European vs. Chinese bulbs?

LordGimmik · Post by **LordGimmik** » 17 Aug 2010, 08:27

Hello fellow S80 owners!

Let me start by saying I'm not very mechanical. I'm a software engineer by trade, so getting my hands dirty isn't usually part of my standard 9-5. I have a 2001 S80 that I received as a "gift" from a family member. A poorly maintained gift that required $3000 of work two weeks after getting it.

I refused to pay the dealer prices for repairs and found a local independent shop run to two guys that love Volvos. I trust my mechanics, they once spent a whole day just "tinkering" with my Volvo trying to get the stupid "Engine System Service Required" error to display again so they could get a code-read. After a whole day and no error they gave me back the Volvo, told me to bring it back right away if the error pops up, and then refused to charge me a penny since "they didn't do anything."

They did however replace a burned taillight for me (for free), but Aaron did scold me for using a "cheap Chinese bulb" and told me to always use "European bulbs." To be fair, I wasn't the one that put the bulb in there, but I told him I wouldn't do it again. So I've been trying to do as much of the Volvo's maintenance myself that I can. Started changing my own oil and filters, getting the right tools (damn annoying filter housing), and tackling more and more advanced jobs. I got a torque wrench and changed my own spark plugs, and I've been reading everything I can find on changing the timing belt to figure out if that would be a good project for me to really get my hands dirty. I'm good at research, gathering information, and reading instructions.

Now - the point of this post (the rest was background) - I have four blown bulbs. Both front parking lights (5W W2.1x9.5d), one rear fog light (5W BA 15s) and one rear tail light (21W BA15s). Now - Where can I get "European bulbs"? I looked online, I looked in stores - I can't find anything that indicates where the bulb is manufactured. Can anybody recommend a source for European bulbs or at least a brand name? Does anybody know that brand Volvo uses for it's OEM bulbs? I know, I know - I sound like a rookie noob, but I'm trying to learn.

Thanks in advance!

Post by **billofdurham** » 17 Aug 2010, 12:27

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

At the top of the forum we have five sponsors, four of whom sell most of the new parts you will ever need. The exception is Erie Vo-Vo who sell good, used parts. Each advert is a link to that sponsor. As far as I know they sell OEM bulbs.

As a UK member I always stick to two bulb manufacturers, Philips and Osram who, as far as I know, don't sell Chinese products.

One of the quirks of Volvos is the bulb failure warning system. It is very sensitive so you are advised to change bulbs in pairs as manufacturing standards vary or the older bulb may give a slightly different reading to the failure system causing it to trigger.

I know - I sound like a rookie noob, but I'm trying to learn.

Don't apologize for that, we've all been there, done that and got the T-shirt. You have started off well as you have found an independent garage and joined this forum. We aim to help.

Bill.

Retired MVS Contributor · Post by **Retired MVS Contributor** » 17 Aug 2010, 14:26

billofdurham wrote:Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

At the top of the forum we have five sponsors, four of whom sell most of the new parts you will ever need. The exception is Erie Vo-Vo who sell good, used parts. Each advert is a link to that sponsor. As far as I know they sell OEM bulbs.

As a UK member I always stick to two bulb manufacturers, Philips and Osram who, as far as I know, don't sell Chinese products.

One of the quirks of Volvos is the bulb failure warning system. It is very sensitive so you are advised to change bulbs in pairs as manufacturing standards vary or the older bulb may give a slightly different reading to the failure system causing it to trigger.

I know - I sound like a rookie noob, but I'm trying to learn.
Don't apologize for that, we've all been there, done that and got the T-shirt. You have started off well as you have found an independent garage and joined this forum. We aim to help.

Bill.

Bill's advice is good, change them in pairs...I feel that you ought to check your battery voltage...It could be a coincidence but a number of blown bulbs, all at the same time, suggests an overcharge condition and could spell disaster to some of the electronic modules...The battery voltage should be 12.5 volts when the engine is NOT running and should rise to maybe 14.5 volts or so when the engine is running...If it is much over 15 volts you have a bad voltage regulator and I would take care of it ASAP...Just the regulator, not the alternator...The new OEM regulator is $57, a rebuilt (???) alternator wil be about $250...

LordGimmik · Post by **LordGimmik** » 17 Aug 2010, 16:29

Bill & Jerry - Thanks for your advice. I've been going to ipd and MyVolvoPartsOnline for a while now. I just wasn't sure which bulbs they carried. I couldn't find any information online about the difference between European and Chinese bulbs. I'm having trouble finding the 5W W2.1x9.5d bulbs used as front parking lights. I plan to order several extras of each bulb to keep on hand for future blowouts. My manual (back cover) indicated six primary bulbs used in the head/tail lights - so I have quite a few to order.

Bill - Thanks for the welcome! I'm sure I'm going to need lots of advice and support as I tackle larger and larger problems. My Volvo needs some serious TLC. I just failed an inspection due to something loose in the front end - either tie rods or connecting arms or end-links. Not that I know what any of that stuff does, but that's what I was told to check. My car buddy is coming over with his jack and stands this weekend so I can see if I can find the issue. Otherwise it's going to the mechanic early next week.

Jerry - Thank you for the tip about the voltage regulator. A good multimeter if the one tool I already had due to my engineering background. All 4 bulbs didn't blow out at once. I think the two front parking lights were both blown out when I received the Volvo. From what Bill says about the electrical system, if the computer if looking for a resistance difference between the bulbs to determine failures, it makes sense that I would never have gotten a warning light. Two blown bulbs = same resistance? The 3rd failure (which triggered the annoying "Position light failure" was the rear left fog light. Since I never use the fog lights, I just ignored the warning. Finally, the 4th bulb just failed, then 2nd left tail light. That one will need to be replaced before my next attempt at an inspection.

This car is certainly putting me through my paces... Did I mention how much I loved the plastic splash guard blocking access to the oil pan? Thanks Volvo!

Volvofix1 · Post by **Volvofix1** » 19 Aug 2010, 14:01

Volvos are sensitive to other than OE type light bulbs,we get ours from our local Pep Boys they carry Sylvania/Osram with the silver color base which are sometimes made in Hungary and are good. PS I am Hungarian.

Ferencz Kallamann aka Dick K. from Fla.

Volvofix1 · Post by **Volvofix1** » 19 Aug 2010, 14:07

Oh I forgot the rear positioning light on Volvos left rear is for use in Europe like in Germany and the low lands where there is lots of fog as an extra warning. It generally not used in the US
Dick K.

LordGimmik · Post by **LordGimmik** » 19 Aug 2010, 16:23

Thanks for the tip volvofix1!

My local AutoZone carries Sylvania bulbs, so maybe I'll try those.