How quickly the simple becomes complicated.

The car (actually a 965) has clear rear turn signal lenses, like the back-up lights, but uses the yellow coated 1156 bulb. Rear turn signal on the wifemobile seemed to be very white, not yellow.

So - easy fix - right? Got a pair of yellow 1156 bulbs at AutoZone for under $5, including tax.

Today I went to install them, casually sitting the the cargo area for a 15 minute job. Popped off the cover, pulled out the bulb holder, took out the bulb (my touch wiped off 50% of the remaining dried up yellow coating bits).

Went to install the new bulb - no go, it will not fit. Turns out that the Volvo bulb has the little guide pins at 12 0'clock and 5 0'clock, not directly across from one another. The slots in the bulb holder are the same offset.

No problem sez I, get an old 240 bulb holder from the sack of them in BGVPD.

New bulb fits fine, bulb holder will not go into light housing. The housing has a little pin sticking up to under the holder, so that ONLY the Volvo 965 holder will fit. Aarrgghh!

Shut down the job, sent wife off to her job. Called the Dealer VPD, got the cute little girl that works there. (Girls in parts departments are a secret profit booster!) That unique bulb, 4 in stock, is $4.29 each. Ugh.

Not a budget-breaker, but a pisser-offer. (is that a word?)

Do I drive the 20 miles +/- to dealer to get a pair? OR pull put the tail light housing and carve off the offending pin so a 240 holder will work?

But I wonder - why do they do this? Are all the yellow Volvo application 1156 bulbs made this way?

Thanks for hearing me out.

Regards,

Bob

:>)



PS BG = Bob's Garage, VPD = Volvo Parts Department.