Headlight Gremlins

DCN85 · May 26th, 2010, 10:24

About two weeks ago, I went to get something from my car. When I locked the car and walked away, the headlights and fog lights were illuminated. I unlocked the car and checked the switches; the headlight switch was set to 0 (i.e. usual daylight beams) and the fog light switch was on. I pressed on the fog light switch and it wouldn't respond. So I left the car and came back 5 minutes later and everything was off.

I thought nothing more about this until the weekend. I parked my car at the supermarket (direct sunlight). When I came back to the car, the dash reported a dipped beam failure. Sure enough, my left side dipped beam was out. I went to Halfords on the way home, and bought a bulb. Later that day I headed out to replace the bulb and suddenly it was working again.

The car is a 2008 s40 2.0d and is under warranty for a further 9 months but how do you prove such an intermittent problem to a dealer? I have a bad feeling it's a control unit. I've had bad luck with these after I required a new one on my previous car....granted it was a clio...but it cost £360 total for renault to fix it.

Does anyone have any ideas/advice.

Thanks

SpeedyReedy · May 26th, 2010, 17:39

You haven't inadvertently knocked the indicator stalk when removing the key and switched on the safe light me home setting, This switches on the headlights and fog lights for the time specified on in the car settings programs on the centre console.

Clan · May 26th, 2010, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedyReedy

You haven't inadvertently knocked the indicator stalk when removing the key and switched on the safe light me home setting, This switches on the headlights and fog lights for the time specified on in the car settings programs on the centre console.

yes thats what i do quite often , sure to be the case ,

And a headlamp bulb can indeed be intermittant as the broken filament bounces and welds itself together again for a short time .
PLEASE dont use Halfords( or any other ) Headlamp bulbs , you will forever be changing the left and right ... Go to your dealer and get the proper long life ones which should last about 2 years ..

Jonnieb2009 · May 27th, 2010, 12:59

yes, thats what I do too, I have accidently pulled the stalk so to speak and the beams and fogs have come on - when I first got the car I thought there was a problem but after 30 secs they went off. I believe in the centre console menu ,as Speedyreedy quite rightly says, you can adjust the delay to 15...30 secs.

I would suggest changing the bulbs anyway (both of them) as a first step. If in doubt get volvo to run a diagnostic check - plug the car up to their computer and see if there are any reported problems.

DCN85 · Jun 7th, 2010, 15:20

Guys, many thanks for the responses.

I wasn't aware of that function and it would appear to explain what happened. When I get home this evening I'll give it a go and see if this works.

Thanks for the advice on the halfords bulbs - I won't install this then. There's a volvo dealer quite close by, i'll drop in and get a proper one.

Thanks again!

May 26th, 2010, 10:24	#1
DCN85 Member Last Online: Nov 5th, 2021 08:50 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belfast	Headlight Gremlins About two weeks ago, I went to get something from my car. When I locked the car and walked away, the headlights and fog lights were illuminated. I unlocked the car and checked the switches; the headlight switch was set to 0 (i.e. usual daylight beams) and the fog light switch was on. I pressed on the fog light switch and it wouldn't respond. So I left the car and came back 5 minutes later and everything was off. I thought nothing more about this until the weekend. I parked my car at the supermarket (direct sunlight). When I came back to the car, the dash reported a dipped beam failure. Sure enough, my left side dipped beam was out. I went to Halfords on the way home, and bought a bulb. Later that day I headed out to replace the bulb and suddenly it was working again. The car is a 2008 s40 2.0d and is under warranty for a further 9 months but how do you prove such an intermittent problem to a dealer? I have a bad feeling it's a control unit. I've had bad luck with these after I required a new one on my previous car....granted it was a clio...but it cost £360 total for renault to fix it. Does anyone have any ideas/advice. Thanks

May 26th, 2010, 17:39	#2
SpeedyReedy VOC Member Last Online: Feb 18th, 2024 20:23 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire	You haven't inadvertently knocked the indicator stalk when removing the key and switched on the safe light me home setting, This switches on the headlights and fog lights for the time specified on in the car settings programs on the centre console. __________________ Speedyreedy V70 D5 2010 2015 - 2023 S40 1.8 2006 2010 - 2015 S40 1.8i 1999 2002 - 2010 340 1.4 1991 1994 - 2002

May 27th, 2010, 12:59	#4
Jonnieb2009 Master Member Last Online: Nov 23rd, 2011 15:19 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Helsby View Photos By: Jonnieb2009	yes, thats what I do too, I have accidently pulled the stalk so to speak and the beams and fogs have come on - when I first got the car I thought there was a problem but after 30 secs they went off. I believe in the centre console menu ,as Speedyreedy quite rightly says, you can adjust the delay to 15...30 secs. I would suggest changing the bulbs anyway (both of them) as a first step. If in doubt get volvo to run a diagnostic check - plug the car up to their computer and see if there are any reported problems.

Jun 7th, 2010, 15:20	#5
DCN85 Member Last Online: Nov 5th, 2021 08:50 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Belfast	Guys, many thanks for the responses. I wasn't aware of that function and it would appear to explain what happened. When I get home this evening I'll give it a go and see if this works. Thanks for the advice on the halfords bulbs - I won't install this then. There's a volvo dealer quite close by, i'll drop in and get a proper one. Thanks again!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)