The Great Lighting Mystery

fleeecy · Post by **fleeecy** » 23 Dec 2019, 17:31

Hi there!

I've recently added a silver 2009 V50 2.4i with 220 000 km to my garage. It's in surprisingly good shape for its age.

There's one mystery I have yet to resolve though. Can you guys help?

The only way I can get exterior lights to turn on is to start the car. The headlight switch on the dashboard can be on any position, doesn't seem to matter at all.

I went to my local scrapyard, located a 2008 V50 there and took its dashboard lightswitch; that was surprisingly easy to do (thanks Volvo!) but it didn't fix the issue.

The 3 buttons at the bottom of this switch do work (as did the ones on my car's original switch). So I can pop the fuel door, turn on the foglights.

I replaced the parking light bulbs (the small ones) too, just in case. They do turn on, but only with the headlights and only if I start the engine.

Same goes for the rear lights.

I looked in the owner's manual for something related to fuses and parking lights, and I didn't find anything pertinent.

Can you help?

F.

fleeecy · Post by **fleeecy** » 23 Dec 2019, 19:39

I should mention that if I tap the light button on my keyfob, the parking lights do turn on with the car's puddle lights.

Post by **June** » 23 Dec 2019, 20:21

The headlight options are programmed in the computer. For example my 2004 S80 came with daytime running lights which I hated. The manual said the service department would reprogram the computer to disable them upon customer request. Well it took me 15 years to get them shut off. Apparently the dealer can program the off, park, and lights on settings on the switch to do anything. All three settings can be headlights on if you desire. I wanted off to be headlights off, park to be park lights, and on to be on. He chose to keep the dash lights on although I would have preferred them off with the headlights off. Apparently there are many options and he had to try various options before getting it to what I now have.

Now I have all external lights off with the headlight switch in 0/ off position, park lights with or without key on with headlight switch in middle position, and all external lights on with key on and headlight switch in on position, but all off in this position with key off. Dash lights come on with key in any position but off.

So if the park lights setting on the switch just works with the key on, than likely it was programmed that way for the original owner. Many times I have bumped the switch and not realized the park lights were on to find hours later them running the battery down. June

fleeecy · Post by **fleeecy** » 23 Dec 2019, 21:29

Very interesting and thorough answer! Thank you June!

Is there another way to access those settings, without involving a dealer?

Post by **June** » 23 Dec 2019, 21:46

fleeecy wrote: ↑23 Dec 2019, 21:29 Very interesting and thorough answer! Thank you June!

Is there another way to access those settings, without involving a dealer?

From what I understand the main dealer VIDA has more to it than the consumer version. Originally for the 2004 the customer indicated what they wanted and a software upload from Volvo was run. Then VIDA 2014 or 16 allowed mechanics at the dealer select various options to alter the computer. In my case the removal of the daytime running lights.

What you replaced thinking it was a standard headlight switch is not. It's more of a user interface/ module for the computer. The headlight relay is part of the computer rather than a removable relay in a fuse box wired to the switch and headlights themselves. Unfortunately these cars are really rolling computers with modules everywhere and most are married to the car requiring the replacement to be programmed by the dealership. June

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 23 Dec 2019, 22:14

Lighting parameters can be set with Vida 2014D and a good DiCE clone. The options vary from model to model.

On my S40 I turned off Daytime Running Lights. Got some fog lights and light switch from a PnP and installed them on the car. Had to change a parameter in the CEM before the Fog Light would come on.

I could change the light switch behavior on my XC90 if I wanted too.

fleeecy · Post by **fleeecy** » 23 Dec 2019, 22:45

Total newbie here. I’ll research this VIDA. Thank you again!

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 23 Dec 2019, 22:49

fleeecy wrote: ↑23 Dec 2019, 22:45 Total newbie here. I’ll research this VIDA. Thank you again!

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=83834

DiCE clones can be found on eBay, search for "Volvo Dice" Stay away from the blue ones.

fleeecy · Post by **fleeecy** » 23 Dec 2019, 22:53

Will do! Cheers!