My automatic transmission gear shifter's lamp has been out for some time now. I don't drive a whole lot at night but when I do, I have to turn on my reading lamp to see what I'm shifting into.

My questions:

1. What sort of bulb should I use here?

2. Is this a tricky repair? I can handle the tail lights given the instructions in the manual, is this one about the same difficulty or should I have my mechanic do this one?

 

IT's a special bulb that's 10 or 15 bucks. I forget how much.

As to replacing, I assume it's simply removing the center console which should be pretty easy. Not as simple as the taillights, but not hard enough to have a mechanic replace it.

 

This has been posted on recently, if you do some searching you should find some stuff last month or so... I did quickly find this post for you which should answer your question...

https://volvoforums.com/m_54374/tm.htm

 

What I did when the bulb burnt out on our 850 was remove the console (which is not too hard, but is a bit tricky) and then access the bulb. The dealer would only sell the bulb and holder as an assemby for like $25, so I took the bulb and holder to my local Radio Shack and got a bulb the worked just fine for $1.89

Glenn

 

^Wait so is the bulb actually replacable? I haven't investigated but I was under the impression that it was one complete unit.

But if it's just a matter of a bulb and the rest is a holder, I'm for sure going to go get my bulb replaced....

 

Yes, I just replaced the bulb (along with about 8 other bulbs in the various switches and instrument lights that were burnt out when we got the car)

Glenn