How to access bulb - driver side front side marker light

jseah · Post by **jseah** » 23 Oct 2008, 19:08

Just got my first Volvo at the end of last month. Purchased a used 2006 S60 2.5T with 45,000 miles. Glad to have found this site.

So this morning I get that dreaded "position bulb failure" message. Picked up a bunch of rear tail light bulbs and when I went to replace them, I noticed that all the lights were fine. This evening, I noticed that one of the license plate bulbs were out (I'll have to get a replacement bulb tomorrow). It is also my understanding that the license plate bulb can set off the "position bulb failure" message.

I also noticed that the side marker light in the driver's side headlight housing wasn't coming on (I think that this bulb can result in the message as well). The problem I have though is how do you access this light (this is the light that sits behind the amber lens at the outside edge of the headlight housing)? When I look in the trunk, I can only see the connector for the amber colored turn signal light. It looks like the light I need to get to is buried in the fender.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:11

On your car, it's actually quite easy...push the entire housing (amber plastic lens that's on the fender) towards the front of the car and at the same time lift up (or pull out) on the rear edge of the lens...it should come out. Installation is in reverse.

jseah · Post by **jseah** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:24

This isn't the small side light that is in the fender right in front of the front door. I am talking about the side marker light that sits in the headlight housing. It is the fourth light that is at the outer edge of the housing (it is under an amber lens). Looking at the engine compartment of the car, it looks like that portion of the headlight housing is sandwiched between the unibody and the front fender so the light does not appear accessible.

In the owner's manual, they do mention how to remove the light from the housing, but the instructions show the housing removed from the car.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:34

Oops...sorry about that. On your car, that side of the front bumper casing has to come loose. There are strips under your headlights that come out with a bone tool or hard piece of plastic...then there are screws under that strip. Then take out the 4 screws for the headlight (be careful that you don't drop it out...best to put a towel over it just in case. disconnect the connector and then pull the headlight out...I know it's quite a process but it appears that's the only way and that's also what VADIS instructions say for a '05- I assume your model year is no different.

jseah · Post by **jseah** » 23 Oct 2008, 20:40

Thanks. I guess that will be my little project this weekend. VADIS? What's that? Is that illustrated instructions on how to accomplish this?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 24 Oct 2008, 07:18

VADIS is the Volvo aftermarket diagnostic manual on DVD... It has diagrams, how-to's and part numbers. Often these are available on eBay for not much $$. Problem is, the latest version (also the last version) only goes through '05 Volvo's. Then, Volvo changed to VIDA which isn't available to everyone unless you're wanting to pay the Volvo company bookoo's of $$ and I believe it's on a subscription basis. Because VADIS is old, the company doesn't seem to care that it's out among the masses. For my cars, VADIS is very handy- not sure how it would be for your car though as I'm not sure how many changes occurred between model year '05 and '06.

Because MVS now allows uploads of pdf files, I'm uploading the files (I culled from VADIS) for your car's (albeit '05) headlight change here:

S60 headlight change_bumper casing.pdf: (526.86 KiB) Downloaded 1851 times

S60 headlight change.pdf: (365.18 KiB) Downloaded 1164 times

Good luck with your weekend project!
MIJ

jseah · Post by **jseah** » 24 Oct 2008, 09:26

Thanks. This will be a huge help.

I can also confirm that the front side marker light and the license plate light does not trigger the position light failure message. When I started the car up this morning, instead of the message coming up, it was rapidly flashing in the message window. So I pulled the rear light brackets out and jiggled each bulb to ensure that they were seated properly. Went back to start the car up and the message no longer appeared.

Post by **cn90** » 01 Jul 2022, 00:02

Other than removing the bumper and pull the HL assembly outward to replace this bulb, does anyone have
a simpler suggestion on how to replace this particular bulb?

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Post by **cn90** » 01 Jul 2022, 18:45

UPDATE,

Not as bad as I thought (I have average-to-small hands)...

- Loosen the clamp at MAF, no need to d/c it.
- Disconnect the MAF connector (squeeze on the tab then pull it out).
- Move the Air Filter Cover sideways.
- I did this without removing the AF housing.
- If you need to remove the AF housing, search youtube for tricks but basically squeeze the 4 plastic tabs
near the base of the housing (use an appropriate socket+extension), then lift the AF housing upward.
- For the bulb connector, the half-moon part faces forward.
- I used a pair of right-angle pliers to undo and to install it.
- Turn CCW to remove and CW to install.

- Bulb is #2825, but I bought a whole bunch of #194 a few yrs ago (Flosser 194, pack of 10 on ebay).

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Post by **cn90** » 01 Jul 2022, 18:48

This is a funny video to watch: