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Car Forum / Volvo Cars / September 2004Okay - How do ya change a headlight bulb on an S80?
I read somewhere that some guy said he was pleased that it was so easy and he felt better after he "popped it in" (me too, but that's another story). Back to the subject at hand, my little triangular light with the exclamation point in the middle of my dash stayed on this morning and the message center on the left side of the dash said something about headlight bulb in "dipped position". I guess that means low beam. Anyway, I was busy most of the day at work but finally found time to call the Volvo dealer late in the afternoon, thinking I could just swing by and have somebody "pop one in". Well it didn't work that way. "Oh no! Not this afternoon! All my technicians are currently assigned and some have already punched out and gone home. Just bring it by in the morning and we'll get you out of here before 10:00 am". Uh, I don't think so. So I go by Pep Boys on my way home and pick up a bulb. Then I opened the hood, twisted a round plastic cap off the back of the headlight and looked in. There, inside a tiny housing not quite big enough for a human to stick his fingers in, was the back of the offending burned-out bulb. Attached to it was what appeared to be a snap-on plug with some small diameter electric wires. I pulled and poked and squeezed this plug and manipulated it as much as possible but it remained attached to the back of the light no matter what I did. Finally, I was afraid that if I used much more force I would break something. I did notice, however, when I looked inside, that there appeared to be maybe a piece of spring type wire that was possibly holding things in tension - sort of like a mousetrap gizmo. There didn't seem to be any real easy way to grab hold of the thing and move it in the tiny space provided, but is this what I'm looking for? Somebody who's done this a dozen times, help! Pat The problem as you found is lack of space to even get to the bulb the connector almost always gets stuck to the bulb requiring a small amount to dislodge use a small screwdriver & not your hands unless you like the sight of your blood I have changed numerous headlight bulbs over the years & I still despise changing them on the newer cars Glenn  Signature"*-344-*Never Forgotten" Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001. The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as long as I live, nor should any American. "Mow Green" >I read somewhere that some guy said he was pleased that it was so easy and > he felt better after he "popped it in" (me too, but that's another story). [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Pat > I did notice, however, when I looked inside, that there appeared to be maybe > a piece of spring type wire that was possibly holding things in tension - [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Somebody who's done this a dozen times, help! Well, I've only done this once (three headlight bulbs are still stock after nearly 5 years and 60,000 miles) and it was almost a year ago but I recall having no issues doing it right in the parking lot of the auto parts store. There is a clip in there, you will just have to look at it to see how it works. My hands are size large and they didn't have a problem fitting a new bulb, I recall being pleased it was so simple. Spanky > Well, I've only done this once (three headlight bulbs are still stock after > nearly 5 years and 60,000 miles) and it was almost a year ago but I recall > having no issues doing it right in the parking lot of the auto parts store. > There is a clip in there, you will just have to look at it to see how it > works. My hands are size large and they didn't have a problem fitting a new > bulb, I recall being pleased it was so simple. Okay I'll try it again. I think you're agreeing that wire thing I think I see is a clip of some sort. I couldn't really tell from my angle because I can't see either end of it but it looks like spring steel instead of plain old wire. I was a little intimidated by the cautionary language on the H7 bulb's package. Apparently it's pressurized and apt to explode of mishandled. Somebody also told me not to get any skin oil on it or it will fail in short order. Pat > > Well, I've only done this once (three headlight bulbs are still stock > after [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Pat Hi, I've just had my "dipped" bulb fail (on my V70). It's easy to remove the bulb (but space is tight). The wire clip needs to be pushed forward a little (towards the bulb) and then moved slightly sidewise towards the left). This will then allow the clip to be "hinged" downwards, although in some cases the electrical connector might foul it. The connector can be pulled off, but it is really tight. I found that by unclipping the clip and then removing the bulb and connector as one, I then had enough "play" on the wire to allow me to remove the connector from the old bulb and to replace it. Note that the bulb can only be put back into the holder one way around - so before you put on the connector, loose fit the bulb so you know which way around it is orientated. Then re-fit the bulb + connector and re-fit the clip. Try to keep the new bulb clean and free of any "skin oil" as it can cause the new bulb to fail prematurely. Whole thing takes less the 2 minutes. H. If you get skin oil on the bulb, the heat then turns it black and stops it emitting its potential light > > > Well, I've only done this once (three headlight bulbs are still stock > > after [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > H. > If you get skin oil on the bulb, the heat then turns it black and stops it > emitting its potential light And the resulting hot spot causes the new bulb to fail much more quickly. If you touch the bulb it can be cleaned with a couple of clean cotton balls and a little rubbing alcohol. Spanky > > If you get skin oil on the bulb, the heat then turns it black and stops it > > emitting its potential light > > And the resulting hot spot causes the new bulb to fail much more quickly. If > you