps come on (including both directional-steady on)

After the auto warms up, everything returns to normal. I changed the directional relay and reseated all of the dashboard unit connections. That didn't help. Anyone run into this one before?

Brad, I have an '87 760 (B230FT) that does the same thing. I have a family fleet of 700 series Volvos '85 to '90. Only the '87 does this. I have noticed that when this is posted on the brickboard, it is always a 1987. I wonder what is different about the 1987.

Brad

Rob's probably right

while you have the cluster out change all the bulbs.

You will find as they get older they dim.

Big difference, a lot brighter

Yep, on my daughters '87 740. Exact same symptom. Cure was to remove instrument cluster, remove every wire connector on back of panel, polish, apply grease, then reassemble. Fixed the problem permanently. Apparently the ground connectors are subject to corrosion.

Have fun.

While you're in there, give the circuit board screws a tweak. There are a number ov screws thet contact copper printed circuit contacts to transfer signals to the guages. Don't get carried away but make sure they are all snug.