Electrical Quirks ? ('04 XC) Topic is solved

[BlackBart]

Hi all -

My 2004 XC70 has done some odd things the last couple of days.

While driving along normally, the interior lights come on, then cycle off after a few seconds. They cycled on and off several times. I can turn them off with the overhead pushbutton, then they come back on after a while. A few times they've just stayed on and didn't cycle off by themselves. What a random thing.

It has been quite cold here single digits (F) overnight, teens in the day. Might be unrelated.

Coming home last night I turned off the interior lights with the button and noticed the passenger (right) footwell light was still on. It was not affected by the switch. The doors were all closed tight. When I parked and locked at home, that footwell light stayed on after everything else went off. I waited and it stayed on. I finally popped the lens and pulled the bulb so it wouldn't kill the battery.

(Do the interior lights go right off when locked with the fob button, or do they fade out after a minute? I've never checked that.)

Another quirk I noticed on this same trip to the hardware store, was the outside signal lights didn't flash when locking it remotely. Seemed to be random, sometimes did and sometimes didn't. Odd.

Battery is brand new, plenty of charge I think.

There's a reason I don't drive cars with Lucas electrics - what could be going on?

Thanks -

[Rattnalle]

I think you've got a door switch teasing you in some way. Tried slamming all the doors again?

When locking the lights only blink when everything is properly closed. If not you're locking but the alarm isn't on.

Also yes all the lights dim out straight away when locking with the remote.

[abscate]

One door switch acting up will explain all that and the alarm - so Ratnalle nalled it...

[oragex]

As above, although those door switches are not easy to replace, I think it comes with the whole lock actuator. Rather try first locating the micro-switch and spray some penetrating oil over it

I was also thinking about the headlight units, on the dash at the left of the steering, but less probable

[BlackBart]

So could maybe the rear hatch not have been closed tight? I'll check that. The dashtop red alarm light blinked normally when I locked it, so I assumed it was on.

The door switches aren't old school in the jams? They're in the lock assembly? Do you think the cold could be a factor? Melting snow in the door jambs?

I did flip the headlight switch many times to ON rather than daytime running lights. Also learned you can put the fog lights on with just the parking lights on - handy if it's really bad out.

I don't understand the single floor lamp staying on.....

Thanks,
Mike

[Rattnalle]

The boot lid won't light up the other interior lights but would explain the alarm.

Melting snow sounds plausible.

As for fog lights theyre designed to be used without the low beams, it's even illegal to have both on at the same time in most of Europe. The whole point is to place the light lower to reduce glare to the eyes and keeping the lows on makes no sense then. That said I personally find them completely useless.

[BlackBart]

I'll do some door checking and slamming. It's much warmer today - we had quite a bit of snow and the car sat outside covered for a few days over the holiday. Is penetrating oil the better choice than an anti-water WD40 on electrical parts?

It's very rare, but I've been out on the road and caught in a serious fog bank. We were on the Interstate in the 850 once and had to nearly stop, which is more dangerous than anything. We turned off the lights, parking lights on for truck visibility, rolled down the windows, and looked at the concrete walls on the sides to see if we were going straight. These new built-in bumper fogs are so clouded and pitted, and who knows what shape of reflector is in there - not sure how useful they are. I see the Euro police wagons have a fog light bracket behind the license plates, so they sit at about bumper level between the grille and the headlights.

Thanks for all the very useful help everyone!
Mike

[Rattnalle]

The police wagons carry extra high beams, at least in Sweden. It's too dark during winter for mostly any cars headlights to be good enough.

I've also encountered fog like that once or twice. Just followed the white line going slowly with rear fog light on. I've also got a led strobe light in the car if I have to stop in poor conditions.

I'd use electronics protection spray just to be safe. Electronic cleaner/IPA first.

[BlackBart]

^^ thanks! It was the door latches not shutting tight with ice in the gap - fixed!

Some more quirks I forgot....
The airbag light and warning triangle are on since I replaced the fuel pump and senders under the seats. No doubt I failed to correctly plug in those sensors at one of the side bolsters.

The other thing is the digital clock in the tach. When I start the car, it runs full blast, backwards, counting down. After a couple of miles, it decides to stop at a random number. Does it every time.

[abscate]

It gets pretty cold in the Big Sky Country. It might just be cold enough for simple time reversal.

Might be up in Bozeman this winter for a week.