I've got a 2000 S40 and the left headlight keeps burning out (every 6 months, 5000 miles). The Volvo dealer claims that this is normal wear given that the lights remain on whenever the car is driven. The right headlight does NOT fail.

Any thoughts?

TIA.

Hi!

Mine does it too, but only left rear lights, they are burned up in every month!
Once again at the service garage, they don´t find any problem.

.........this has been an on going problem discussed on this board many times in the past year+, but not much recently! Most of the premature headlight burn-out problems were comon to most '00 V70/S/V40 series. There was a TSB issued with a free warranty fix that did fix the problem.......I had the same problem! It had to do with the voltage to the bulbs......the fix basically lowered the voltage a tiny amount/problem fixed! Someone can probably give a more technical reply........but it worked! Has Ford stepped in and changed the policy????? Hope not! Your dealer should no about this..........Good luck, Bill

Perhaps Bill is refering to a TSB listed at alldata.com

Bulletins for 2000 Volvo S40 L4-1950cc 2.0L Turbo B4204T2 16V

* 3370008 OCT 00 Headlamps - Auxiliary Resistor Wire Harness


-Barry

Convert a volt or a fraction thereof to heat.....before the lamp becomes a resistor! My brother did this trick himself for $10, by installing inline resistors to each side the very day his left headlamp winked out for the second time. As you can tell, he's an engineer. (Is the glass half empty? Half full? No...it's twice as big as it needs to be. That's my brother.)

yeah, thats the one! I know it covers '00 V70's also because my wife got the same notice I did.......and her car had not burned out a bulb in 2 years! ie with half the milage. Since I had the fix on my S40, I have replaced one bulb in the last year.....so I am going to say again........the fix works!!!!! Bill

The 70 series headlamps have a problem with a portion that holds the bulb inside the headlamp.
Vibration was killing my left headlamp bulb every month.
I couldn't find the pictures of that problem when I fixed mine.
Anyway, I fixed that and the bulbs have been "ON" (daylights on) for the last 35,000 miles.
Same or similar problem on 40 series?

I guess I should tell my horror story as well. I have had the car for about 2.5 years and have but 44,400 miles so far and I have lost a total of 6 headlight bulbs, 2 on the driver side and 4 on the passenger. I have also lost 3 taillights, 2 on the passenger side and 1 on the driver side.

I went to the dealer and explained it to them and they said they would install a harness that would correct it. Well after I returned to pick up my car from the dealer they did not do so. It stated that my car doesn’t need the fix and their solution to the problem was to shut off my daytime running lights. Apparently they aren’t paying attention and didn’t hear what I said. The next time I go back, right before my warranty is up, I will make sure I get it corrected by being a complete asshole to them and insisting they do what I say or I wont leave and they'll have to call the cops to get me out.

In my opinion it sounds like the car definitely has an electrical problem (in many cars) and they either doesn’t know what it is or knows and figured it is more "cost effective" to put band aide fixes instead. I wonder if this is the Ford policy taking affect?

Well yes the headlights are on whenever the car is running( taillights also, for that matter). Therefore the bulb's service life will be shorter than if it was on only at nite. I'll bet the dealer replaced them both. Anyway, compare the cost of a bulb ($8) to being involved in an accident because the other person didn't see you coming. The bulbs are easy to replace (no tools, 2 minutes tops). I carry one in the trunk at all times. You can disable the daytime running lights if you want to. Instructions are in the owner's manual. First time some cretin pretending to be a licensed driver pulls out in front of you, you'll probably enable them.

I'd suggest calling Volvo Customer Service to see if this problem has been reported (or observed) in other cars.

My first bulb went at about 20k just as I started the car. There must have been a glitch throughout the electrical system because the trip computer was reset to zero. My other headlight was replaced at about 35k.

The dealer's comments don't make sense. But, is there any chance that they changed both bulbs even though only one failed? My dealer replaced both headlights under warranty even though I only indicated that the passenger side was out. That might explain why your right side continues to work.

Maybe another dealer in your area could do better.