Bulb Failure Dipped Beam - Intermittent Problem

Vamsi · Post by **Vamsi** » 14 Nov 2008, 15:35

Hi,

I have a 2000 S80 (no-turbo, 80000 miles), and get a bulb failure message when I start the car. The low-beam headlights don't work, but the hi-beam works fine. After about 5-10 minutes of driving, the failure message turns off and the low-beam light turn on.

Then if I turn off the car, and restart it again immediately, 9 times out of 10 I don't get the failure. However, if I even stop the car for a few minutes and then restart the car, the same failure repeats itself all over again.

I used Fubar's instructions in the S60 forum to access the CEM. Thank you very much Fubar for the helpful instructions. There is indeed a burn mark! I sanded and cleaned the contacts (both on the shunt and inside the CEM), but the failure message doesn't go away.

Do you have any advice for me? Thank you very much!
Vamsi

Vamsi · Post by **Vamsi** » 17 Nov 2008, 10:14

Hi Everyone,
I was able to fix it (for now). The shunt was not able to make contact inside the CEM so I bent the shunt pin a little bit to help it make contact inside the CEM. That worked.

My concern is that when this goes bad again, I might have to replace the contact inside the CEM if that's even possible. Else I'll have to replace the entire CEM.

Also, the instructions in the Volvo S60 forum to remove the CEM, state that the CEM should be pushed backwards and then pulled down. In the S80, it's the other way. After you have pushed outwards on the clip that's towards the outside, just move the bottom portion of the CEM towards the driver's seat, then pull down. It will slide out easily.

keesue · Post by **keesue** » 19 Dec 2008, 15:30

I have the same problem and have removed the kick panel panel to access the shunt. Can someone advise what the procedure is for removing it? It appears to be a pull out but I don't want to take the chance.

My car is a S60 but I think the issue is the same for both models.

Well, Duh, the post had the instruction in it. Sorry.... was so frustrated trying to diagnose the problem ...

yogitexas · Post by **yogitexas** » 12 Jan 2009, 11:15

Really i am having the same problem with this. Also, is anyone experiencing battery drainage?

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » 07 Mar 2010, 02:57

Vamsi wrote:
I used Fubar's instructions in the S60 forum to access the CEM. Thank you very much Fubar for the helpful instructions. There is indeed a burn mark! I sanded and cleaned the contacts (both on the shunt and inside the CEM), but the failure message doesn't go away.

Do you have any advice for me? Thank you very much!
Vamsi

I'm sorry I haven't been an active enough of a user to answer questions on the topic! At first i tried only sanding the shunt a little, but the problem came back. Sanding it again just made the prong thinner. I even tried wrapping the shunt's prong with a bit of aluminum foil from the kitchen to ensure contact after sanding, but it was still not consistent. The problem just went from all the time, to intermittent. The new shunt hasn't failed me yet! You may also want to look at the sandpaper as you're cleaning the cem connector, spray the cem (spray into that hole full blast!) with cleaner, then sand again to see if its still sanding off any more corrosion. That shunt has got to make contact! For me, replacing the shunt has resulted in no more issues.

I hope this helps!