Instrument bulb replacements

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Randy G., Aug 17, 2005.

  1. Randy G.

    Randy G. Guest

    Anyone have an equivalent number or alternate source for the
    instrument lighting bulb for the 240? Or am I going to have to pay at
    Volvo?

    These are the larger ones (there are two) that illuminate the
    instrument panel- mine is marked:

    Osram
    w971 -(I could find no reference to this number anywhere on the Net)
    12/3 -(presumably 12v 3watt)


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Aug 17, 2005
    #1
  2. Randy G.

    jg Guest

    Not sure about the number but I had no trouble finding globes for the ('80
    260) dash at Repco.
     
    jg, Aug 18, 2005
    #2
  3. Randy G.

    Randy G. Guest

    Repco...?

    The little 1.2 watt bulbs (which are for the individual warning lamps)
    are not a problem. The ones I need are the two, larger, halogen bulbs
    that illuminate the instrument pod itself, one on each side.

    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Aug 18, 2005
    #3
  4. Randy G.

    jg Guest

    Repco are a large after market distributor in Australia and I believe an
    international co. No I have no halogens in mine, just that 2 of the 3 globe
    types I had not seen in any other car, but Repco had them.
     
    jg, Aug 18, 2005
    #4
  5. Randy G.

    jch Guest

    _____
    Randy,

    You are in luck as i have just spent over an hour last week at Canadian
    Tire trying to get a match for these bulbs (12V,3W). Finally out of
    frustration i just grabbed a package with the number _161_ that
    contained the same bulb size. These bulbs had a blue bead at the bottom
    of the filament instead of a white one in the Osram product. At home i
    checked the current draw and measured about 200 mA at 13 V, meaning that
    the power consumption of the bulb was about 2.7 W. This was correct
    when compared with the one good illumination bulb i had in the cluster.
    It needed a little over 200 mA.

    The little ones in the pilots were also available. I can't read the
    number on the bulb. Their current draw was the same as the good ones in
    the various pilot lights.

    Then the last ones i needed were the seat belt warning, and glove box
    lamps. I found no equivalent yet, but settled on _1815_ bulbs. They
    are actually 3 W bulbs with a current draw of 220 mA at 13 V. But for
    these applications where the bulb is only ON for a short time, the heat
    developed should not present a problem.

    I did notice some deformation due to heat in one of the "light pipes"
    that sits above the pneumatic switches for the air registers. So, even
    the little bulbs can cause minor heat related issues.

    What i would love to see is a cross reference list between bulbs that
    have a particular socket style, voltage and wattage marking (European
    style) versus American and/or Canadian designation in terms of
    "application" number. I have not been able to find such a cross
    reference. Many vehicles sold in North America publish such a list in
    the Owner's Manual, but the Volvo manual only lists the external bulbs.
    The internal ones are listed, but only with the European designations.

    Regards / John
     
    jch, Aug 18, 2005
    #5
  6. Randy G.

    Randy G. Guest

    I looked up the GE/Osram 161 and found this:
    Volts: 14, Watts: 0.19, Base: WEDGE
    http://www.bulbdirect.com/catalog.asp?prodid=408031&showprevnext=1

    The ones I need are pre-mounted in the 1/4-turn plastic base, or at
    least appear to be so.
    These are readily available in auto part stores in the US, so they are
    not a problem.
    All of those were good in my car, so I haven't looked for them yet.

    Most all auto part stores have a part number reference book that lists
    most of the bulbs (except as noted above)- all the tail, headlight,
    and other small bulbs are referenced and readily available, even the
    euro spec ones with the chrome base.


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Aug 18, 2005
    #6
  7. Randy G.

    jch Guest

    Randy G. wrote:

    _____
    There must be an error in their designation. If i replace Watts with
    Amps, i get the _correct_ wattage. 0.19 Watts is pure nonsense. You
    could barely see the light from such a bulb.
    _____
    There are only _two_ of these bulbs in the cluster; at the top left and
    right side. They illuminate the plastic light bar that spreads a
    greenish light over the instrument faces. The sockets are a dark brown
    plastic about 17mm diameter and 10mm high with two clamp style contacts.
    The socket indeed takes a 1/4 turn to secure in the back of the
    circuit board of the cluster. The bulb just pulls out. At least on all
    my Volvos they do.

    Regards / John
     
    jch, Aug 18, 2005
    #7
  8. Randy G.

    Randy G. Guest

    Hmmm... I tried pulling the bulb out and no amount of force could do
    it- I started with pulling with my fingers, then went to prying with a
    little screwdriver, then pushing through the slot in the basee of the
    socket, then pulling with a small pair of round-jaw pliers, and
    finally held the bulb in a vise and slowly tightened the vise while
    prying the base off with a screwdriver. I was applying a lot of force
    with the screwdriver when the bulb burst. it went everywhere with a
    very exciting "POP!"


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Aug 18, 2005
    #8
  9. Randy G.

    Randy G. Guest

    There are indeed two of them, and in earlier years the bulbs do just
    pull out of the sockets and are relaceable separately. In the '90 the
    bulb is an integral part of the socket and cannot be removed. The
    entire socket/bulb assembly must be replaced.They rtail at Volvo for
    $16 I think, but the folks at out local, very friendly Volvo dealer
    sold them to me at cost/wholesale(?)- $9.. each.

    As I walked up to the dealer's parts door, I passed by four, new,
    ready-to-be-prepped XC-90s. Pretty. Luxurious. Impressive. Looked at
    the window sticker.. just over $49,000 if I read it correctly. I
    didn't buy one... Why should I when I can get a Porsche Carrera GT
    for around $450,000.


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Aug 19, 2005
    #9
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