I was wondering if it is possible to modify the interior lights on a 1988 Volvo 240 DL to make it a bit more modern just for fun. You know how the lights turn on when you open a door and turn off shortly after you close the door? Well would it be possible to make it so that instead of just turning off they faded off similar to lights in more modern cars?

It's a curiousity of mine. For all I know it may be very impracticle but I'm still interested.

Thanks before hand.

There is a device you can buy on in Australia that allegedly does all the things you require.

I am about to purchase one. I will let you know how it goes (and if it gets along with the door chime).

The price is $A40 (about US$20) Wiring involved is basic (one wire or two if you want the light to cut out when you turn the ignition key)

caution!!
if you're trying to re-wire or add a new light, CAUTION! i tried to do this and my um, shut the door and the lights turn off thingy went on the fritz, i then had to remove the door chime because it wouldn't stop

I would think you could do it with a capacitor in paralell somewhere (between ground and the load side of the door switch or something like that) along the line. Not sure how they do it in the factory though.

Figure out how it's done on the 850's and newer models... gotta be a sophisticated relay.

Sure. It's called an interior delay relay (or unit, or something similar). Hella has them, as do probably most other brands of electronic gadgetry. You could probably even pull one from some domestic vehicle if you knew what to look for in that particular brand.

Bram