General: VIDA/DICE Headlight Programing

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by jnmonaghan

Ithe headlights don't rise and fall on switch on.

This sort of "self test" function does not exist on the XC90

To test if the self levelling works, you need to do the following:

1. Park the car with the headlamps facing a wall so you can see the beam pattern
2. Get a bunch of (fat and heavy) friends to then sit on the end of the tailgate to weigh it down
3. Observe the beam pattern first go up and then come back down to normal as the system self corrects for the different ride height
4. Ask your helpful and heavy friends to get off the tailgate
5. Observe the beam pattern first go down and then come back up to normal as the system once again self corrects for the different ride height

PS you can, in this case, substitute bags of cement for your friends. But just don't tell them that.

And VIDA doesn't tell you much apart from if you have a fault or not, and what the current ride height sensor reading is.

[wilssp2009]

If you have no joy on getting them to work I would possibly purchase them if in good condition - when I bought my Xc90 it came with a new set of headlights recently fitted (presumed maybe they were cloudy ) didn’t notice anything untoward untill a few weeks later and when dark I turned my lights on then I got a headlight failure warning I then seen an after market xenon bulb fitted so removed them and reverted to a halogen bulb for the headlight type hoping to get rid of the message although all worked levelling/beam pattern etc turns out my Xc90 had factory fitted hids just like your new set but sadly down the way and no idea why a standard new set has been fitted the Volvo dealer can’t do anything with mine as it was a factory fitted option so I live with the orange triangle on an evening and the dealer is fine with it as all work correctly but it iggles me somewhat

[Tannaton]

I *think* that the early reflector based HID lamps fitted to XC90 up to 2005 did not have self levelling as it was not required by the construction and use regulations at that time, and obviously there is no requirement to retrofit.

The reason that a cleaning system is require on HID is that the beam pattern is much more focussed and from a much smaller source - hence where the light passes through the front lens it creates “hot spots” and is prone to baking on the dirt, reducing output. Whilst the washer systems are not as effective as the small wipers fitted to older Volvo models with glass lenses, they are better than nothing.

Swiss has done a good job of retrieving the various rules and regs, but I think I am correct in saying those are the construction and use regulations, and unlikely to be directly enforced on older vehicles via the road traffic act which is what the Police are interested in. But the message I think is correct, a lot of the retro fit conversions using cheap eBay parts are not compliant.

People looking to upgrade their headlamps should also read the changes coming to the MOT test this May which will mean an fail for halogen headlamps the have been retro fitted with HID or LED bulbs - even if the beam is acceptable.

With regard to the MOT people should also be aware that the guidance to testers is to check headlamp lens markings to ascertain the type, so those (including me) who have upgraded their S40’s and V50’s (properly) with bi-xenon projector lenses and bulbs might have MOT issues.

Anyhow to summarise my thoughts to the OP if you have secured genuine Volvo HID units and can get them to work - you should be fine. But this is not easy as the CEM has the headlamp type coded in to it at manufacture and it cannot be latterly changed. The electrical power switching method and bulb failure detection is different between the types. If you search hard on this forum you should find a few articles from people who have done it using dummy load resistors/bulbs and relays.

[jnmonaghan]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

This sort of "self test" function does not exist on the XC90

To test if the self levelling works, you need to do the following:

1. Park the car with the headlamps facing a wall so you can see the beam pattern
2. Get a bunch of (fat and heavy) friends to then sit on the end of the tailgate to weigh it down
3. Observe the beam pattern first go up and then come back down to normal as the system self corrects for the different ride height
4. Ask your helpful and heavy friends to get off the tailgate
5. Observe the beam pattern first go down and then come back up to normal as the system once again self corrects for the different ride height

PS you can, in this case, substitute bags of cement for your friends. But just don't tell them that.

And VIDA doesn't tell you much apart from if you have a fault or not, and what the current ride height sensor reading is.

As the beam will alter slightly with weight on the boot floor, even if the sensor is faulty, do I take it that with a good sensor the the beam movement will be more noticeable on which on. What I need to understand is, when does the sensor need to be replaced.

Jude

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by jnmonaghan

As the beam will alter slightly with weight on the boot floor, even if the sensor is faulty, do I take it that with a good sensor the the beam movement will be more noticeable on which on. What I need to understand is, when does the sensor need to be replaced.

If the vehicle determines that the signal from the auto-leveling sensor is implausible, it will set the headlamps to a safe height (I believe the lowest height) and alert the driver with a message in the DIM (driver information module)

Otherwise, no real reason to replace the sensor unless you like to spend money and have shiny new parts underneath the car.

[owenfackrell]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

If the vehicle determines that the signal from the auto-leveling sensor is implausible, it will set the headlamps to a safe height (I believe the lowest height) and alert the driver with a message in the DIM (driver information module)

Otherwise, no real reason to replace the sensor unless you like to spend money and have shiny new parts underneath the car.

When mine failed it did indeed set them to the lowest hight, which is very noticeable as it’s about 3 foot in front of the car. However I never got up a message on the dash to indicate the problem.

An easy way to check if the sensor is working is to, point the car at a wall, disconnect the sensor from the suspension, turn the lights on and then move the sensor arm. You should see the light cut off move up and down as you move it. There is a slight delay to the movement and it won’t be a huge amount that close but you should be able to see it.

[jnmonaghan]

Originally Posted by owenfackrell

When mine failed it did indeed set them to the lowest hight, which is very noticeable as it’s about 3 foot in front of the car. However I never got up a message on the dash to indicate the problem.

An easy way to check if the sensor is working is to, point the car at a wall, disconnect the sensor from the suspension, turn the lights on and then move the sensor arm. You should see the light cut off move up and down as you move it. There is a slight delay to the movement and it won’t be a huge amount that close but you should be able to see it.

I am beginning to wonder if I ever had problem!!---
I disconnected the sensor last night, standing in a pit, and moved the arm up and down and could see both lights move up and down, also I could hear the 2 motors on the headlights. No warnings in the DIM -- My suspicion that there might be something amiss was aroused when the xenon lights would not move up then down on ignition switch on,like they used to do, and I think they still do not do this. The part number of the sensor is 30782822, had I needed to buy one
Thanks for your help.

Jude