Light Settings, dipped or side lights

Harvey1512 · Oct 30th, 2008, 10:23

I have an 08 S40 R-Design and like all Volvo's the lights are permanently on. The dial to the right of the steering wheel is pointing down to 0 and that looks as though that is using my dipped lights. I can then turn the dial to mid way (quarter to) and the lights change to side lights. If I turn the dial to 12 o'clock it goes onto dipped.
Why do they bother having an extra dipped setting when the options are dipped/sidelights/dipped?
Can I just leave the dial set to side lights and then turn it onto dipped when it is night time or if I forget to turn the dial off from side lights does it run the battery down?
Before someone asks why I am bothered about not leaving the lights on dipped, I am about to change the dipped bulbs to a brighter bulb and as they are more expensive bulbs to replace I would like to protect them a little and use the side lights for normal usage and dipped in the dark.

mjcourtney · Oct 30th, 2008, 11:01

The light switch is designed to be left in the On position (12 o'clock) all of the time when Day Running Lights (DRL) are enabled. This allows you to use your full beam when required at night and leaves the dipped beam on whilst the engine is running.

If you turn it to the Side Light position then this turns off the dipped beam and turns on the side lights. These will stay on even when the key is removed and the car is locked, so there is a potential for a flat battery if left for long enough. These are more aimed at parking lights I believe.

If you turn it to the 0 position then the dipped beams are switched back on, however the full beam will not work until it is turned to the 12 o'clock position. The 0 position is pointless if DRLs are still active.

Your dealer can disable DRLs (usually for a small cost) which will restore the light switch back to the expected behaviour. In essence all this does is turn all of the lights off when in the 0 position, rather than switch on the dipped beam.

It took me some time to figure out the switch at first, but now I just leave it in the 12 position. I've got the pricier dipped beam bulbs but they've been fitted for a year with no problems so far.

Harvey1512 · Oct 30th, 2008, 11:17

Thanks for that. So to be really simple about this, I could leave the lights on at 0 all of the time and the only downside is that I can not use full beam?
You mention that you leave yours on at 12 o'clock. Does that not cause the same potential as leaving them on side lights, the battery running down if you forget to turn them off?

mjcourtney · Oct 30th, 2008, 11:39

If the switch is left in the 12 position or the 0 position then all lights are turned off when the key is removed. The only downside that i've discovered about leaving it in the 0 position is the lack of full beam, which is easily forgotten about until you try to switch them on and nothing happens!

Harvey1512 · Oct 30th, 2008, 11:44

Thanks for your answers, much clearer than the handbook. After understanding what you have said I am not quite sure why they don't just have one setting of dipped lights, full beam if you want it with a flick of the stalk, basically the 12 o' clock setting. That would be simpler but I assume there is a reason why.

Luigi · Nov 2nd, 2008, 19:49

The reason may be some thing to do with the headlight washers, it only washes
the headlights when in the 12 o/c position and uses a lot of water,when in the 0
position you can wash the windscreen with out washing the headlights so in theory
you will only wash the headlights at night.

Fast Reg · Nov 3rd, 2008, 15:22

Luigi: Yours might be different from mine, but that isn't my experience.

I was driving around just an hour or so ago with the headlight switch at the "0" position and needed give the screen a quick wash. I watched for the telltale double puff of spray over the front edge of the bonnet to show that the headlight washers were working too and, sure enough, they did.

Luigi · Nov 3rd, 2008, 21:16

Yes, maybe the headlight washing has changed, my car is a 06. S40. D5. SE.

Fast Reg · Nov 3rd, 2008, 21:25

Perhaps. Mine is a 2005 (55) V50 2.0D SE. Wouldn't have thought there would be a huge difference between them, but maybe.

7050man · Nov 4th, 2008, 20:58

Just to add my twopenneth, I've had my lights switched off for day running and headlight washer will only work when lights are on.
Car is a 55 plate.

Oct 30th, 2008, 10:23	#1
Harvey1512 Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2021 12:00 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northumberland	Light Settings, dipped or side lights I have an 08 S40 R-Design and like all Volvo's the lights are permanently on. The dial to the right of the steering wheel is pointing down to 0 and that looks as though that is using my dipped lights. I can then turn the dial to mid way (quarter to) and the lights change to side lights. If I turn the dial to 12 o'clock it goes onto dipped. Why do they bother having an extra dipped setting when the options are dipped/sidelights/dipped? Can I just leave the dial set to side lights and then turn it onto dipped when it is night time or if I forget to turn the dial off from side lights does it run the battery down? Before someone asks why I am bothered about not leaving the lights on dipped, I am about to change the dipped bulbs to a brighter bulb and as they are more expensive bulbs to replace I would like to protect them a little and use the side lights for normal usage and dipped in the dark.

