1995 850GLT Windshield Washer and "Strange" Headlamp Cap Q?

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 21 Dec 2009, 20:07

A few questions.

I have stock headlamp assemblies. Now, if you are FACING the front of the car, looking under the hood, there are two black disks you manually open/close w/your fingers on each headlamp. They are made of black plastic. They are not threaded. Just 3 notches to fit into place. I opened the hood today, and found the left disk (if you are facing front of car and looking down) of the right headlamp completely off. I got lucky it didn't fall onto the ground when driving. I looked at the disk, there's nothing wrong with it, no chipped plastic or anything. It's just loose.

How can I keep this sucker in place??

Second, if I can't keep it in place, what will happen to my headlamp or the wiring connections/coupling behind this plastic disk?This is what happens when you get into accident and get someone else's parts. I never had this problem w/my original lights.

Second I believe I have a windshield washer reservoir leak of some sort. Here's what I notice. I should add the fluid sensor has been replaced with a brand new Volvo sensor from the factory.

1. If you open the blue cap you can see a bubble or two appearing at regular intervals, and literally watch the fluid level drop before your eyes. In the course of a couple of minutes the fluid level drops, and all I see w/a flashlight is blue plastic shaped like an X at the bottom.

When I looked under the car for liquid, I didn't see anything on the pavement when I was at the store. So I'm not sure where the liquid is going.

2. When I drive, shifting from gears 1 to 2, and usually ONLY when I accelerate, the amber light indicating the windshield washer fluid is low. If I accelerate the light goes on, however, if during the acceleration I take my foot off the pedal, the light typically goes off. Also, if I sit at rest and just rev the engine, typically the light doesn't go in, even if I'm driving, and rev the engine when I'm out of gear, the amber light doesn't go on.

It makes me think there is windshield washer fluid sliding around somewhere during the acceleration. Once I reach a final or constant speed, the amber light goes off.

The light typically doesn't go on when I hit the break.

Any ideas.

Particularly concerned about the black cap on the lamp assembly. Accidents suck!

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 22 Dec 2009, 06:57

Here are some pictures. Sorry they were not in the original post.

The pictures of the blue object are as far as I can see down the windshield reservoir. Looks like a mesh screen or something..I cannot tell.

I took a picture of the disks, and I removed one so you can see what's behind them. It was the best I could do.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 22 Dec 2009, 14:17

No ideas anyone?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 22 Dec 2009, 22:08

That cap for the headlights DOES thread on.( Or at least, it should ).
Once the tabs are lined up (it only fits one way), it should turn
about an inch. Remember, Righty Tighty!
From the looks of it, it's been open to the weather for a long time...
Your optics are probably filthy. Good luck getting them clean.
You'll have to pull the entire bucket to get it a part. Then, you face the
challenge of cleaning the front-sided mirroring of the reflectors.
BE CAREFUL! That coating will scratch if you even look at it very hard!

Get a Really soft, lens cleaning cloth and just soak the whole reflector
when you get to that point. That will help keep the dust in suspension
and reduce the scratches. But you probably will scratch it...It's a very thin coating.

As for the leak? You'll just have to keep digging. You might try having a
helper run the pump while you're investigating. Keep an eye on the T fittings.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 23 Dec 2009, 00:40

BEJinFbk wrote:That cap for the headlights DOES thread on.( Or at least, it should ).
Once the tabs are lined up (it only fits one way), it should turn
about an inch. Remember, Righty Tighty!
From the looks of it, it's been open to the weather for a long time...
Your optics are probably filthy. Good luck getting them clean.
You'll have to pull the entire bucket to get it a part. Then, you face the
challenge of cleaning the front-sided mirroring of the reflectors.
BE CAREFUL! That coating will scratch if you even look at it very hard!

Get a Really soft, lens cleaning cloth and just soak the whole reflector
when you get to that point. That will help keep the dust in suspension
and reduce the scratches. But you probably will scratch it...It's a very thin coating.

As for the leak? You'll just have to keep digging. You might try having a
helper run the pump while you're investigating. Keep an eye on the T fittings.

Thanks...Not my original headlamp obviously due to accident.

The disks aren't threaded, just the 3 tabs. 2 are smaller than the 3rd. However, I have "solved" the problem, some good old silicone adhesive. Just to keep them in place.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 23 Dec 2009, 14:19

I use the term "Threaded" loosely.
Check some of the other lamps caps
and you'll see what I meant...

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 01 Jan 2010, 19:33

I believe I figured out the problem to the windshield washer tank "leak"..Took the tank off, there appears to be no leaking. However, there is a long black tube, about 8-12" long which comes off the tank. I believe after the accident it was facing downward and causing liquid to lead out through this hose, like overflow perhaps. I put the tube's opening facing upward no. So far things seem OK. Time will tell.

cranzie44 · Post by **cranzie44** » 07 Jan 2010, 10:29

In viewing your thread, how did you get to and remove the washer reseviour?

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 07 Jan 2010, 12:00

cranzie44 wrote:In viewing your thread, how did you get to and remove the washer reseviour?

I actually didn't do it, though from watching I could have, just not as quickly for sure. The connections from above were undone. It was removed from below though. That's where the real work/most of the work was done. There's a panel connected to the right front quarter panel, he had removed some of the clips/screws to gain access initially. However, I don't recall if that was necessary, or if he just did that when searching around for leaks. But once the screws were removed, it's a straight "drop" down from below, not from above.

It's mounted pretty deep below as you can tell if you have looked below the right front tire.