touch the bulb it can be cleaned with a couple of clean cotton balls and > a little rubbing alcohol. Yup. I find it easiest to just bring some solvent (rubbing alcohol, mineral spirits, whatever) and a clean, lint-free cloth with me when I go to change a high-temp bulb of any sort. Get the bulb in its socket, then wipe it clean regardless of whether you think you may have touched the glass. You can also wear gloves when you change bulbs - I do, mostly in case I break one - but it's easier to clean the bulb after installation than it is to ensure the glove is oil-free. Two minutes digging out the proper tools is always better than having to repeat the repair prematurely. SignatureMichael Wojcik michael.wojcik@microfocus.com The antics which have been drawn together in this book are huddled here for mutual protection like sheep. If they had half a wit apiece each would bound off in many directions, to unsimplify the target. -- Walt Kelly "Michael Wojcik" <mwojcik@newsguy.com> wrote in message > Yup. I find it easiest to just bring some solvent (rubbing alcohol, > mineral spirits, whatever) and a clean, lint-free cloth with me when [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I break one - but it's easier to clean the bulb after installation > than it is to ensure the glove is oil-free. Changed a lotta headlight bulbs on S80's, have you Michael? Or is this just a comment on how --- in the best of all worlds the theory states that we should wipe the bulb clean before we wrap up the job and turn on the headlights? Well, if you mean it when you say "clean the bulb after installation" I think about how Steve Martin wanted to 'get small' years ago on SNL. You'd have to be mighty small Michael. Tiny in fact. Well, changing the subject, I will add that I was emboldened to go out and attempt change my 'burned out' S80 bulb. A half hour later, with a piece of a broken push-on connector in my hand, I finally chucked it all in and decided to run by the Volvo dealership the next morning. $93.56 And 90 minutes later I drove out with 2 new H/L bulbs installed and a new replacement connector crimped on on the RH side to replace the one that fell apart in my hand, and also a new fuse because apparently while I was blindly fumbling around I must have touched one connector to another one, and (according to the service writer) apparently shorted something out and blew a fuse*. Pat * I don't know if I believe that theory. In fact I wonder if the reason my RH "dipped" headlight suddenly went dead might have been a simple blown fuse in the first place. No the S-80 is famous for burning bulbs out almost every day I change @ least 2-3 sets of bulbs always change the bulbs in pairs I do not know what your dealers policy is on bulbs but the dealer were I work has bulbs with the service advisors so they can change the bulbs without having you to leave the vehicle usually within 5 minutes Glenn Signature"*-344-*Never Forgotten" Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001. The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as long as I live, nor should any American. "Mow Green" > "Michael Wojcik" <mwojcik@newsguy.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > fuse > in the first place. > No the S-80 is famous for burning bulbs out almost every day I change @ > least 2-3 sets of bulbs always change the bulbs in pairs I do not know what > your dealers policy is on bulbs but the dealer were I work has bulbs with > the service advisors so they can change the bulbs without having you to > leave the vehicle usually within 5 minutes > Glenn Glenn, why would some S80's have the problem and not others? My S80 is almost 5 years old and has 60,000 miles and 3 out of 4 of the headlight bulbs are still original, as the car was delivered from Sweden. When the message on the dash came on saying my low beam had burned out I almost replaced both low beams but then my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see how much longer the other low-beam bulb would last so I only replaced the left one. That was before last Thanksgiving and the right low beam is still going strong! I've never had a car that could go so long without burning out headlights. Why is my S80 so different from the ones you service? Is your boss buying the wrong brand of bulb? And it was a quick and simple job. Of course you have to understand how the bulb holder works before you start monkeying with it but the mechanism is well designed and easy to use. Spanky It depends on a few factors some S-80s Had a headlight service campaign where a cable with a resistor was added to the headlight Harness by way of a adaptor cable some did qualify for this action some did not as for the quality of bulbs Volvo has used several different manufactures Osram & GE the Osram bulbs seem to last longer then the GE bulbs other than that it just comes down to just plain luck Glenn Signature"*-344-*Never Forgotten" Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001. The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as long as I live, nor should any American. "Mow Green" > >> No the S-80 is famous for burning bulbs out almost every day I change @ [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Spanky > "Michael Wojcik" <mwojcik@newsguy.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Changed a lotta headlight bulbs on S80's, have you Michael? Nary a one, since I don't own an S80, and I don't generally go about changing the bulbs on other people's cars. I was commenting on changing bulbs in general, nitwit. Where did I mention an S80? > Or is this just a comment on how --- in the best of all worlds the theory > states that we should wipe the bulb clean before we wrap up the job and turn > on the headlights? What part of "Get the bulb in its socket, then wipe it clean" didn't you understand? Here's a hint: the socket is not the reflector. > Well, changing the subject, Good plan, since changing bulbs doesn't appear to be your strong suit. SignatureMichael Wojcik michael.wojcik@microfocus.com Dude, it helps to be smart if you're gonna be mean. -- Darby Conley |
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