V50 Electrics : Center (waterfall) console

[Philbc]

Hi,
I have a 2007, V-50 (now with just 61,000 miles) and a couple of the buttons in the centre console have stopped showing the white light behind the symbol(s). The function still remains (including an orange light to show "on") but at night I can't see where the button is.
I have enquired at Volvo and apparently bulbs (if that's what they are) are not replaceable …. just a new module at £704 + labour !!!
Whilst this is obviously prohibitive, I'm all in favour of a DIY fix if possible:
1). Has anyone ever carried this out successfully ?
2). Does anyone have a detailed photo showing the front of the module ?
3). Any advice, hints or tips gratefully received !

[ripstandem]

At least a dozen on eBay, switch unit can be removed from console.
Pretty sure it is a straight swap.

[Philbc]

Originally Posted by ripstandem

At least a dozen on eBay, switch unit can be removed from console.
Pretty sure it is a straight swap.

The man at Volvo warned me that "buying a used module will still need pairing by computer with my car by a Volvo dealer or it won't work" .... is that true or is it BS ?

[ripstandem]

Sorry I don't know if true or B.S..
At the price of a used unit I think I would give it a go and see what would happen at several hundred pounds I would put up with a light out rather than pay the dealers.
A tough call to make, a light out like that would torment me.

[FracturedButWhole]

Hi there,

I have a spare unit somewhere in the garage. You can have it, if you want, at the cost of P&P? You can try it and test before forking out some real cash. Let me know if you want it. Cheers.

[Philbc]

Originally Posted by ripstandem

Sorry I don't know if true or B.S..
At the price of a used unit I think I would give it a go and see what would happen at several hundred pounds I would put up with a light out rather than pay the dealers.
A tough call to make, a light out like that would torment me.

As with you (and whilst I rarely go out at night) I find a light out really annoying but I'm obviously not going to fork out telephone numbers to rectify it. Even at £30 - £50 for a used unit I will have to think twice (especially if I would still have to pay dealer prices to get it programmed to work).

Looking back to my teenage years, a fault such as this was purely a matter of spending less than a pound to change the bulb - the world has gone mad !

[Philbc]

Originally Posted by FracturedButWhole

Hi there,

I have a spare unit somewhere in the garage. You can have it, if you want, at the cost of P&P? You can try it and test before forking out some real cash. Let me know if you want it. Cheers.

That's a nice offer, thank you (a man after my own heart) and worth following up. I know it's a minor niggling fault but I refuse to believe that it can't be fixed with a soldering iron and a little time.

[Bendolfc]

Fairly sure they aren't paired. Just bear in mind there are different ones depending on spec and features, eg some won't have buttons for heated seats, phone etc.

[Philbc]

Originally Posted by Bendolfc

Fairly sure they aren't paired. Just bear in mind there are different ones depending on spec and features, eg some won't have buttons for heated seats, phone etc.

As in this case, the spare module is without the heated seat buttons so it's going to be a case of dissecting the spare module and transplanting the LEDs into mine.
Quietly confident that this can be done.

[iainmd]

I'm pretty sure the centre console unit isn't coded to the car (rare for Volvo) so a second hand unit can be bought (from same vintage with same spec) and just plugged in.