97 850 headlight and lower trim removal

Post by **scot850** » 29 Aug 2016, 22:34

I'm pulling the RH headlight to replace the glass lens due to a large rock hit. I know most of you think they are a waste of time, but the headlight wiper motor on that side is bad. I have to remove the lower trim piece under the headlight to get to the mounting bolts, but can not find information or recall how it comes off. Don't want to break it, so can anyone guide me on this please?

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 29 Aug 2016, 22:42

The driver's side (North America) motor is a piece of cake, but the passenger side one is a bear to remove without pulling out some things inside the engine bay. The only time I ever removed one was during an engine swap when I also had the AC mostly disassembled. I'm not saying that length is necessary

, just that it will take a lot of effort. Hopefully someone will chime in with more of a step-by-step, I do know I have seen descriptive reports before in the fora.

Post by **scot850** » 30 Aug 2016, 08:32

I know how to pull the motor, with the exception of how the plastic painted trim piece under the headlight comes off. There is a how to I found that shows how to remove the front plastic slam panel so as you don't have to play with the large wiring harness that runs behind the RH wiper motor.

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **dyn blin** » 30 Aug 2016, 10:33

The narrow trim pieces pull straight out towards you as your looking at the headlight. There are two plastic insert tabs holding the trim by metal clips. One tab is right next to the hole the wiper arm fits through on the grill-side, the other is about 2" in from the bend around the corner.

Although I've never broken a tab, and they can be removed on their own, I usually take the extra step to pull the headlight first to allow some access & spray some silicone lubricant to ease the release from clips. It's usually pretty grimy in there and there's less of a chance for what may be a brittle tab to catch stubbornly.

Post by **scot850** » 30 Aug 2016, 12:05

Many thanks for the guidance! I thought that was how they came off but has been a long time since I did this last. I wasn't sure of the chicken or egg came first, in other words, pull the headlight first then the lower panel or the reverse. I'll do as you suggest.

Below are a couple of thread links for wiper motor repair and front slam panel removal to get to motors on both sides.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=51146

Although for a 93 this should also work:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=62676

Thanks again,

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 30 Aug 2016, 23:39

scot850 wrote: ... https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=62676 ...

It's a given that you have to remove the headlight for accessing the passenger side wiper motor, but unbolting the radiator support and shroud had not occurred to me. Nice workaround!

Now I can entirely remove those pesky things from the cars. Always satisfying to open up even a few more cubic inches of space in the engine bay

Post by **scot850** » 31 Aug 2016, 21:10

Had to go to PnP again today to find a replacement arm for the broken plastic arm on the recirculation air flap, and also to figure out how it fitted. As I was there decided to try the headlight wiper removal method on an 850 by removing the front plastic slam panel.

It is a little fiddly, but was quick. Some of the bolts are a little difficult to access but not really bad. Main thin to watch it the front lower edges of the fender top corners. I would suggest using duct tape or some other thick tape under the edge to prevent paint damage from the top outer edges of the slam panel. Gives you loads of room to access the motor and remove. However someone came up with this it is pure brilliance!

Having success with tis thought I'd try a V/S70 as it was suggested the 'should' be able to be done the same way. The answer is yes and no.

The basic method it the same, but the major issue is the 3 bolts allow the bottom of the slam panel. The panel has longer 'legs' that run about half way down behind the bumper. I was able to remove the bolts, but refitting may be a challenge but I don't think impossible.

Also the upper edge of the fenders protrude a lot further than on a 850. You will definitely had to find a way to protect the under side of the upper edges.

Finally there is a metal bracket to the side of the radiator which runs behind the wiper motor which will have to be removed or bent back. I am still not sure that you will be able to remove the motor easily but you do get a lot more room.

Neil.

Post by **rspi** » 31 Aug 2016, 21:20

After about 1.5 hours I gave up.

Post by **scot850** » 01 Sep 2016, 13:47

Was that using this method or the 'Volvo Method'?

On the 850 in PnP it probably took no more than 20 minutes to get the motor out, and maybe (I didn't so it) a little longer to re-assemble being careful.

Neil.