Volvo 480 Club Europe

Hello all,

I took out my dash a couple days ago to replace all of the bulbs with some fresh ones as some had blown. It's a different bulb to all the others. I didn't know this, but the 3 auxiliary switches and the rotating dial are all supposed to light up. The one in there already was blown so I ordered a new one and...... of course it doesn't fit.
The bulb on the left is the old one and the one on the right is the new one. Thanks to Euro Car Parts who said this bulb would fit my car (I should've done more research as to whether it fits or not in retrospect)
Can anyone link me to the correct bulb? Thank you.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=35982

286 from Halfords, etc for this I think. Yours looks the same though, I’m a bit confused!

On the above link, note that the Hazard Warning switch light is a much lower wattage if you do replace it.

Those look the same as such and the right bulb.

Have you taken the front of the dashboard off to do this job? Strange as it might sound it is actually quite hard to get the bulb square on if you are just working through the hole where the light switch goes...

David

dcwalker wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:57 pm

Those look the same as such and the right bulb.

Have you taken the front of the dashboard off to do this job? Strange as it might sound it is actually quite hard to get the bulb square on if you are just working through the hole where the light switch goes...

David

I've taken the entire front dash panel off and the gauge cluster, so access is not a problem and I've even re-installed the old bulb a couple times to check that I'm not going mad, but the new bulb is definitely loose. I'll have another go tomorrow when It's light again. The exact bulb I ordered is a Neolux N286S 12V bulb, which In theory SHOULD fit, but is clearly lose in the socket. I suspect it has something to do with the size of the small glass circle at the bottom of the bulb. That's the only thing that is different.

The glass bobble does look bigger on the new bulb, I must admit.

I tend to go for Osram bulbs for things like this, because packs of 10 of these bulbs are only about £8 or so. While you have the dash to bits it would be wise to change as many of the bulbs as you can. There are two more like this one in the heater controls...

David

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:26 pm

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=35982

286 from Halfords, etc for this I think. Yours looks the same though, I’m a bit confused!

On the above link, note that the Hazard Warning switch light is a much lower wattage if you do replace it.

Thanks for the link, but that is the same type of bulb that I've ordered, a N286S. So quite confused...

Check your PMs, William - the answer may be at hand...

David

If your taking the dashboard out to change it, grab a few more and change the two in the heater panel, the one in the heated seat panel, the one in the ashtray and if you're a dab hand at soldering, the one on the fan switch.

I tried to get the heater out, but I can't seem to do so. There are two metal strips either side of it holding it in place which seem to be blocking it.

You are not doing anything wrong, the heater controller is a bastard to get out and the little clip that holds the Bowden cable down (which is ESSENTIAL) likes to ping off and never be seen again.

You will have to remove the metal brackets as you describe.

You may just be able to pop the bulbs out with the heater controller in situ but I have struggled with this on some cars. Give it a go though if you have thin dexterous fingers.

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 9:37 pm

You are not doing anything wrong, the heater controller is a bastard to get out and the little clip that holds the Bowden cable down (which is ESSENTIAL) likes to ping off and never be seen again.

You will have to remove the metal brackets as you describe.

You may just be able to pop the bulbs out with the heater controller in situ but I have struggled with this on some cars. Give it a go though if you have skin dexterous fingers.

Thanks for the advice I’ll give it a try

Just for the record, these bulbs are generic T5 1.2W 12V and there is also one in the hazard light switch, which ought to have a lower wattage otherwise it will show its hazard sign very dominantly but it won't hurt so I've put one in anyway
I've always bought these as a set of 10 as that is cheaper than ordering 7 separate bulbs. Neolux 286 will do fine. (The "S" denotes single package)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191411511121