2002 XC-70 AWD, intermittent High Beam dashlight

Post by **d2medic** » 05 Nov 2008, 11:51

My highbeam indicator light in the dash works intermittently. It doesn't bother me that much, but my wife is concerned that she'll inadvertently "high beam" someone.
Is there an easy fix to replace the bulb and check the mounting, or do I have to take out the complete dashboard to get to the lamp?

thanks for the help!
2002 XC-70 Wagon
1999 S70 Sedan
1995 850 Sedan

Post by **d2medic** » 16 Nov 2009, 15:37

OK.....I've still got a problem with the highbeam light. I've narrowed it down to a short in the instrument cluster. Local dealer says I can only install a new ($950) instrument cluster. It seems to me that if all the components in this "money pit" have to be synced with the computer, that the instrument cluster should work the same and I could find a used instrument cluster. Am I on the right track or should I just bite the bullet?

Thanks,

D2medic

njmotorguy · Post by **njmotorguy** » 05 Dec 2009, 18:11

I can't provide any guidance on the headlight indicator fix but I can tell you that the Instrument cluster stores the Odometer information. If you change it out with a used one it will show whatever miles are on the used one. I changed mine out about 6 months ago and lost 84K miles. Don't know what it would take to change the miles back to make them correct but would assume that the dealer will charge plenty.

Post by **d2medic** » 05 Dec 2009, 18:41

Yeah, I tried to do that here (PA) but no Volvo dealer (needed to "marry" the new cluster with the software) would do it because they couldn't change the mileage. It seems that prior to 2002 you could change without the hassle of the software not recognizing the new component. The fix is to buy a "recon" cluster for $1,000. Some fix for a car with 120,000 K. I plan to drive it till the wheels fall off so we'll just put up with it.

Thanks for your reply.

Dave

Post by **seggs** » 10 Dec 2009, 07:49

I have one thought about what you might be experiencing which I had to get used to when I got my 2002 S60. If you have your headlight switch turned off (at the 9 o'clock position), your headlights will still be on all of the time(daytime running lights) but your high beams will not turn on. The switch must be turned to the 12 o'clock position for the highbeams to work(along with the dash light). This was an issue for me for a while until I realized what was happening. I've often made the mistake of only having the DRLs on at night until I tried to use my highbeams.
Hope this helps.

Post by **d2medic** » 10 Dec 2009, 14:24

NO it's definatly not the switch problem.

Thank anyway

billr99 · Post by **billr99** » 11 Dec 2009, 06:18

I have the same problem and after changing bulbs, etc. found what I think is a problem with the connections between the CEM CPU and the board. If you do a search on the Volvo Performance Club forum from the UK there is quite the thread on CEM issues caused by this fault. In fact, in the UK there is even a firm that will rebuild dash clusters and on P2 clusters they basically just re-solder the CPU to its socket. The thread on the UK forum gets into attempting to re-establish hot joints on the board if you want to tackle it by DIY but it sounds a bit fiddly. I'm inclined to just try a used cluster and live with the mileage being off. As it is, the engine module also stores mileage and this is deemed to be the correct one if you are ever hooked up at the dealer.

Cheers,

Bill

Post by **d2medic** » 11 Dec 2009, 06:46

Bill,
I tried to do that in PA, but couldn't get a Volvo dealer in PA or MD to "mate" the new cluster to the CPU. They all gave the excuse that the mileage was a problem and that they couldn't change it so it was illegal. They also "kindly" offered to sell me a re-man. unit (I don't know what the difference is - if you can't change the mileage on a used unti, how could you legally change it on a re-man.) for about $1,100 bucks, plus installation time and computer programing charges. I fail to see how this isn't a recall regardless of the vehicle age. This is either poor factory workmanship or faulty components, neither of which can be affected by the owner.
Alas, poor Urich, "Volvoed" again!!!

Thanks for the thread to the UK site.

Dave

billr99 · Post by **billr99** » 11 Dec 2009, 18:42

The UK site states that if you get all the numbers on the back of the cluster to match (i.e. same year/model) you have good odds of having a working cluster. The match has nothing to do with mileage and word is that the readout will be the higher of the two (either CEM or engine module). Then the other theory is that you will have unspecified "issues" if you have a VADIS (VIDA) hook up. Who knows? You can get used ones on eBay for $100. Might be worth the try if you can save $1000.

I'd appreciate it if you could post your results if you go the used route. I may need to go that way soon.

Cheers,

Bill

Post by **d2medic** » 11 Dec 2009, 18:58

Bill,

Thanks for the info. and I'll let you know what the outcome is. There's a lot of misinformation on this subject among Volvo dealers. I still think the issue is Volvo's to at least give a break on the replacement of the cluster, but I doubt that will happen.

Dave