headlight pigtail question 98 v70 na

frisky99 · Post by **frisky99** » 31 Mar 2019, 14:19

Hello , I just put in some new headlights and wondered if I should replace the old pigtails I had removed them hoping to gain a little more brightness from my old headlights. I remember reading that they were there to lower the voltage slightly to lengthen the life of the bulbs. What a difference the new ones made, now I can drive at night with a lot more confidence. Thanks, Frisky

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 01 Apr 2019, 08:57

Hmm... can't say I've heard of that. The pig tail is just there to make it easy to connect the harness to the headlight assembly from the car, and then from that harness to the individual bulbs within the headlight.

It's a very common problem for those wires to deteriorate from heat inside the headlight assembly. It's possible that the wiring was shorting or had increased resistance, leading to dimmer bulbs. You can buy a replacement pigtail here https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... ss-9438738

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Apr 2019, 10:18

Yes Frisky you are right about the pigtails, they were a later add-on by Volvo. I always take them out first thing when I get a new P2 S70 or V70 to help improve the anemic lights, has always been fine for me. But more to the point it's not reported as a problem on the forum when doing that.

I'd keep them out and enjoy the few extra lumens. Or WTH just try them out, pop them back in if you still have them.

Which new headlights did you go with?

Post by **abscate** » 01 Apr 2019, 12:43

The pigtails were a TSB from Volvo to enhance headlight life - Campaign 101B

I think I took mine off a couple years ago.

Post by **j-dawg** » 01 Apr 2019, 15:38

I did not have the pigtails and my headlight connector crumbled. Soldered in a new high-temp ceramic harness and all is well.

I think you get to decide between good lighting and harness crumblage, a long-life OEM headlight harness with dimmer lighting, or good lighting with chintzy ebay parts. I went with the latter and have been happy for a few years.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Apr 2019, 17:03

The OEM headlight harness is without the extensions. The extensions were an add-on for bulb life, they don't have any effect on life of the connectors, to my knowledge.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 01 Apr 2019, 21:23

OH, I think I know what you're referring to now. I'm just remembering there is an extension harness connected to the headlight. I thought the OP was referring to the harness within the headlight that notoriously crumbles.
Disregard my previous post. Unless you need a new bulb connector harness, then it's useful!

frisky99 · Post by **frisky99** » 03 Apr 2019, 19:26

Thanks for the responses. Think I will leave them off. Posting an image for those that have never seen them. I went with the after market TYC headlights($151 w/shipping) At this point they will probably out last both the car and me(190k and 72yrs with only driving about 5k per year. The quality was ok and the only problem was that one of the verticle adjuster rods. Had come loose, but was not hard to reattach. Thanks again, frisky