Instrument panel bulb question
 

Hello, can someone help me figure out what I am missing, if anything? When it is dark out, and I move the instrument panel dimmer on my 2004 s40, only the red needles seem to be getting brighter. I can't see the numbers on the speedometer. Is there another bulb that is supposed to shine on them? I just purchased this car from a private party. I changed the lights that shine on the license plate, but those were obvious. I can't find anything about this subject in the manual, despite it being about 80 pages long. Even the list of bulbs doesn't help. Can you?

Thank you!!!

You likely have a couple of burnt out bulbs in the cluster. Just pop it out - the bulbs should be easily accessible from the rear of the cluster. I don't think I've ever taking my cluster out but I'm pretty sure it is very straightforward. A little searching should do the trick. These bulbs are relatively expensive - be ready for a surprise at how much a tiny bulb can cost when it comes from the dealership!!!

Thank you Pierre! I have watched a few videos and looking for something that can pry pieces away without damage. One video I saw the guy had this thing he referred to as a "bone tool". I was just hoping to find a drawing that showed where the bulbs actually are before I begin pulling things apart, rather than the other way around. Rather shocked that it's not covered in the manual. Perhaps the same dimmer that adjusts the red needles/pointers is also supposed to control bulbs that shine on the numbers, but that is just an assumption.

On my 2003 S40 the dimmer controls all of the instrument panel lights. You have 2004, and if its the newer 2004+ model that might be different.


I replaced the bulbs in my climate control module, and upgraded to blue LED's in the process. The bulbs you need are T4 (Type B) Neo Wedge bulbs, they have the 10mm base. I bought mine from Instrument Panel Gauge Dashboard Colored Led Bulbs Lights Lamps.


Again, if you have the newer model 2004+ the bulbs might be a different size, so check before you buy them.

Thank you for the advice. I didn't know there were plus versions of a model year. Is that supposed to mean 2nd half of the year or something?

Yes, 2000-2004 was the smaller S40 with a turbo 1.9L engine. Then the newer, larger S40's came out in 2004 with the 2.4L and 2.5L turbo 5 cylinder engines. These are referred to as 2004.5 to differentiate them with the older model in that year.

Thanks Hudini, mine is a 1.9 T

Found another bulb out (I assume)...should be one to illuminate the gears (park, drive, neutral, reverse) on an automatic? Can't see the letters at night. Any idea which bulb that would be? Thanks again!!

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=217202

Wow, thanks Pierre! That one doesn't look too bad. Still hoping someone has done something that helpful for the removal of the instrument cluster

Actually it is really easy, I did mine on my S40 back when I got it over a year ago, bulb did not even need replacing, I just moved it a bit and viola it lit up, somehow the previous owner must have hit a bump and jarred it out of contact,

Mine has stayed on for over a year since I took care of it....talking about gear selector light.