Rotary Headlight Switch illumination

[volcar16]

Is this single bulb meant to light up both the headlight rotary switch marker position and the 3 switches, (2 x fog lights/heated rear window)? I replaced it and still nothing lit up

(There was a photo but apparently my link looks too spammy for a new user...)

[Alan 480]

i think each rocker switch has it's own bulb?

the rotary switch contacts are a bit 'suspect' any way so I'd not get overly concerned, you can feel theswicth anyway, no need to 'look' for it

[dcwalker]

It is just the one bulb that lights up the rotary switch and the rocker switches. Hence the clear strip of plastic that runs up behind the rocker switch symbols.

The rotary switch is always pretty dim but the rocker switch symbols should be quite bright. So either the replacement bulb is also dead, not pressed home properly, the lighting level rheostat is turned right down, or there is a wiring fault somewhere...

David

[brinkie]

There is a single 1.2W T5 bulb illuminating the fog lights/rear window heater switches and the rotary light switch. The light is guided through perspex guides, if they are missing or misaligned then the switches won't be illuminated.
Usually the light in the rotary switch is faint.
Is the light working at all? You can pull out the rotary switch and check.
(edit: posted simultanuously with David giving the same answer )

[AleksanderHugo]

There is one bulb illuminating rotary switch and the three buttons. There are two plastic prisms that distribute the light around. One prism leads the light info the rotary switch and the other leads the light up to the buttons. If you remove the button, the prism should be partly visible.

Perhaps your car is missing the prism? Another issue may be due to LED lightbulbs. These produce more directional light and often it is not distributed through those prisms correctly.

[volcar16]

Thank you Alan, David & Aleksander, much appreciated,

I replaced the bulb, which must have been in for years, when the dash was out last time, when the kind Mr Brinkie fixed the odometer, and the new bulb seemed to fit OK but I was not 100% sure. The clear Perspex is in place, I think I was just amazed one bulb seemed to do everything and thought I'd double check as I'd hate to have the dash apart again and miss the bulb that's just hidden behind the *something*...

I replaced the rotary switch with one from a breakers as I had worn off two of the markings on mine and it looked like a perfect example of one, the lights work fine.

I still have the switches half out from last time and I must get the dash back together! I'm intending to install a new Philips CD/radio as it also has hands free phone and MP3 connectivity, a kind of sympathetic update of the original Philips one that came with the car that expired, the car still has the Philips radio security stickers on the windows even though it now has a Sony CD/radio installed, (that I recently discovered was fitted as a factory option to the CityRover... )

Many thanks,

Andrew
480 Celebration 244/480, with the roof from 289/480 (to get rid of the aftermarket sunroof the first owner had installed) and now with the rear arches from a 480GT, all sprayed to match of course!)

[volcar16]

Thank you Robert also, I will check this weekend when the dashboard fun starts...

[Alan 480]

ach well dinna rely on memory

l'm blaming auld timers, or too many cars . . . . .

[volcar16]

I now have illumination around the headlight switch (very dim...) and the 3 switches above it (unmissable!) , the fault was nothing more than the tiny wire contact sticking to the glass quite flush rather than sticking out and making contact. Must admit I can't recall ever seeing the 3 switches illuminated before, perhaps Volvo's Used Car scheme preparation service in 2001 didn't notice it. (They didn't notice the blocked aircon drain which flooded the passenger footwell...)

Does the Hazard Warning Light switch have a bulb in it? ...

[dcwalker]

I now have illumination around the headlight switch (very dim...) and the 3 switches above it (unmissable!) , the fault was nothing more than the tiny wire contact sticking to the glass quite flush rather than sticking out and making contact. Must admit I can't recall ever seeing the 3 switches illuminated before, perhaps Volvo's Used Car scheme preparation service in 2001 didn't notice it. (They didn't notice the blocked aircon drain which flooded the passenger footwell...)

Does the Hazard Warning Light switch have a bulb in it? ...

Glad you have got that one sorted!

Yes, the hazard switch is illuminated. You have to remove the dash, take the whole unit out of the back, then prise off the actual switch and the bulb sits down there. From memory it is really small, something like 0.36W, but I replaced the blown bulb in my Celeb with the standard 1.2W bulb (like that for the headlamp switch). makes it quite bright but not (for me, anyway) a problem, and 6 years later had encountered no problems with it being too hot or anything. An equivalent LED, of course, might alleviate any concerns on the heat score anyway.

On your later point, by 2001 I think most Volvo dealers had forgotten what a 480 was, let alone how it should work!!

David

[jamescarruthers]

I have a load of 0.36W bulbs so if you want one I could probably post one to you. It's too overpowering with the 1.2W in

[volcar16]

Many thanks David & James, when I'm at a loose end I'll rave the dash out again... I still have the fan switch, clock and info centre only half in for easy access, seems like madness to push them all the way in again considering the effort it took carefully getting them out... Thanks for offering to send a replacement bulb, I'll nick one from my dad which where some of the others came from! He's short of nothing, finding it is sometimes a another matter...