High beam dilemma

Ducatiguy · Post by **Ducatiguy** » 17 Nov 2019, 14:23

2004 xc70. High beams do not work. I believe the switch is fine. When i switch them on the low beams rise up, the blue dash light lights up, the fuses under the hood show power on both sides when switch is on, none when off, the fuse on the side of the dash shows power on both sides.

Just replaced what i believe is the relay (4th from the top on the board that is under the dash to the left of the brake pedal) Both bulbs look good and there is NO power at the bulb socket. I take the socket off the bulb, put the highs on and use a test light which shows no juice at either of the connections in the socket.

This is very confusing.

Post by **- Pete -** » 17 Nov 2019, 14:30

HID self leveling or incandescent standard housings?

Ducatiguy · Post by **Ducatiguy** » 17 Nov 2019, 14:40

Self leveling. Which btw is not working. The bracket on the rear suspension has broken free. it is just hanging there. the rivet that holds to to the frame broke. i cannot reach in there well enough with the car on the ground to put a screw in to remount the bracket. going to have my local shop put it on a lift and secure the bracket properly.

If the self leveling is not working does that knock out the high beams?

NullenVoyd · Post by **NullenVoyd** » 17 Nov 2019, 16:00

Do your lights look like the attached picture?
I believe these are what my original 04 XC70 came with, but previous owner did a hack job to replace them with normal halogen assemblies and bulbs.

Pretty sure there is no hi/low - it's just the single HID that is adjusted up to have them shine higher, when the 'high beams' are engaged. The only other light there would be the Daytime Running Lights, which would engage under conditions I have no clue about, maybe when light switch is turned all the way counter-clockwise?

But yea, if that leveling sensor isn't working right, I think that throws off that entire system, which is why some folks ditch it.

: Voov_Adj_HID.jpg (32.75 KiB) Viewed 2491 times

Ducatiguy · Post by **Ducatiguy** » 17 Nov 2019, 19:37

Interesting thought. Just tried the lights with the dial switch in all three positions. Nothing. But I have looked at the bulbs. They seem to be way too serious a bulb to be a DRL. Also there are several fuses marked High Beam that are functional. Have no power with high beams off but have power with high beams on. So I think those inner bulbs actually are high beams. Could be wrong though so I continue to welcome suggestion.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 17 Nov 2019, 22:15

In Europe at least the inner bulb is a halogen high beam bulb and the hid is on as drl. a much better solution than pictured since you get a very decent high beam output.

Post by **- Pete -** » 17 Nov 2019, 22:37

I’m pretty sure, other than internal color, your housings & the R housings are almost identical. That being said, the innermost (closest to midline) bulb is used as a (halogen) daytime running light (DRL) stateside. This can be programmed to remain off at all times/switch positions. My V70R is this way & fogs remain on with both dim/bright headlight (not standard, programmed that way).

I have a moisture problem in my one housing & so have been fiddling with it the last week or so since getting a high psi "touch-less" carwash. Seems it left a "touch" of H20 in my headlight housing... Won’t be doing that again. Anyhow, with fuse 18 pulled, drivers side low, nor high works, and neither does the bright “tip up” function.

I’d fiddle around with that level sensor you said was rotted out & see if anything comes to life. I spray the various joints on mine with fluid film every so often. There’s no obvious fuse labeling suggesting any of them are responsible for the auto leveling.

Supergrunged · Post by **Supergrunged** » 18 Nov 2019, 02:17

The HIDs self leveling basically "raise" for the high beams. That being said, are your low beams on? You're saying you're not getting power to them, where in that housing, there are 2 separate bulbs. One is for the "DRL" which is the most center beams on the car. This does not get power when your lights are on. They will only be on with the light switch on position 0 if your car has been programmed as so. I've seen many that it's only the HIDs are on. To change this, it would be in VIDA.
That being said, yes, if your self leveling is off, you might want to get that fixed, and do a SUM calibration through VIDA to calibrate the self leveling of the headlights as well. Make sure the light switch is in the II position, or lights on when doing so, or else more will get screwed up.