Dashboard Lights

[Clifford Pope]

I have been driving 240s for 10 years and only just realised that the heater controls have provision for illumination from behind.
I can see why previous owners have never replaced the bulbs - they are virtually impossible to get at.
However, I have just found out how to manage it, so pass on this tip if anyone is interested:

The lower bulb is reached by removing the plastic panel on the driver's side of the central console. Pull gently on the wires with tweezers or tongs, but DO NOT detach the wires from the terminals or you risk loosing the ends. Pull the tiny bulb out and replace.
The upper bulb is much more difficult, access by removing the glove box. Wedge a mirror on top of the heater duct, and use an inspection lamp to get a view of the bulb's location. You need very thin wrists and nimble fingers to reach the lamp, but likewise, keep the wires plugged into the holder and only remove the bulb. Once you let go of an unattached wire it drops back into the wiring jungle behind and is difficult to find or retrieve.

[cbyard]

Not sure it isn't easier just to dismantle the centre console and heater panel- I had to disembowel mine (240GL) when I was trying to sort out the mess left by a DPO's efforts at radio fitting. once all the switches etc were out it was quite easy to replace (lots of) the bulbs. Afterwards it looked like a regular Christmas tree in the dark!

I remember thinking at the time that the Volvo dash was an awful lot easier to work on than the previous one (Montego) I had had the joy of dismantling to get at the heater. It certainly went back together much more easily.

I think the only slight problem was with some Torx fixings somewhere that I needed to get a screwdriver bit for; Haynes provided enough clues to where fixings were to be useful.


Cheers

Chris