General: 2006 xc90 passanger headlight not working

[Perrin]

Hello y'all. I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me out. I have an 06 xc90 with halogen headlights. I put aftermarket hid light from DDM for my low beams. They have worked great for about a year once I got the right kit. (so it would turn off the warning light). For the past month or so the passanger side was having a hard time starting the buld if I just turned the key and started the car. So I was putting the key to run waiting a few to let the light warm up and then start the car. Well it finally stopped. Thinking it was just a bad bulb I replaced it with a regular halogen so I wouldn't get a ticket. But the halogen won't light up either. I checked the #16 and #17 fuses under the hood but they are fine. I'm also getting power on both sides of the fuses. Checked power at the outlet to the light and I get nothing. Had my wife turn the car off and on while I'm holding the meter on the plug and still nothing. Checked continuity to ground from the plug to the fender ground. Got 0.2Ω. I've looked at all fuse locations and haven't found a bad fuse or anything that says it controls the low beam other than under the hood and both sides are fine. The driver's side works fine. Only the passanger doesn't work. Hoping y'all can point me in the right direction on where to check next. Thanks in advance.

[SwissXC90]

If you are in the UK then here is the right direction for you:

Your HID kit is not allowed, and will be an MOT fail from May 2018.
Reason: HIDs needs headlamp washers and the entire headlamp assembly needs the proper lenses and to be type approved for use with your vehicle.

No washers and no type approval is an MOT fail.

You will need to remove it and reinstate the standard headlights that came with your car to keep your vehicle road legal.

If you are not in the UK then refer to the local rules for your local country

[Perrin]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

If you are in the UK then here is the right direction for you:

Your HID kit is not allowed, and will be an MOT fail from May 2018.
Reason: HIDs needs headlamp washers and the entire headlamp assembly needs the proper lenses and to be type approved for use with your vehicle.

No washers and no type approval is an MOT fail.

You will need to remove it and reinstate the standard headlights that came with your car to keep your vehicle road legal.

If you are not in the UK then refer to the local rules for your local country

I'm in the USA. We don't have the same rules. But either way. I put a standard bulb back in and it still doesn't work. I'm not getting any power to the plug. That's what I need help with. Thanks though. I appreciate your feedback.

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Perrin

I'm in the USA. We don't have the same rules. But either way. I put a standard bulb back in and it still doesn't work. I'm not getting any power to the plug. That's what I need help with. Thanks though. I appreciate your feedback.

No power?
Check fuse, relay, wiring
In that order

The headlamps are switched via Relays on the CEM, which may be where your problem lies

[Perrin]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

No power?
Check fuse, relay, wiring
In that order

The headlamps are switched via Relays on the CEM, which may be where your problem lies

The fuses are good and I have power at the fuses but at the light I do not. I thought I read that on my 2006 xc90 that the CEM doesn't have relays on it like the older CEMs did. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'll check the wiring when I get home from work.

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Perrin

The fuses are good and I have power at the fuses but at the light I do not. I thought I read that on my 2006 xc90 that the CEM doesn't have relays on it like the older CEMs did. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'll check the wiring when I get home from work.

Ah USA, different to Euro.
Check the wiring diagram...

[Perrin]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Ah USA, different to Euro.
Check the wiring diagram...

Thanks but I don't really understand what I'm looking at. I work on air conditioners for work and I get those wiring diagrams no problem. But this is alien to me. If someone could explain it to me maybe. I'd really appreciate it.

[SwissXC90]

It is very simple

The power comes from the battery to the CEM via following fuses to the CEM:
F16 (20A) low beam, left
F17 (20A) low beam, right
Inside the CEM the headlights are switched switched using relays (I think) mounted inside the CEM. The CEM also uses PWM to control the maximum voltage on the bulbs, to extend their lifespan.
A wire goes from the CEM plug direct to the headlamp connector, without any connectors inbetween
The headlamp is a simple halogen bulb
The headlamp is connected to a common ground (common for all bulbs in the headlamp)

If you have power at the fuse (measure always when headlamps are on in low beam, measure both sides of the fuse) then you need to check:
1. power coming in to the CEM on connector B:2 (right) and B:3 (left)
2. power coming out of the CEM on B:4 (right) and B:5 (left)
If no power coming out of the CEM, then the relay fitted inside the CEM has burnt contacts and needs to be replaced.

On facelift modes (MY2007 and above) the relay is soldered to the board
You can bypass the relay with another relay as a temporary fix until you find the exact correct relay to fit to the circuit board. Electronics soldering skills required

You may be lucky and have a plug-in relay....

And always ensure fuse and contacts are clean and try. If you see any sign of corrosion then suspect bad contact due to corrosion.

[Perrin]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

It is very simple

The power comes from the battery to the CEM via following fuses to the CEM:
F16 (20A) low beam, left
F17 (20A) low beam, right
Inside the CEM the headlights are switched switched using relays (I think) mounted inside the CEM. The CEM also uses PWM to control the maximum voltage on the bulbs, to extend their lifespan.
A wire goes from the CEM plug direct to the headlamp connector, without any connectors inbetween
The headlamp is a simple halogen bulb
The headlamp is connected to a common ground (common for all bulbs in the headlamp)

If you have power at the fuse (measure always when headlamps are on in low beam, measure both sides of the fuse) then you need to check:
1. power coming in to the CEM on connector B:2 (right) and B:3 (left)
2. power coming out of the CEM on B:4 (right) and B:5 (left)
If no power coming out of the CEM, then the relay fitted inside the CEM has burnt contacts and needs to be replaced.

On facelift modes (MY2007 and above) the relay is soldered to the board
You can bypass the relay with another relay as a temporary fix until you find the exact correct relay to fit to the circuit board. Electronics soldering skills required

You may be lucky and have a plug-in relay....

And always ensure fuse and contacts are clean and try. If you see any sign of corrosion then suspect bad contact due to corrosion.

Wow this is great info. Thank you very much. Okay so I think last question. There are like 4 or 5 connectors on the cem. Which one is the B connector.