changing low beam bulb on a 2002 xc70 wagon

emygold · Post by **emygold** » 11 Mar 2010, 13:57

I recently (last week) took my Volvo to get the blinker light replaced because I couldn't get the light cover off myself. Then it broke again, and back to the shop I went...now, 3 day later, the low beam bulb is out! I tried again today to get the light off / out of my car. Can anyone offer advice on this? I've tried the owners manual and online sites.

THANKS,

Emygold

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 11 Mar 2010, 15:37

Hello emygold, On the left hand, driver's side, of the car what will be in your way is the air cleaner box. What you have to do is loosen the air hoses from the air cleaner box. Remove or pivot the air cleaner top out of your way. With a strong tug, pull the box straight up; there are no fasteners. The caps you unscrew aren't too dissimilar to those of jars. You'll then have EZ access to your bulbs. There are split barbs which pop into holes in the air cleaner's bottom. I put dabs of clear silicon grease onto the barbs when I popped it back into place. On the right side, passenger's side, of the car simply unhook the cable-bundle-keepers from the emisions hose for similar access. The ECM box is far enough away for you to get to the caps. Be careful when you replace the caps. You want to seat them squarely and quarter turn them positively. If you do a sloppy job of it they'll fall off and moisture will get into the reflectors and whiten-up the whole thing. If you ask a kid/guy in an auto parts store to do this for you, you'll likely get screwed because most of them don't care. Better off to do it yourself and don't touch that bulb. Kira

emygold · Post by **emygold** » 16 Mar 2010, 10:30

Kira,

Thank you for your response! I didn't get back to you for a few days because its been pouring rain here and I hadn't actually tried to change the bulb yet. I was just able to change the bulb using your instructions. I didn't end up taking out the air box (the tubes attached to it seemed complicated to remove.) I squeezed my hand in and removed the cap (like a jar - like you said) and unplugged the bulb, removed a wire thing that was holding it in, and then changed it. AND IT WORKS! I also noticed (as you said) that the mechanic who changed the blinker bulb on the same side left the cap almost falling off, and one of the tubes connected to the air cleaner was completely off (the one that connects to the front grate part). There was also a pointy tool left inside the car, I assume by the person who changed the blinker. Not good.....but good to know.

Thanks again!

Georgeandkira · Post by **Georgeandkira** » 16 Mar 2010, 10:46

Hello, Years ago I had a Corvair and an author [Finch, Corvair builder and racer] said "....you'll probably do a better job then some disinterested monkey thrown onto your car.". Obviously there will be exceptions, but this is still a great battle cry for people like us. Believe me, you can handle removing those big air tubes too. As it was you reconnected one of them, no? Kira