C70. Xenon headlights

[sbk1972]

Gents

Damn headlight has gone again. I replaced the ballast and reckon that has gone. Will go through the usual ... Try. New bulb buy deep down I know it's a ballast

My headlights are always on. How do I switch that off ? The headlight switch is at 0, and if I go to side lights then headlights go off and sidelights go on.

Is this some automatic function ? Do I need vida to switch this off ?

Simon

[ele288]

You need vida online (dealer) to disable lights

[iainmd]

Originally Posted by ele288

You need vida online (dealer) to disable lights

Which requires chargeable software. Some dealers will do it, others wont' citing safety issues.

[sbk1972]

So does that mean they everyone here with a C70 has their headlights on all the time ? I start the car, bright sunny day, main headlights are on.

Will I have to start switching side lights on to save my xenon's. Lol

Simon

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by sbk1972

So does that mean they everyone here with a C70 has their headlights on all the time ? I start the car, bright sunny day, main headlights are on.Simon

as said
main dealer, get the software applied to the car to allow "off" to mean off on the switch, when the dealer comes out with the lie "its not available any more"
politely inform them otherwise
when they bleat "ah but saftey" ,, remind them that its your car

IF the car is prior to 2011 you Can get the "on all the time" set to off

Legislation and requirements:
Vehicle manufacturers must fit DRL to new types of passenger car and light goods vehicle (car derived vans) type approved to European vehicle requirements from February 2011[footnote 1] . In practice this means that any new model launched after this date, and many launched before, will be fitted with DRL. However, existing models on sale before this date without DRL fitted can continue to be sold and used indefinitely.

Footnote 1

European Directive 76/656/EEC, as amended by 2008/89/EC, concerning the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers. ↩

Originally Posted by sbk1972

Will I have to start switching side lights on to save my xenon's. Lol

Simon

you Do have a battery charger + battery pack in the car?
there is no "lights on" warning for sidelights, and they Will drain the battery,,,(ask me how i know,,,,)

[Simmy]

dont drive on side lights. as andy says if you forget to change the switch position you will end up with a flat battery. and also if you try to start the car with a depleted charge you run the risk of triggering an srs hard code. which cannot be removed by code readers includeing vida. hdd codes require specialist equipment to remove. its cheaper to replace bulbs or ballasts than make more problems. i know this because iv just had this problem with our c70.

[eagle58]

I got a CFE device from Swede Solutions:

https://www.swedesolutions.com/produ...c70-2006-2013/

This enabled me to mess about with various lighting functions on my C70 as well as other things like my mirrors.

At £200 it's not cheap but I think it was worth it.

If you put your VIN number in you can see what it can do for your car.

HTH

[Tannaton]

As sort of said there is a Volvo software patch to enable DRLs to be turned off, it is a listed with a Volvo part number so a dealer shouldn’t really refuse to supply and install it. I’m not sure if the software is available for the facelift cars but that shouldn’t matter to you as they had LED DRLs instead of fog lamps and didn’t use the main headlights - so you must have a pre facelift car.

However I would add the the factory headlights and bulbs are very reliable and last for years - but if you use cheap lamps from eBay they’re not likely to last long. My suggestion would be get quality branded lamps (osram or Philips) from somewhere like powerbulbs and they should last for years.

[eagle58]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

However I would add the the factory headlights and bulbs are very reliable and last for years - but if you use cheap lamps from eBay they’re not likely to last long. My suggestion would be get quality branded lamps (osram or Philips) from somewhere like powerbulbs and they should last for years.

You would think so but I've had to change Philips bulbs quite often in various environments.

The Brand doesn't always ensure they are better than generics as the are often made in the same factory.

[Lancee]

Originally Posted by eagle58

You would think so but I've had to change Philips bulbs quite often in various environments.

The Brand doesn't always ensure they are better than generics as the are often made in the same factory.

But who was the Philips supplier ? There are Chinese copies out there. E-Bay etc.

It would be interesting to know as I would have thought OE Philips would have lasted well, if yours were definitely Philips OE then I myself will be looking at another manufacturer.

sbk1972, I guess you could perhaps consider LED ? Not sure if there is a "conversion" for xenon. But again these could likely be something from China.

I am personally wary of any potential heat damage being caused to the plastic headlamp assemblies by the fitting of non original bulbs of any kind, I don't know if LED would run hotter or cooler ? The headlamp assemblies are rediculously expensive to replace and used ones are becoming increasingly rare, expensive. and difficult to find. The C70 Mk2 headlamp lenses do seem to be prone to cracking at the top.

If you don't go down the route of disabling the DRL's, it might be worth sticking with definitive OE and changing when neccessary ? I believe a new pair of headlamps are the thick end of £1,000.00

At least the bulbs on the Mk2 C70 are really easy to change, try changing xenon bulbs on a P2 V70, not being gynaecologically trained I usually end up having to take the front bumper off.



Did you hear about the gynaecologist who wallpapered his hallway through his letterbox ?