'98 V70 -- Headlights Dim

Post by **E Showell** » 05 Apr 2015, 08:02

I've noticed the low beams on my '98 V70 appear to be quite dim. Family members have wondered how I drive it at night. I guess I've grown accustomed to it.

I'm betting the silvering on the low beam reflectors is shot or nearly so. High beam seem fine. Rather than spending outrageous sums on replacement headlights, I'd like to look for a serviceable set at a scrapyard.

How can I tell the difference between a regular DOT lens and an E-code lens if (ever the optimist) I were to happen to run into an E-code lens in a yard?

Post by **kahl** » 05 Apr 2015, 11:04

The lens I have are stamped DOT on the bottom left cornor.

Post by **rspi** » 05 Apr 2015, 12:21

When they go bad, they are bad.

Post by **erikv11** » 05 Apr 2015, 13:32

New headlights are expensive, here are some other band-aid fixes:

Every 98 I have look at, has the little extension harness between the socket and the headlight. Volvo put these in because the lights were too bright, the extension increases resistance and purposely dims the lights, although only a little. You can take the extensions out, just unplug both ends and bypass them so the original harness goes right to the headlight.

I've been using H7 65W bulbs for about a year now, they provide slight improvement and do not overheat: http://www.ebay.com/itm/osram-64217-H7- ... 4ac7ca223e

Post by **abscate** » 06 Apr 2015, 05:06

I have the same trouble with my RH low beam on the 1999. I have not pulled the bulb yet, but will swap the today to see if it's bulb, wire or reflector.

I figure I'll give Timmy a call on his junk program if I need a reflector.

I hope the bulb doesn't give me the hassle the P2 did...ugh

Post by **mecheng** » 06 Apr 2015, 08:56

erikv11 wrote:New headlights are expensive, here are some other band-aid fixes:

Every 98 I have look at, has the little extension harness between the socket and the headlight. Volvo put these in because the lights were too bright, the extension increases resistance and purposely dims the lights, although only a little. You can take the extensions out, just unplug both ends and bypass them so the original harness goes right to the headlight.

I've been using H7 65W bulbs for about a year now, they provide slight improvement and do not overheat: http://www.ebay.com/itm/osram-64217-H7- ... 4ac7ca223e

Thats pretty interesting. I assume the wire is long enough to plug in. Did you do this mod?

The headlight ouput on my S70 isn't the greatest either. I wonder if they did it to control the heat or extend the bulb life.

Post by **erikv11** » 06 Apr 2015, 09:35

Yes, I always unplug both ends of the extra harness piece and just leave it in there, it is usually zip tied to the other wiring. The extra length (it is only about 8 inches) was added as a service campaign after the cars left the lot so there is definitely enough harness without it. Bulb life makes more sense to me than brightness, good point.

Google to the rescue. The extra harness is part number 9162343. I also came across a Volvo service bulletin that describes adding a harness extension on P2 cars to extend bulb life, likely the P80's got them about the same time.

xc_tsb_wiring_harness_upgrade.pdf: (78.4 KiB) Downloaded 287 times

And I looked at my records, 65W bulbs went into the low beams of my V70 at the start of Dec 2013, so coming up on 18 months now.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Apr 2015, 16:08

I pulled out both extensions on my P80 today. I'll see how bright the lights are tonight

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 06 Apr 2015, 18:48

I've heard of the Ecode lenses but I've never understood the difference between them and the DOT lenses. Ecode are better I take it?

Post by **mecheng** » 08 Apr 2015, 10:17

I removed the extension and there was a definite improvement. Using my non scientific lux meter (Naked eye), I would say there was a 15% improvement. It is very easy just to do, I left the extension still zip tied in case I want to add it back to add bulb life. In Canada, it is mandatory to have DRL, and you can't defeat it using the headlight switch.
Great info @erik11