Dashboard light for 1991 Volvo 240

Discussion in 'Volvo 240' started by john doe, Feb 6, 2004.

  1. john doe

    john doe Guest

    The dashboard light on my 240 wagon went out tonight. Do I need to pull the
    dash to replace it, or is there an easier way?

    Thanks,

    David
     
    john doe, Feb 6, 2004
    #1
  2. john doe

    Mike F Guest

    There are 2 bulbs. If the cluster has been half dark, then maybe the
    second bulb has burned out. You can change them by reaching up from
    below, but if you don't know what you're looking for, you're not going
    to have much luck. It's not too hard to remove the cluster, just remove
    the blank panels to the right, the knobs and panel to the left and undo
    the 4 screws. Pull back and you'll be able to see what to do.

    If the cluster was not half dark, look at the dimmer rheostat first.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Feb 6, 2004
    #2
  3. john doe

    don hodgdon Guest

    As Mike F. stated, the cluster is simple to pull out, however, before you
    tear into anything, be sure the dimmer is turned up all the way...I made the
    mistake of pulling my cluster once when the lights didn't work, turned out I
    had turned down the dimmer while cleaning the interior earlier in the
    day...DOH!
     
    don hodgdon, Feb 8, 2004
    #3
  4. john doe

    john doe Guest

    It is definitely out. I even get the idiot light up telling me a bulb is
    out.

    Pulling the cluster seems easier than pulling the whole dash, for sure. Any
    idea what kind of bulb it takes... I could not find anything in the manual.

    Thanks,

    David
     
    john doe, Feb 8, 2004
    #4
  5. john doe

    James Sweet Guest


    The idiot light only checks the taillights and headlights, so you've got
    another issue there, either a bulb is out, mismatched, or you have a bad
    connection.
     
    James Sweet, Feb 8, 2004
    #5
  6. john doe

    Mike F Guest

    And the cluster bulbs are a special halogen bulb built into a holder.
    Probably only available from the dealer.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Feb 9, 2004
    #6
  7. john doe

    James Sweet Guest

    Halogen? Since when? Mine just has normal bulbs in there, IIRC they're
    #555's. Maybe they changed it in later years, I have seen small halogen
    bulbs at the autoparts store, didn't know what they were for.
     
    James Sweet, Feb 9, 2004
    #7
  8. john doe

    Mike F Guest

    The last few years had halogen bulbs. I'm not sure what a 555 bulb is.
    The earlier 240s used a non-halogen 3w bulb which looked the same as the
    5w license plate bulbs in the sedan. However I've heard that installing
    these 5w bulbs melt things in the cluster. The new halogen bulbs have a
    holder built on, and go in a slightly smaller hole than the older type.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Feb 10, 2004
    #8
  9. john doe

    James Sweet Guest

    The #555 bulb is a 3W 12v wedge base lamp.
     
    James Sweet, Feb 10, 2004
    #9
  10. They are also the exact same bulbs used in many pinball machines, so
    if you are looking to replace the entire set, this might be a good
    way to get them in larger qualtities.
     
    Joseph Oberlander, Feb 10, 2004
    #10
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