Low beam bulb failure, possible reasons? (2006 V70) Topic is solved

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 17 May 2023, 22:27

Dear All,

I replaced both low beam bulbs eleven months ago with good quality Phillips halogen (H7?) bulbs purchased from my local parts store. Today I got the dash notice of bulb failure, which was confirmed by inspection. I was expecting these bulbs to last for ten years. Any ideas of possible faults that I should inspect when replacing the failed bulb? It seems unlikely that the bulb was defective, right?

Thank you for your time,
Hugh

Post by **erikv11** » 17 May 2023, 23:50

How much (in hours) would you estimate you ran the headlights in six months?

What bulbs did you buy? It definitely matters, not all Philips bulbs have much of an expected lifespan.

Six months does seem on the low side but a standard halogen doesn't have terrific lifespan, like 250-800 hours depending on what you bought. Hard to stretch that out to anything near ten years.

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 18 May 2023, 06:13

erikv11 wrote: ↑17 May 2023, 23:50 How much (in hours) would you estimate you ran the headlights in six months?

What bulbs did you buy?

Thanks for your reply erikv. The bulbs would have burned for only about a hundred hours (5000 km at 50 km/h average.) They were the standard Phillips bulb, not the high output version.

ignatz · Post by **ignatz** » 18 May 2023, 07:22

I keep High Low beam bulbs in my cars center storage area. I've had a few go out 200 miles from home, so its nice to be able to pull over and change it. I still swear and complain changing any bulb on my V70...lol

Post by **volvolugnut** » 18 May 2023, 10:13

I try to avoid touching these bulbs with my fingers when installing. I am not sure, but think skin oil causes early bulb failure. But that may be bunk.
The brightest bulbs do have shorter life.
volvolugnut

Post by **erikv11** » 18 May 2023, 14:47

100 hours is indeed low (ok, like you originally posted!).

I'm not aware of relevant issues known to plague the P2 cars like your V70. Good discussion here https://www.hidconcept.com/blogs/news/h ... -bulb-last. And I'd check the the sockets and the wiring near the headlights for signs of overheating. Maybe (hopefully?) you just got a bad bulb.

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 18 May 2023, 18:59

ignatz wrote: ↑18 May 2023, 07:22 I still swear and complain changing any bulb on my V70...lol

Fully, what a difficult job it is to service a simple light bulb

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 18 May 2023, 19:01

volvolugnut wrote: ↑18 May 2023, 10:13 I try to avoid touching these bulbs with my fingers when installing. I am not sure, but think skin oil causes early bulb failure. But that may be bunk.
The brightest bulbs do have shorter life.
volvolugnut

Yes, the oils from fingers definitely reduces life of a bulb. I'd like to know more about the underlying physics/chemistry of this phenomenon.

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 18 May 2023, 19:03

erikv11 wrote: ↑18 May 2023, 14:47 Good discussion here https://www.hidconcept.com/blogs/news/h ... -bulb-last. And I'd check the the sockets and the wiring near the headlights

So my spouse used the car today and apparently no bulb failure notice on dash. I am now suspecting a loose connection. Will investigate over the weekend.

Thanks for the link to the other tips for troubleshooting failed headlight bulbs.

hughiescho · Post by **hughiescho** » 19 May 2023, 18:41

So after noting low beam bulb is indeed not lighting, I pulled out the air box to access the bulb from rear of headlight assembly. It appears one of the two female receptacles that the bulb plugs into is broken. See image. I am going to try source a new "plug" locally tomorrow. Hopefully it is just from age.

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