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94 850t Wagon Headlight issue...

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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volvomoose
Posts: 10
Joined: 17 March 2008
Year and Model: 855t 1994
Location: Lexington, KY

94 850t Wagon Headlight issue...

Post by volvomoose »

So today my dirver's side head light on my 94 850T Volvo wagon, (low beam only) went out. As i was taking off the wire harness, with great difficulty and a little gentle prying, i found that on the inside of one side of the harness, where the light connects to, the inside was burnt and brown, this burntness continued on the outside of the harness. So... i replaced the bulb and checked the fuses, none of which were blown, but still no light will emit from the drivers side only; high and low beams do not work on the drivers side. The passenger side light work fine high and low beam.
Any suggestions? I assume that i will have to replace the wireness...
1995 850 Turbo Wagon (180k)

1996 850 NA Wagon

1996 940 Wagon

1986 240 DL

MadeInJapan
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Joined: 31 March 2005
Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
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Post by MadeInJapan »

The connection is bad...you'll have to change the entire piece out that has turned black.
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo

volvomoose
Posts: 10
Joined: 17 March 2008
Year and Model: 855t 1994
Location: Lexington, KY

Post by volvomoose »

So that means.. cutting and splicing another (new) harness?

Thanks for your help!
1995 850 Turbo Wagon (180k)

1996 850 NA Wagon

1996 940 Wagon

1986 240 DL

tailor
Posts: 570
Joined: 12 November 2006
Year and Model: 2004 XC90 2.5T AWD
Location: Toronto
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Post by tailor »

There have been a few posts about burnt holders.
The consensus is to replace both the bulb and the burnt socket. I have done just that on my wagon.
First check to see that you are getting power to that drivers side socket, if no power, solve that issue first.
1994 850 Auto Turbo wagon 306000km (Sold)
2004 XC90 AWD 188000km

"Life is like a reel to reel tape recorder,
the closer you get to the end,
the faster it spins."
Abe Gottschalk

MadeInJapan
MVS Moderator
Posts: 13434
Joined: 31 March 2005
Year and Model: '98 S70 T5 '07S40T5
Location: Knoxville, TN American but born in Japan
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 35 times

Post by MadeInJapan »

When you say harness, you mean at the plug for the headlights right? If so, then yes. If you mean, all the way back to the car's wiring harness, closer to the larger fuse box, then no. You should be able to source these parts used at a junk yard or call the guys at www.erievolvo.com

Same thing happened with my fog lights...only solution was to splice the wire to a new connector that was basically burnt up inside and would only make intermittent contact for the fog lights to come on.
'98 S70 T5 Emrld Grn Met/Beige Tons of Upgrades Mobil-1
'04 V70 2.5T Red/Taupe Some Upgrades Mobil-1
'07 S40 T5 AWD 6 speed manual! Silver/Black Stage1 Heico & Elevate
'07 S60 2.5T Blue/Taupe- my kid's Volvo

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

Even if it is new, change the bulb along with the connector. Once the connections carbonize it is grief forever.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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