S40 (New) Electrics : - Hot steering wheel

Al1baly · Oct 18th, 2015, 08:49

Hi, I bought a 2011 s40 d2 r:design in August and am very pleased with the car and was away to the Lake District last week and my first longish run and as it was a sunny day very pleasant except that my steering wheel gets uncomfortably hot after some time and it appears that the lights in the buttons for phone and radio etc. are lit all the time. Now I have the lighting switch set to auto as I was advised by the dealer and the other way has "o" and the running lights only seem to be on but dip beam still comes on sometimes at this setting too. I'm confused and ask if I can have the instrument lights off in daylight?

Bungo · Oct 18th, 2015, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al1baly

Hi, I bought a 2011 s40 d2 r:design in August and am very pleased with the car and was away to the Lake District last week and my first longish run and as it was a sunny day very pleasant except that my steering wheel gets uncomfortably hot after some time and it appears that the lights in the buttons for phone and radio etc. are lit all the time. Now I have the lighting switch set to auto as I was advised by the dealer and the other way has "o" and the running lights only seem to be on but dip beam still comes on sometimes at this setting too. I'm confused and ask if I can have the instrument lights off in daylight?

I think your worry should be that you have a short in the wheel.

Welton · Oct 19th, 2015, 07:58

My steering wheel buttons get warm but not uncomfortably so. I have to say though they get 'surprisingly warm' if that makes sense but not enough to think there's anything amiss.

domhart10 · Oct 19th, 2015, 09:03

yes I have a T5, my steering wheel gets warm as well. Havent ever got it checked out cause it keeps my hands warm in the winter

Al1baly · Oct 19th, 2015, 17:32

I don't think it is anything to worry about, rather that I was surprised how hot it got after three hours in the car in the sun with as I thought the lights off other than the front fog/LED running lights being on. If I run with the lighting switch set to "o" are the instrument lights off then I wonder? Never mind 56.8mpg is brilliant

Bungo · Oct 19th, 2015, 22:42

Well in all my days I've never come across an "uncomfortably hot steering wheel". It kinda seems a bad safety design to have the control of your car too hot to hold in comfort. But at 56.8 mpg there's money spare to get some nice gloves.

StatusRed · Oct 20th, 2015, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al1baly

I don't think it is anything to worry about, rather that I was surprised how hot it got after three hours in the car in the sun with as I thought the lights off other than the front fog/LED running lights being on. If I run with the lighting switch set to "o" are the instrument lights off then I wonder? Never mind 56.8mpg is brilliant

Have you tried turning down the instrument lighting brightness?

Al1baly · Oct 21st, 2015, 22:09

Well done that sounds like a really good idea and I will try that tomorrow, I don't do much driving in the dark and can always turn it up then. Thanks.

Oct 18th, 2015, 08:49	#1
Al1baly Junior Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2016 14:56 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Clackmannan	Hot steering wheel Hi, I bought a 2011 s40 d2 r:design in August and am very pleased with the car and was away to the Lake District last week and my first longish run and as it was a sunny day very pleasant except that my steering wheel gets uncomfortably hot after some time and it appears that the lights in the buttons for phone and radio etc. are lit all the time. Now I have the lighting switch set to auto as I was advised by the dealer and the other way has "o" and the running lights only seem to be on but dip beam still comes on sometimes at this setting too. I'm confused and ask if I can have the instrument lights off in daylight?

Oct 19th, 2015, 07:58	#3
Welton Premier Member Last Online: Sep 14th, 2021 17:03 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Market Harborough	My steering wheel buttons get warm but not uncomfortably so. I have to say though they get 'surprisingly warm' if that makes sense but not enough to think there's anything amiss. __________________ 2005 S40 T5 SE - Manual. Bilstein B4's. (For Sale) 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi (bizarre Gearbox model). 2010 Renault Twingo (refreshingly simple) 2018 Infiniti Q30 1.6T Business Executive (what's this button do?)

Oct 19th, 2015, 22:42	#6
Bungo Premier Member Last Online: Oct 29th, 2020 23:25 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Midlands	Well in all my days I've never come across an "uncomfortably hot steering wheel". It kinda seems a bad safety design to have the control of your car too hot to hold in comfort. But at 56.8 mpg there's money spare to get some nice gloves. __________________ 2008 S40 2.0d R design auto powershift

Oct 19th, 2015, 09:03	#4
domhart10 Volvo S40 Last Online: Apr 27th, 2024 19:38 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chichester	yes I have a T5, my steering wheel gets warm as well. Havent ever got it checked out cause it keeps my hands warm in the winter

Oct 19th, 2015, 17:32	#5
Al1baly Junior Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2016 14:56 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Clackmannan	I don't think it is anything to worry about, rather that I was surprised how hot it got after three hours in the car in the sun with as I thought the lights off other than the front fog/LED running lights being on. If I run with the lighting switch set to "o" are the instrument lights off then I wonder? Never mind 56.8mpg is brilliant

Oct 21st, 2015, 22:09	#8
Al1baly Junior Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2016 14:56 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Clackmannan	Well done that sounds like a really good idea and I will try that tomorrow, I don't do much driving in the dark and can always turn it up then. Thanks.

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