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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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?

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.

Good plan, since changing bulbs doesn't appear to be your strong suit.