1998 Volvo S70 with CD/Cassette Player. How do I change out the burned out lights in my radio? About half of the buttons no longer light up. I know it seems premature for the bulbs to be burned out, but I leave my headlights on all of the time. The Daytime Running Lights (DRL) were causing me to go through new headlights at the rapid rate. Also what type of bulb do I need?

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Additions by RSpi: Every time you turn the lights on in the car these radio lights come on. I think they are even on when the radio is off. They are pretty easy to replace, there are only 5 bulbs in the faceplate of the radio. These instructions apply to all of the radio's that are in the 800, 900, and 70 series cars (probably all of the mid to late '90 model Volvos). I recommend you read through THIS entire thread before you start link jumping. The links from one thread to another will drive you crazy, they go back and forth and around and around, YUK!!! Again, read through THIS thread and I have posted ALL of the links on post #17 of this thread. https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...e2/#post263586

 

https://volvoforums.com/m_2141/mpage...bs/tm.htm#2141
check out the link for bulb replacement.

 

Thanks that post was very informative.

 

Your welcome.

 

I got the replacement lights (9148908) from Volvo and installed them today. I am not sure if they changed the design of the 816 radio, but once the face was removed the bulbs were accessible from there without having to remove the LCD or circuit board. All in all 20 min worth of work. I just can't believe that the bulbs were $5.22/each.

 

Im glad it went easy for you.I know Volvo rapes people for bulbs.

 

has anyone ever taken the bulbs to radio shack to see if they have a replacement? I know for BMWs Radio Shack has exactly what you need for the dash lights and etc.....................
reg.

 

I haven't heard of anyone trying.Also I know that alot of import stores that deal with alot Of VW parts have parts for Volvo's.Alot of the relays and bulbs are the same as the VW's.

 

I didn't look at Radio Shack. I did a search on the Internet for cheaper bulbs with no luck. I ended up calling a local dealer.

 

I have a 1999 S70 T5 and I just replaced my radio bulbs last night.

I searched around and found a couple of really good post on how to do this.

Read these two threads and you will be good to go:

How to replace blown radio bulbs / SC-816!
https://volvoforums.com/m_2141/mpage...bs/tm.htm#2141

One Side Of My Radio Has Lights Out
https://volvoforums.com/m_10129/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm


A few key points:
* The dealer will tell you the bulbs are not replaceable and that you have to buy a new radio, not true! Many people on this forum have done this now and you can too, and for under $10 bucks.
* You MUST have your radio's security code to re-activate it one you are done. If you don't have it you can get it from a dealership with your VIN number but it is a hassle.
* Yes, it is possible that several of your bulbs blew out at the exact same moment. 4 out of my 5 bulbs went out so I thought it must be a circiut or something, but when I tested it, that one remaning bulb worked fine in all 4 of the other spots.
** Radio shack does have the correct replacement bulbs, (or at least mine did). When I searched on the website it did not find them, when I called the store and the guy looked them up it did not find them, but when we went over to the rack of drawers with all the little electronics stuff, there in one of the drawers of bulbs were the exact ones I needed. Radio Shack type 7219 (12V), P/N 272-1092.

My Radio


New bulbs from Radioshack - Package $1.69 for a package of 2.


Close up of new bulb


Close up of Socket, Bulb, and Cover


Bulb / Socket Locations

 

Buy the bulbs from Honda. They work fine and you don't have to go through the hassle of taking the little bulbs out of the black plastic and putting new ones in.

 

check out the link for the best instructions and photos on how to fix this problem in about 20 minutes
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/vol...eplacement.php

 

bump

ditto on the Honda replacement bulbs, I ordered online and had them in 2 days. $7 for 6 bulbs plus shipping but Ifigure my wasted time running down to the Honda dealer on a weekend is worththe shipping cost.

The procedure takes all of about 15 minutes to pull the radio, open her up, replace the bulbs and put it all back. I did it to my wife's car one afternoon when she got home from work and was changing clothes to go to the gym. I didn't tell her I was doing it and she mentioned on her way home from the gym that the radio lights were all working again. haha

 

Thanks for this! Took me 30 minutes to replace all 5!

 

How do you order these bulbs from Honda? Please, treat me like I just fell out of the hot air ballon that RE/MAX has.

 

Really, it's not a problem to get them from Volvo. I just replaced 4 of mine and a few others - just take an old one down to the parts counter, they were a few bucks a pop WITH the little blue cover, unlike the Honda bulbs.
Buy extras!

Also, my radio had 4 or 5 little "tabs" that held the circut board to the rest of the radio - twist 'em with needle nose pliers. Easy fix.

Don

 

I just replaced the bulbs in our S70. I used the bulbs from another radio that was broken (the am side does not work). I wrote some instructions but after looking through this thread and a few others, I thought, what's the point, it's already covered well, especially on Matthew's site.

1. First off, you DO NOT have to remove the radio to change the bulbs. It can be done with the radio hanging out.
2. There are 3 screws to be removed. One from the left side and two from the right side.
3. There are 8 tabs that need to be released from the edges of the radio to pull the face plate off. Two on each edge.
4. There are 5 bulbs in the radio. Look at the photos above and you will see how they are positioned.
5. Some of the faceplates come off with the circuit board attached, some will leave the circuit board on the radio. If the circuit board is still attached, you can use a small screw driver to pry the edge off or do like someone else mentioned and twist the metal post a little straight to get it off (I just pryed the board off).
6. When you tilt the faceplate forward to get the bulbs out, watch the cable strip. If you pull it out, make sure you put it back in correctly.

Other than that I found link after link going from one place to another all over the place. Here are all the links. They were going back and forth and driving me nuts.

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...ghts-out-2230/

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...-sc-816-a-664/

Best Photo Instructions: http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/200...b-replacement/

Replacing Lights Within The Radio? - Volvospeed Forums

’93 Volvo 850 Radio Light Replacement Notes - Volvospeed Forums

 

I actually had an sc-811 that did not work, but the button lights still illuminated. So I copped another sc-811 from a scrapyard, and it worked except for the lights. I ended up just swapping the circuit board from the broken radio, into the working radio, and I now have button lights. I suppose this is only relevant if you have a radio to use for parts.