2004 XC70 problems with instrument cluster and headlights after air bag recall Topic is solved

[enotslim]

My dealer did the drivers air bag recall on November 8. I now have unexpected behavior of lights controlled by “stuff" located near the airbag in the steering wheel module. Any suggestions about causes and next steps?

* Drove home after the recall work was done in daylight and everything seemed fine but I haven’t driven the car much since because the fuel pump leaked (I just did the J-B Weld repair). I now find several dashboard lights are out and the headlight controls seem to be wrong. I can see the status messages rotating in the dash board display when I click the button on the end of the turn signal lever but there is no light/backlight. The odometer and trip odometer are not visible. The instrument illumination thumbwheel does nothing. All these things behaved differently before the air bag recall was done. Also, the headlights are now always on and nothing else changes when I rotate the headlight switch through its three positions. Headlights do not go off with the switch in the position for parking lights on.

* I found this in the manual:
* A - Headlights, parking lights
* O All lights off
* Models with daytime running lights: Low beam headlights will automatically come on if the ignition key is in position II. Front and rear parking lights and license plate lights will also be on.
* Volvo recommends the use of daytime running lights. If, however, you would prefer to have these lights turned off (USA only), please consult your Volvo retailer. Please note that the use of daytime running lights is mandatory in Canada.
* NOTE: Bi-Xenon headlights (option): Turn the headlight switch to position 0 to activate a daylight sensor, which automatically switches the low beams on or off, depending on ambient light conditions.
* When driving in daylight, the headlights will switch off and the daytime running lights will come on. In darkness, the daytime running lights will switch off and the Bi-Xenon headlights will switch on.

* Could the dealer have inactivated the option to turn headlights off? This would not explain the other changes.

[cn90]

I think this is classic instrument cluster soldering issues.
My 2004 V70 with 142K miles just had this issue (no odometer, no speedometer, messages unreadable).
Bought a used cluster on ebay for $69.
Works perfect now.

Search but there are 2 issues:
- Green connector vs White connector for different years.
In my case I bought the cluster from a 2004 S60.

- Most ebay sellers simply remove the cluster from the car w/o knowing the exact odometer reading.
Search forum but sometimes you end up with the correct odometer reading and sometimes you
end up with the odometer reading from the "new used" cluster.

I was lucky, there was an ebay seller that showed the exact cluster plugged in a test vehicle with the
exact odometer reading.

[02V70]

I had instrument cluster issues, and although the instrument cluster was erratic, the headlights worked as normal. The other issues do seem like they could be caused by a faulty instrument cluster though.

[enotslim]

Tried again several hours later in the dark. All the instruments and the message window are lit and readable except the temp gauge. The instrument illumination thumbwheel still does nothing and the headlights don't change when rotating the headlight switch. The dark temp gauge sounds like a bad bulb or bulb current and I can live without it. The headlights are bothersome though. Guess I'll see what tomorrow brings.

Is it safe to say that these issues are not related to the recently done driver air bag recall work? Just coincidental timing?

[jonesg]

i wouldn't rule anything out, go back over all the plugs the dealer disturbed whilst doing the work.

[enotslim]

i wouldn't rule anything out, go back over all the plugs the dealer disturbed whilst doing the work.

Looks like airbag replacement is incredibly simple. The only plug involved being the direct connection through the steering wheel to the rear of the airbag itself: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticl ... cement.htm. Hard to see how this work would affect the headlight switch unless the changed something else. Any ideas about where else to look for disturbed connections?

[enotslim]

i wouldn't rule anything out, go back over all the plugs the dealer disturbed whilst doing the work.

Looks like airbag replacement is incredibly simple. The only plug involved being the direct connection through the steering wheel to the rear of the airbag itself: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticl ... cement.htm. Hard to see how this work would affect the headlight switch unless the changed something else. Any ideas about where else to look for disturbed connections?

After a bit more reading it sounds like all these issues (everything above plus the radio light also is out although the radio functions fine) can be caused by a faulty headlamp switch (module?) that can easily be replaced or resoldered. I'll try that before doing more.

[firstv70volvo]

i wouldn't rule anything out, go back over all the plugs the dealer disturbed whilst doing the work.

Looks like airbag replacement is incredibly simple. The only plug involved being the direct connection through the steering wheel to the rear of the airbag itself: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticl ... cement.htm. Hard to see how this work would affect the headlight switch unless the changed something else. Any ideas about where else to look for disturbed connections?

After a bit more reading it sounds like all these issues (everything above plus the radio light also is out although the radio functions fine) can be caused by a faulty headlamp switch (module?) that can easily be replaced or resoldered. I'll try that before doing more.

Here are my notes when my light switch module started acting up. It ended up being a bad solder joint with the 12V supply to the 5V regulator IC or at one of the 5V IC legs. I could flex the circuit board and it would start working so I knew it had a bad solder joint. See the pdf for the locations of the different components.

LSM repair notes.pdf

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[enotslim]

Here are my notes when my light switch module started acting up. It ended up being a bad solder joint with the 12V supply to the 5V regulator IC or at one of the 5V IC legs. I could flex the circuit board and it would start working so I knew it had a bad solder joint. See the pdf for the locations of the different components.

LSM repair notes.pdf

A functioning light switch module fixed everything. Thanks for the advice.