Okay - How do ya change a headlight bulb on an S80?

[Pat Durkin]

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

 

[G Klein]

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

--
"*-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"

 

[Spanky]

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!

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

 

[Pat Durkin]

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

 

[Hurrah]

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

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.

 

[Tony Penner]

If you get skin oil on the bulb, the heat then turns it black and stops it
emitting its potential light

 

[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.

Spanky

 

[Michael Wojcik]

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.

--
Michael Wojcik [email protected]

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

 

[Pat Durkin]

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.

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.

 

[G Klein]

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

--
"*-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"

 

[Spanky]

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

 

[G Klein]

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

--
"*-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]

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.