Interior Bulb Upgrade, Possible?.........

Kev H · Sep 24th, 2014, 17:13

Hi all,

I was looking to upgrade the interior lighting to LED bulbs as it brightens up the interior.

After sourcing some replacement 501 type LED bulbs off ebay ive just found out that the Volvo interior bulbs are mated to the bulb holders. Even removing the bulb and replacing with the LED wont work as the connector points/wires are in the wrong place.

Has anyone else come across this problem?

Is it possible to buy bulb holders only which would accept a standard 501 type bulb?

I cant see any online and im now wondering if this is even possible on a 2008 V70.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Kev

green van man · Sep 25th, 2014, 18:05

Changing from standard settings may trigger fault reports. It has done on my merc sprinter after I fitted higher wattage lamps to the interior lights, system sees the extra resistance as a light out and triggers the warning. Unless the LEDs are ballested to give same values as original could well do the same thing to the Volvo system.

Paul.

lukas430000 · Sep 25th, 2014, 18:46

Hey

I have changed all interior bulbs to LED/SMD ones. Was not easy but it's do able.
Just to let You know that newer type led with flat connector won't fit. It have to be older type with wires sticking on each side. That's for interior domes.

They won't fit due to flat connector surface:

But they ones will:

Another thing is at least one of them must be canbus. Otherwise they will slightly glow after You lock car.

For the footwell, glovebox and boot You can use any festoon leds. If you need pics I can get some later. I had a thread somewhere in here but after server updates pics are gone... Any help just let know.

Cheers

Luk

Kev H · Oct 10th, 2014, 05:52

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info, Sorry for not replying sooner but was on holiday.

Lukas, its the flat type Leds i got which is obviously why the are not compatible.

How did you get the ones with the wires to work? Do you just pull the wires to the side so they touch the wires in the bulb holders?

Did you just pull out the original bulb until it rips from the holders or is it possible to remove them with a soldering iron? Any pics would be really usefull.

I dont want to be changing only some of the bulbs, would rather have all the interior matching and the LEDS really freshen up any car.

Cheers

lukas430000 · Oct 11th, 2014, 20:36

Hello

I will try upload pictures tomorrow. U need to take whole domes out of the car and just do them in warmth of Your house. When You open lights You need to take the bulbs out. I think they are soldered in place. Just remove them gently. Wires You can solder or just like me push in place. Flat fitting will not touch connectors so it's no good. Unless You can put some solder on top of contacts.
As I said I will take pics tomorrow.

Hope this helps

lukas430000 · Oct 12th, 2014, 14:50

Hey Kev H

I tried to take as detailed pics as possible. Hopefully my phone is good enough...

Front cluster:

That's the front dome. Small tabs in blue holder can be taken out and wires from the bulb can be attached to them. Then just insert them back. Mind that they are very small and can be lost easily. I am not sure if You can purchase some holders on ebay or else...

Rear dome:

Hope this helps Kev

yourtheguy · Dec 7th, 2014, 23:04

Hi Lukas, you answered a question I was meaning to ask with this post, I have changed my interior bulbs to LED's and the do glow ever so slightly when the car is locked but also when driving you can make out a faint light.
So next job is to find some canbus LED's and fit.

Thanks very much for you input.

lukas430000 · Dec 11th, 2014, 17:37

You actually need only one canbus and if You change it the glow will go away. I had an original one and put it in...guess what? Glow vanished...so i have now three LED and one yellow....

dgunthor · Jun 3rd, 2019, 10:44

hi, how do you get the light fittings out - do they just click out?

PEGE63 · Sep 25th, 2014, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev H

Hi all,

I was looking to upgrade the interior lighting to LED bulbs as it brightens up the interior.

After sourcing some replacement 501 type LED bulbs off ebay ive just found out that the Volvo interior bulbs are mated to the bulb holders. Even removing the bulb and replacing with the LED wont work as the connector points/wires are in the wrong place.

Has anyone else come across this problem?

Is it possible to buy bulb holders only which would accept a standard 501 type bulb?

I cant see any online and im now wondering if this is even possible on a 2008 V70.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Kev

I replaced the boot light for a LED (canbus), bit fiddly to fit due to heat sink but in it went and light is great. not tried anywhere else.

