96 850 dome light switch, shift indicator lamp, visor

[Pat Quadlander]

Just purchased a low mileage 1996 850 GLT. Pretty good condition with a few
items needing attention:

1. Dome light rocker switch (middle switch) missing. Dome lights do not
come on, but lamps are good. Tried depressing the left and right switches
on and off. Lamps don't come on when any doors are open. Nada. The
footwell lamps and the warning lamps along the open door edge come on as
expected when door is open. I tried to jumper the dome light rocker
contacts that are actuated by the rocker switch, and blew the fuse. I
pulled a rocker switch at my local pick-n-pull and installed, and blew the
fuse (after I had replaced it with a new one). Is the short/broken circuit
likely in the dome light assembly (in the complex switch buried on the back
side of the dome lights fixture), or more likely along the wires leading
from source to the dome light assembly? Is this a common problem with a
common inexpensive do-it-yourself fix?

2. Shift indicator bulb is dead, and/or not receiving juice from source when
night lights are on. Haynes manual describes steps to reach the lamp OK,
and refers to the bulb module that has to be replaced as an assembly. I.e.,
can't replace just the bulb alone. Is access to the bulb module assembly as
simple as haynes describes? Is the bulb module assembly a dealer only part?

3. Driver's sun visor sags (rotates down on the plastic shaft that fastens
the visor to ceiling, so visor hangs down all the time instead of horizontal
flush with the ceiling). Since the shaft that the visor rotates on is also
the wiring conduit leading to the makeup vanity lamps, replacing the visor
will involve disconnecting or cutting the wiring, then reconnecting or
splicing the wiring with the new visor. Is there a convenient disconnect
point, or is cutting then splicing the only way to go? Or, is there a
reliable way to firm up the plastic shaft that holds the visor frame firm?

I've done most of my own maint on a few 240s, 122 and 1800E. However, the
more modern 850 intimidates me a little just yet, and I'll never understand
electricity, so I'm nervous about wiring, switches, shorts, and circuit
breaks. I worked on d-jet with fingers crossed inside rubber gloves .

Thanks for any help,

Pat

 

[Mike F]

Just purchased a low mileage 1996 850 GLT. Pretty good condition with a few
items needing attention:

1. Dome light rocker switch (middle switch) missing. Dome lights do not
come on, but lamps are good. Tried depressing the left and right switches
on and off. Lamps don't come on when any doors are open. Nada. The
footwell lamps and the warning lamps along the open door edge come on as
expected when door is open. I tried to jumper the dome light rocker
contacts that are actuated by the rocker switch, and blew the fuse. I
pulled a rocker switch at my local pick-n-pull and installed, and blew the
fuse (after I had replaced it with a new one). Is the short/broken circuit
likely in the dome light assembly (in the complex switch buried on the back
side of the dome lights fixture), or more likely along the wires leading
from source to the dome light assembly? Is this a common problem with a
common inexpensive do-it-yourself fix?

2. Shift indicator bulb is dead, and/or not receiving juice from source when
night lights are on. Haynes manual describes steps to reach the lamp OK,
and refers to the bulb module that has to be replaced as an assembly. I.e.,
can't replace just the bulb alone. Is access to the bulb module assembly as
simple as haynes describes? Is the bulb module assembly a dealer only part?

3. Driver's sun visor sags (rotates down on the plastic shaft that fastens
the visor to ceiling, so visor hangs down all the time instead of horizontal
flush with the ceiling). Since the shaft that the visor rotates on is also
the wiring conduit leading to the makeup vanity lamps, replacing the visor
will involve disconnecting or cutting the wiring, then reconnecting or
splicing the wiring with the new visor. Is there a convenient disconnect
point, or is cutting then splicing the only way to go? Or, is there a
reliable way to firm up the plastic shaft that holds the visor frame firm?

I've done most of my own maint on a few 240s, 122 and 1800E. However, the
more modern 850 intimidates me a little just yet, and I'll never understand
electricity, so I'm nervous about wiring, switches, shorts, and circuit
breaks. I worked on d-jet with fingers crossed inside rubber gloves .

Thanks for any help,

Pat

1. The problem is most likely in the dome light itself. I'd bet that's
why it's busted.

2. The "bulb module" is simply the bulb attached to a 10 cent bulb
holder. For that the dealer charges 10 bucks, but they are available
through some of the internet parts places.

3. The wiring from the visor runs all the way down the "A" pillar
before there's a connector. So you have to disconnect it under the
dashboard, so most folks just cut and splice up in the roof.

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

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