Nov 3rd, 2008, 15:22	#7
Fast Reg It's NOT a damn Focus!! Last Online: Jun 20th, 2011 22:53 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Essex	Luigi: Yours might be different from mine, but that isn't my experience. I was driving around just an hour or so ago with the headlight switch at the "0" position and needed give the screen a quick wash. I watched for the telltale double puff of spray over the front edge of the bonnet to show that the headlight washers were working too and, sure enough, they did. __________________ 2005 (55) Volvo V50 2.0D SE - Barents Blue / Off-Black Leather / Winter Pack / Comms Pack / Volvo RTI Satnav (aka Lars) / Rear Parking Assist / Prancing Moose Sticker

Nov 3rd, 2008, 21:25	#9
Fast Reg It's NOT a damn Focus!! Last Online: Jun 20th, 2011 22:53 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Essex	Perhaps. Mine is a 2005 (55) V50 2.0D SE. Wouldn't have thought there would be a huge difference between them, but maybe. __________________ 2005 (55) Volvo V50 2.0D SE - Barents Blue / Off-Black Leather / Winter Pack / Comms Pack / Volvo RTI Satnav (aka Lars) / Rear Parking Assist / Prancing Moose Sticker

Oct 30th, 2008, 11:01	#2
mjcourtney VOC Member Last Online: Feb 24th, 2014 18:11 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight	The light switch is designed to be left in the On position (12 o'clock) all of the time when Day Running Lights (DRL) are enabled. This allows you to use your full beam when required at night and leaves the dipped beam on whilst the engine is running. If you turn it to the Side Light position then this turns off the dipped beam and turns on the side lights. These will stay on even when the key is removed and the car is locked, so there is a potential for a flat battery if left for long enough. These are more aimed at parking lights I believe. If you turn it to the 0 position then the dipped beams are switched back on, however the full beam will not work until it is turned to the 12 o'clock position. The 0 position is pointless if DRLs are still active. Your dealer can disable DRLs (usually for a small cost) which will restore the light switch back to the expected behaviour. In essence all this does is turn all of the lights off when in the 0 position, rather than switch on the dipped beam. It took me some time to figure out the switch at first, but now I just leave it in the 12 position. I've got the pricier dipped beam bulbs but they've been fitted for a year with no problems so far.

Oct 30th, 2008, 11:17	#3
Harvey1512 Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2021 12:00 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northumberland	Thanks for that. So to be really simple about this, I could leave the lights on at 0 all of the time and the only downside is that I can not use full beam? You mention that you leave yours on at 12 o'clock. Does that not cause the same potential as leaving them on side lights, the battery running down if you forget to turn them off?

Oct 30th, 2008, 11:39	#4
mjcourtney VOC Member Last Online: Feb 24th, 2014 18:11 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight	If the switch is left in the 12 position or the 0 position then all lights are turned off when the key is removed. The only downside that i've discovered about leaving it in the 0 position is the lack of full beam, which is easily forgotten about until you try to switch them on and nothing happens!

Oct 30th, 2008, 11:44	#5
Harvey1512 Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2021 12:00 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northumberland	Thanks for your answers, much clearer than the handbook. After understanding what you have said I am not quite sure why they don't just have one setting of dipped lights, full beam if you want it with a flick of the stalk, basically the 12 o' clock setting. That would be simpler but I assume there is a reason why.

Nov 2nd, 2008, 19:49	#6
Luigi Member Last Online: Mar 14th, 2024 16:24 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pinner	The reason may be some thing to do with the headlight washers, it only washes the headlights when in the 12 o/c position and uses a lot of water,when in the 0 position you can wash the windscreen with out washing the headlights so in theory you will only wash the headlights at night.

Nov 3rd, 2008, 21:16	#8
Luigi Member Last Online: Mar 14th, 2024 16:24 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pinner	Yes, maybe the headlight washing has changed, my car is a 06. S40. D5. SE.

Nov 4th, 2008, 20:58	#10
7050man Master Member Last Online: Jan 25th, 2019 17:19 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kent	Just to add my twopenneth, I've had my lights switched off for day running and headlight washer will only work when lights are on. Car is a 55 plate.

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