Sep 24th, 2014, 17:13	#1
Kev H New Member Last Online: Mar 14th, 2024 10:14 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Aberdeen	Interior Bulb Upgrade, Possible?......... Hi all, I was looking to upgrade the interior lighting to LED bulbs as it brightens up the interior. After sourcing some replacement 501 type LED bulbs off ebay ive just found out that the Volvo interior bulbs are mated to the bulb holders. Even removing the bulb and replacing with the LED wont work as the connector points/wires are in the wrong place. Has anyone else come across this problem? Is it possible to buy bulb holders only which would accept a standard 501 type bulb? I cant see any online and im now wondering if this is even possible on a 2008 V70. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Kev

Sep 25th, 2014, 18:46	#3
lukas430000 Senior Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2017 09:14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scotland	Hey I have changed all interior bulbs to LED/SMD ones. Was not easy but it's do able. Just to let You know that newer type led with flat connector won't fit. It have to be older type with wires sticking on each side. That's for interior domes. They won't fit due to flat connector surface: But they ones will: Another thing is at least one of them must be canbus. Otherwise they will slightly glow after You lock car. For the footwell, glovebox and boot You can use any festoon leds. If you need pics I can get some later. I had a thread somewhere in here but after server updates pics are gone... Any help just let know. Cheers Luk __________________ Volvo - not everybody's car. But who want's to be everybody.

Oct 11th, 2014, 20:36	#5
lukas430000 Senior Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2017 09:14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scotland	Hello I will try upload pictures tomorrow. U need to take whole domes out of the car and just do them in warmth of Your house. When You open lights You need to take the bulbs out. I think they are soldered in place. Just remove them gently. Wires You can solder or just like me push in place. Flat fitting will not touch connectors so it's no good. Unless You can put some solder on top of contacts. As I said I will take pics tomorrow. Hope this helps __________________ Volvo - not everybody's car. But who want's to be everybody.

Oct 12th, 2014, 14:50	#6
lukas430000 Senior Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2017 09:14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scotland	Hey Kev H I tried to take as detailed pics as possible. Hopefully my phone is good enough... Front cluster: That's the front dome. Small tabs in blue holder can be taken out and wires from the bulb can be attached to them. Then just insert them back. Mind that they are very small and can be lost easily. I am not sure if You can purchase some holders on ebay or else... Rear dome: Hope this helps Kev __________________ Volvo - not everybody's car. But who want's to be everybody.

Dec 11th, 2014, 17:37	#8
lukas430000 Senior Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2017 09:14 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scotland	You actually need only one canbus and if You change it the glow will go away. I had an original one and put it in...guess what? Glow vanished...so i have now three LED and one yellow.... __________________ Volvo - not everybody's car. But who want's to be everybody.

Sep 25th, 2014, 18:05	#2
green van man Premier Member Last Online: Apr 11th, 2024 09:21 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ffos y Ffin	Changing from standard settings may trigger fault reports. It has done on my merc sprinter after I fitted higher wattage lamps to the interior lights, system sees the extra resistance as a light out and triggers the warning. Unless the LEDs are ballested to give same values as original could well do the same thing to the Volvo system. Paul.

Oct 10th, 2014, 05:52	#4
Kev H New Member Last Online: Mar 14th, 2024 10:14 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Aberdeen	Hi Guys, Thanks for the info, Sorry for not replying sooner but was on holiday. Lukas, its the flat type Leds i got which is obviously why the are not compatible. How did you get the ones with the wires to work? Do you just pull the wires to the side so they touch the wires in the bulb holders? Did you just pull out the original bulb until it rips from the holders or is it possible to remove them with a soldering iron? Any pics would be really usefull. I dont want to be changing only some of the bulbs, would rather have all the interior matching and the LEDS really freshen up any car. Cheers

Dec 7th, 2014, 23:04	#7
yourtheguy Junior Member Last Online: Jun 9th, 2023 17:28 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: pembroke	Hi Lukas, you answered a question I was meaning to ask with this post, I have changed my interior bulbs to LED's and the do glow ever so slightly when the car is locked but also when driving you can make out a faint light. So next job is to find some canbus LED's and fit. Thanks very much for you input.

Jun 3rd, 2019, 10:44	#9
dgunthor Senior Member Last Online: Sep 27th, 2022 13:38 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Caerphilly	hi, how do you get the light fittings out - do they just click out? __________________ 2002 V70 2.5T [1999 V70 2.5 140 - scrapped]

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