Does anyone have a source for the panel illumination lamps in a 940 (the ones that illuminate the switch panel markings)? The sticker shock almost got me today, the dealership wants $15.00 yes that is $15.00 per lamp (I need 5 between my 2 940's). I told them I'd stay in the dark, the cost was ridiculous for a lamp! So, guys, anyone take one apart yet to see what bulb # is used? Do they come apart easily? Am I charting new territory? Is there an honest supplier out there who isn't out to rip us off? Let us know...
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Bob Kraushaar '94 945T, '91 940T(back from retirement), '88 240, '84 242T, '94 F-150, '89 560 SL, '68 Shelby GT-500 KR

I found out the hard way too for my sister's car!! What I did was use old sockets out of the 700 series cars - aka junk yard (the ones where you can just replace the bulb and not the whole socket and bulb) and stuff them into the light tubes in the dash. The 700 series light socket fits perfectly and will remain in place using friction. The bayonet socket for the 900 series is just another one of those money racketeering businesses and not really needed.

The replacement lights work great in my sister's 940 and I can get bulbs readily for both cars at the junk yard...the wonders of backwards compatibility.

Good luck,

Tim

If you have some time and skill with a soldering iron, you can pick up the bulbs for $1.29 each at Radio Shack and solder them into the base. Not a terribly difficult or time consuming job. Radio shack part number is #272-1141. (Note to any people in the audience who think I was smart enough to go out searching for a suitable bulb: I got this number from a post by david hunter. Helpful guy.)

If the 940 is like the 960, Volvo (for some ungodly reason) re-designed the dash lights so that the bulb is now soldered into the socket. You have to buy bulb + socket together...and thus have to go to Volvo to get them.

I was able to find replacements for my '89 765t at AutoZone at a much cheaper price than what the dealer wants.

-Eric
'89 765t 175k - Down for turbo refurb
'72 BMW R75/5 - Alternate transportation

A sorry junk yard Volvo is in fact a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
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Tom F '95 945na, lien holder on a '95 944Ti, RIP '78 244

Bob,have you priced them at Voluparts here in Atlanta?If memory serves,you're in the area.Put a photo on the Board and I might be able to cross them.sredwine 94 944T (don't need lamps YET!)

You are right, I'm in the area.
Lets see if I've got the image upload thing right...
By the way, just heard back from Nick Bauer @ FCP Groton and he has them. They are still expensive but not so much as to cause heart failure.
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Bob Kraushaar '94 945T, '91 940T(back from retirement), '88 240, '84 242T, '94 F-150, '89 560 SL, '68 Shelby GT-500 KR

Glad I'm not hallucinating - my jaw hit the parts counter when they said $14.95 EACH. I had a brief spell of bliss, tho'...that was the interval between the IPD phone order guy listening to my detailed description, then saying they had just the thing at $1.50 or so; and the mailman delivering a small pile of instrument panel warning bulbs. Well, if my panel bulbs ever go, I'm all set.

As stated earlier, phone or web ordering of these things is a risky business.
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Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD)

That's right, those prices are ridiculous. If you think that's bad, ask what the service department wants to replace them -they do them all so you don't come back one week later with another bulb out. For those reasons you'll find a lot of 900's running around with dash lights out.

The price you're being quoted by your dealer seems high, especially if that's $15 US dollars -should be more like $9 something. Local Canadian dealers sell them for just over $12 (incl fed tax) which equates to about U$8.75. Still too much.

You should try one of the discount on-line parts sources like FCP Groton or Borton. A Volvo Club discount also helps. I've heard rumours that ScanTech (Sweden) has OEM equivalents available at more reasonable prices, but you'd want to order a gross to make the shipping worthwhile.

You will not find these bulbs cross referenced by any manufacturer. The bulbs you're talking about for the later 900's have a special bayonet base with the bulb tails welded to the bulb base contacts. The bulbs do not seem repairable. I ended up destroying the bulb base in my crude attempts at replacing just the bulb. You can buy a halogen headlamp for the price of one little bayonet bulb, but unfortunately they wouldn't fit too well behind the switches -leastwise until the plastic melted.

Be warned, over the years there have been many different bulb styles and colors used by Volvo in the 700/900 dash clusters, gauges, console and switches. In your 900 I can think of at least 4 different bulbs used in various interior locations, not counting the radio. When buying on-line you will want to verify the part numbers and quantities required before ordering.

You won't enjoy trying to find and replace some of these bulbs, especially the shift indicator buried down inside the shifter cavity. With enough effort you can get at all the main dash bulbs from underneath once you've removed the knee bolster panel. I prefer to pop out the headlight switch and panel, but be careful not to force the switch panel to avoid damaging the surrounding dash area -there's a spring retaining clip on the left side, push it to the right (from behind) as you push the panel out.
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Dave -not to be confused with a real expert, just goofing around at this

Volvo is the only place to get them that I've found. $15 is horribly overpriced, though, even for Volvo. I think my dealer charged a couple bucks a piece (which is also overpriced...but can't do anything about it).