Guide: Fitting LED's to side lights and yellow side lights
 

This should work on most volvo cars, this will work on x40 series cars.
Thanks hyvää for link and information about those LED's.

I will make this as a guide so if anybody else wants to change to LED's(or regular light bulbs) they can do so faster and easier than they could do that themselves, saving some time and money.

So then, typical warning.
I am not a electrician! I do not take any responsibility if you mess this up and short circuit car's electrical system! (this doesn't stop you/me from rewiring your/my house with new electric cables, and change lighbulbs your/my self :) )

I made some comparison for a side lights. It looks way better than original(urine) colour bulbs :D

http://www.bildites.lv/images/mwm2vz0emd0alcts1y1.jpg

Looks way better than originals eh?

So then.....

Light bulbs came from Hong Kong, it took nearly 2 and half weeks to get them, I ordered 3 of them( there is 2 LED bulbs in one pack, in total I've got 6 LED's)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/k5l89m61z86vccyqqhgf.jpg

Unpacking...
http://www.bildites.lv/images/tbx79oxlqpxsp6dmc.jpg

Comparing light bulb with LED's
http://www.bildites.lv/images/x76bfy0qyofa8tsl3whc.jpg
--------

I used small flat head screwdriver, you may want to use something between screwdriver and plastic, just in case of any damage occurs. ( I didn't used any)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/fchm82h17ynxa440rx.jpg

Move it outwards, that metallic clip holds it in place so you just want to pop it out(if it is rusty, it will fells like its stuck)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/ww469alug3u5keu08pxd.jpg

Slide it towards the back of the car
http://www.bildites.lv/images/e96gsenxot59jecusbs9.jpg

Check if there is any damage to wires
http://www.bildites.lv/images/493c5aobk8h7mrty7d.jpg

To remove the light bulb holder you need to rotate it 90 degrees counter clockwise (pret pulksteni)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/prb96fpmqephjrg5po7k.jpg

It should come out easy enough
http://www.bildites.lv/images/7kdx381gqsb8un7v6a.jpg

Then remove light bulb. If metal has oxidised, you might have some problems to remove light bulb itself(just pull it out, do not twist the bulb or holder)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/d6khe69l8y3ltbcntj8e.jpg

You might want to use something like this
http://www.bildites.lv/images/j1uobgud01ua3h4ik17.jpg
after you remove light bulb and if you notice that there is some oxidation marks, remove them with flat head screwdriver and then use electric contact cleaner and let the fluid rinse out( put housing upside down) do this few times and only then insert your new LED's or normal light bulbs



Some of the bulbs were really bad.. only 1 of 4 bulbs were working...
http://www.bildites.lv/images/38qkr485q9jpbtd28t.jpg


There is some thing that you should do with new LED's before you fit them...
When you receive them, metal connectors looks like in pictures bellow...

http://www.bildites.lv/images/xvi3dtx5j1jdz4tfh2.jpg
http://www.bildites.lv/images/h0lai30f4pwlbtc4ws2.jpg
they are too close together... so you need to make some adjustments

first, move those wires more to the sides so they do connect to the metal directly(If you don't do this LED's might not work)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/igise0e4veusorcoc0r.jpg
then use screwdriver to bend those tiny wires back from the housing
http://www.bildites.lv/images/6zjagbuzga90600zba.jpg

Then, when you fit old bulb
http://www.bildites.lv/images/gwvh0d3su0kj9j18fcdg.jpg
with LED
http://www.bildites.lv/images/hs6w3ezx0lr08y67pks.jpg
http://www.bildites.lv/images/906btjmwhi0cz0cy5l2c.jpg
note that if you insert them and they are not working, rotate LED 180 degrees, they should work(looks like they only work one way)

Then insert them back in indicator housing and install them back in the bumpers, NOTE that LED housing can be inserted only one way, just align pins on each sides of the housing so that they match grooves on yellow side light housing.



Good thing that those LED's fits in side light sockets(I believe they are called) as well.

http://www.bildites.lv/images/rchoof1vipx8j0dfho9.jpg

Locate wires at the bottom and pull them out.
http://www.bildites.lv/images/yy5kjexlarqzfkc5cgqn.jpg

Replace with LED's put them back in and you are good to go :)
http://www.bildites.lv/images/pag5h6lykhpd0qhlc4s.jpg


Nice!!!!!!! :thumbs_up:
http://www.bildites.lv/images/mwm2vz0emd0alcts1y1.jpg


I have heard that the same type fits into other places as well, other forum members feel free to correct me or add more information about them or post some links where forum members or unregistered readers could get them :)

Side markers
 

Hi biotoxic

I bought some of the shorter, 8 x SMD LED 501's, from Honk Kong a few months ago.

They fitted the front sidelights, but they appeared to be just too long to fit into the side markers, as they touched the inside of the lens before the bulb mounting could be re-connected.

Your bulbs are 12 x SMD's, so I assume they are longer than the ones I had.

Did they have to be forced into the lens unit, or did they go in with no problem?

I had to order a different style of LED to fit into mine.

I have a 2003 S40.

Gary

Excellent guide Bio! Glad I could help on the bulbs :)

I have these in numberplate, sidelights, front and rear interior lights aswell. They are all the same fitment. Rear interior lights are a snug fit but they do work :)

And your right! They are much better than urine coloured lamps.

Here is interior light with same bulbs:
Attachment 33928

can i ask what the model no. of bulb is or where i could find them look crackin and easy to fit!
many thanks
dave

Carnt see the pictures:thumbs_up:

I can see them now lol

swapping the interior bulbs to LED does however loose the "soft start/stop" that filament bulbs give.
on a S40 , LED "bulbs" for the rear number plate lights make a LOT of sense. Fit and forget.

Yep Andy, especially as my numberplate lights had all but melted...along with old H4 headlight connector..headlight switch bulb..

You would think Volvo had been making cars long enough to realise not to put bulbs in that melt things..

Hi there,

I've converted my side markers, sidelights and all interior to led.

I haven't lost my soft start and fade on interior though.

Cheers,

Daniel

Yours had also exchanged its rear number plate bulb holders for burnt bits of plastic??

dan,
i tried 34SMD led panels in mine, front + rear Very white light ,very nice, but on/off so went back to normal bulbs, but the rest, foot well/boot/glovebox all went to LED of one sort or the other,

Side lights / marker lights are "next"