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Blown Bulbs

gtgeorgegtgeorge Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Volvo
My 2001 S80 has blown almost every buld more than twice. both headlights twice, brakelights, and all the little bulbls spread throughout the exteririo. the sidelight on front left fender has pooped out and now hangs, the plastic clip broke - how and why who knows. the message center tells me now: "dipped beam:, , as well as the great news that a headlight is out and a brake light is out....what gives? can anyone tell me what dipped beam means, and why i blow so many bulbs? thanks
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    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You need to check your alternator output for openers. I think dipped beam means low beam lights, but I'm just guessing.
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    dfried1dfried1 Member Posts: 6
    Dipped beam does mean a low beam headlight. I too had a number of headlights burn out on my 2001 T6 until a wiring harness (I believe) was installed under warranty. From that time on (December 2002) no headlights burned out. Never had any problems with instrument panel lights. Early on, both fender mounted side marker lights were replaced as the originals one day just fell out. Danny
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    she3783she3783 Member Posts: 1
    Whenever I park my S80 on an incline, the gear shift becomes stuck and someone has to push car to knock the car in gear? Does this sound like transmission problems? I am aware of putting the parking brake on but sometimes this doesn't help and sometimes it does. Please help.....
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    swschradswschrad Member Posts: 2,171
    the car is going to settle into the brakes on an incline, which means it moves a little until it tightens up the brakes enough to not move.

     surprise, use of the parking gear is designed on the basis that the car is not going to be moved any more until you drive it away... and if the car sags against the parking pawl, there is a small chance it could deform out of park or break, and a larger chance you will jam it in place.

    as they say in the doctor jokes, "so don't do that no more." ;) but that's why it happens, I am willing to wager any amount of Shifty's money that you didn't repeatedly as habit hit the parking brakes and let the car rock into them before shifting to park.
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    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I usually curb my wheels on an incline and let the tires take the roll-back, then set the transmission and parking brake OR....I'll set the parking brake first and then put it in gear.

    Sure, if you let the car hang back on the pawl or on a gear on a manual trans, it's going to be hell to get it out of gear...there's 2 tons resting on it.
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    79377937 Member Posts: 390
    Parking on an incline and setting the parking brakes hard while the brake drums are hot, carries the danger of forcing the drums out-of-round. Try and avoid it if you can.

    On the subject of blown bulbs - for sure, I'd check the voltage output of the alternator. I blew the lights on my Honda because of a defective voltage regulator.
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    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I never heard that about brake drums. Must be making them very cheap these days.
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    79377937 Member Posts: 390
    That's not a very good link. Try this one -
    http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf129812.htm

    In the article mention is made of brake drums being deformed when the parking brake is forcefully applied while the drums are hot. In yet another article, the enormous pressure on the drums caused by the shoes as a result of the wedging effect while parked on a steep incline was described. The pressure was enough to deform hot brake drums.
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    s80willies80willie Member Posts: 6
    I've got a 2000 Venetian Red T-6 that I just love. I just passed 48,000 miles. I just took it on a 500 mile trip and somewhere I got the front drivers side headlight lens cracked. The headlight assembly looks to be intact.

    When I searched the inter net for replacement parts. I found a lens only replacement at www.importspecialistsofamerica.com. They are offering the lens only at $124. When I talked to my dealer's parts guy he was unaware of a replacement lens only. When I gave him the part number from the web site (8662865) he looked it up and indicated it was not for the US market, but he further said it looked like he could order it and couldn't see why it couldn't be used. My question for you is are you aware of replacing the lens only on these headlight assemblies and is it something that a reasonably handy person should be able to do? To bracket my answer, I can tell you that I've replaced the rear tail light assembly on my wife's 850 and previously on my old 740 TD. The supplier has told me they include the new retainer clips and gasket with the lens. I'm looking to see if anyone has any step by step directions for removing and installing a new lens and relatively how difficult it might be.

    I'll definitely look into the IPD plastic covering to protect against road nicks. Does anyone have any experience with this approach?? Thanks.
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    tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,242
    S80willie, I've seen replacement lenses on Ebay from time to time. Just checked. They're there from $105 to $120. Put 'volvo headlight lens' in the search window. Good luck.
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    s80willies80willie Member Posts: 6
    tmart, thanks, I'm fairly certain the part will fit, but my concern is what tricks or problems there are in getting the old assembly out and the new lens on. My S-80 is my everyday car and I can't have it out of service long while I stumble through a repair. I wish there were a Chilton manual, etc.
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