I've been plagued by flickering dash and console lights for some time now and finally resolved to take it in. It was a pricey fix, but understandable for the time it took to track it down. My volvo mechanic friend had early model years 850s with he same problem. Apparently up behind the instrument cluster the affected wiring lume (left side) is close enough to a metal bracket that over the years it chafes with car vibrations. No fuse blown, just an a really annoying flickering and then darkness. A bit disconcerting at night. You can get to it without removing the cluster, but you need a bit of luck and really small hands!

This fix may have been posted before, but I thought I'd let those of you know what I found out. Happy New Year to everyone!
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

Cool. One more potential gotcha that I can keep in my back pocket if it rears its ugly head. Happy New Year...
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97 S90 with 178K miles still going strong

Thanks John! Hopefully I can remember your post once I get the dreaded flicker!

jcm
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http://ivaw.net/

Hi John:
Glad you got it fixed, although sorry that it took a trip to the mechanic. Now, you may recall that I also have no dash lights on the 960 (although the lights on the instrument cluster do work). Is that consistent with your situation? If so, maybe I'll try to locate the suspect wiring. Got any other specific guidance about how to find the suspect wire?

Thanks for sharing this experience. Happy New Year!

Mike
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Mike Brown Greenville, NC 1996 965 113K 1994 940 135K 1986 244 137K

Yes I do recall your problem, but unfortunately my instrument cluster also went out. It could be in the same wiring lome, just a different wire, but I'm only guessing. As a source of wire chaf, I'd stick you head under the dash and see if you can identfy a wiring lume (left side of cluster) that may be touching or in near proximity to a bracket. I think it will take a bit of luck but simply jiggling them might narrow down the culprit. Sorry I can be more help, but it will take some poking around.
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K

Hi John:
Thanks for the idea. I'll put my head under the dash and check it out.

Mike
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Mike Brown Greenville, NC 1996 965 113K 1994 940 135K 1986 244 137K

Good luck! If you have the time, patience and space to work on it, you should be able to identify the culprit. I didn't and spent $120 to find out.
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 105K