2008 S60 low beam bulb failure

hu5ker555 · Post by **hu5ker555** » 30 Oct 2017, 15:58

2008 S60 2.5T, 172k miles

Been having intermittent low beam bulb failure problems for the past couple of months. It's always on the drivers side. Every so often, the "bulb failure low beam" message appears. Sometimes the bulb is still working, sometimes it isn't. When it isn't working, I remove the bulb from its fixture and then it lights up again. I put everything back together, and it's fine for a few days...then it starts all over again. Getting tired of playing this game. Any suggestions? I don't see any signs of melted/overheated sockets or wires, everything looks just fine. Please help.

UPDATE: so without pulling out the air cleaner box and everything, I just squeezed by hand in there, pulled off the back cover to the headlight, and barely wiggled the socket/bulb assembly. It turned on. Could it be a bad socket? If so, I think my H11 socket has 4 wires but the replacement ones are 2 wires?

Post by **jimmy57** » 31 Oct 2017, 07:14

The electric connector (socket) is one of those that gives trouble on many makes. I have had no long term success with the ones Autozone, O'Reilly's, etc sells. I use a high quality spade female connector and slide it directly onto the bulb terminals. You have to take a bulb with you to be sure you get the right ones. They will not touch anything so bare is fine. The housed connectors do not slide on very far and that starts the problem. Heat from too small contact area with high current compounded by the heat bulb already makes. Even the Volvo sourced replacement is subsequent failure prone as it still has the shallow insertion depth problem.

Post by **oragex** » 31 Oct 2017, 14:25

edited

Post by **abscate** » 01 Nov 2017, 04:34

I have trouble with my VW lights and found a Dremel to make the bulb spade shiny and new every 2-3 years fixes them nicely.

hu5ker555 · Post by **hu5ker555** » 04 Nov 2017, 14:12

Pulled the bulb and scuffed up the female socket contacts. We'll see if that improves the situation.

Andre1991 · Post by **Andre1991** » 05 Nov 2017, 09:26

My s60 would burn one low beam bulb almost very 2-3 months and shortly after the other one would go to... I always made sure I used gloves to install them. I googled the problem and it turns out it is a very common issue. I ended up giving up and just installing an aftermarket HID kit and I've had nice bright lights for 2 years so far no problems.

hu5ker555 · Post by **hu5ker555** » 10 Nov 2017, 19:57

UPDATE...After scuffing up the female contacts, I've gone a week with no problems. Seems like that did the trick.

hu5ker555 · Post by **hu5ker555** » 26 Jan 2018, 15:13

UPDATE...It's back again. Aaargh. Will scuff of the female contacts more and see how she does. Maybe I should smear a little Vaseline on there too?

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 26 Jan 2018, 17:05

Absolutely use dielectric grease, silicone grease or Vasaline.
I just changed mine and resorted to removing the air box. It really is not that hard to remove and was actually faster.
For the right side I have designed a tool for ease of removal.

Sadly, I didn't even examine the sockets so I cannot advise where to pick and pry to restore the "spring contact".
People with H7 low beams should remember that they don't need the plug housing. It's super thin, cheap plastic which burns away anyway.
Also, in the case of H7's, use a pliers to recrimp the female connectors. They'll shove straight on and never touch (short).
I believe the additional wires on the H11's plug are for the telltale system.

Durenol · Post by **Durenol** » 26 Jan 2018, 20:07

FWIW, we had the exact same thing/same side on our 2007 XC70. The socket design on these suck- you just have to mess with it a whole bunch.