Volvo Bulb Failure Position Light: How to Solve It?
There are quite many reasons why your dashboard shows a Volvo bulb failure position light error message. And, fixing the issues is pretty simple.
The bulb failure position light in Volvo occurs due to low resistance in wires, burnt fuses, and bad bulbs. To repair this, you’ll need to add resistors in the wiring harness, change the fuses, or replace the bulb.
Here, we’ll break down the root causes and solutions of the bulb failure error message. Let’s begin!
3 Reasons and Fixes of the Volvo Bulb Failure Position Light!
The Volvo position light can stop working and show the error message on the dashboard about bult failure. Here are a few reasons for that:
1. Low Resistance in Wires
You might encounter an issue where the car’s system displays a bulb fail message when your car has less resistance in the wiring harness.
To fix this issue, you need to use load-balancing resistors. These resistors help the car’s system recognize the new LED lights as if they were the old incandescent bulbs.
Solution#: Change Load-balancing Resistors
You should look at the back of your Volvo car. And, you’ll find the position lights which are LEDs instead of traditional bulbs.
Then, it’s good to use two 6-ohm 50-watt resistors wired in series (one after the other) to get the necessary 12 ohms of resistance. This will also stop the error message.
After that, you can connect one end of each resistor to the wires from the position light and the other end to the car’s ground. For the passenger side, you can connect the ground wire to a bolt. For the driver’s side, you can connect it to the battery’s ground.
Next, you should use a drill to make the mounting holes a bit larger if needed. Then, you can mount the resistors securely to a metal surface using screws. This also helps them stay cool as they get hot during use.
Afterward, you’ll need to turn on your car to check if the error message is gone. If you don’t see the same message and the LED lights are working, you’ve done it right. Lastly, make sure the LED lights are bright and working well even in daylight.
2. Faulty Fuses
Due to blown-up fuses that power up the lights on the tailgate or behind, it may cause the Volvo bulb failure position lamp message to pop on the dashboard.
In that case, you’ll need to check the fuses that power up the position lights of Volvo and replace them.
Solution#: Change the Faulty Fuses
To do that, it’s required you to engine compartment fuse box to find the fuses that handle the bulb failure position lamp issue.
And, this fuse box is located under the floor mat or side panel. After that, you’ll need to check the fuses and search for burnt marks before changing them to new ones.
3. Broken Bulb
Sometimes the left front position light on the car does not work. And, the diagnostic tool can show that the bulb on the driver’s side. Even if the bulbs look fine at first glance, the tool helps pinpoint the exact issue.
The main issue is that the bulb is hard to reach because of its location inside the headlight. To solve this issue, you should remove it with regular tools.
Solution#: Replace the Broken Bulb
To detach the faulty bulb, you’ll need to use a small tool like a pick to loosen it by pulling gently from different angles.
When putting in the new bulb, you should first place it by hand to get it aligned properly. After that, you need a tool like a screwdriver to push it fully into the socket. And, it’s vital to make sure the bulb is seated correctly so it stays in place.
Besides, you should check the bulb sockets based on the Matthews Volvo Site. And, it’s good to check for any visible rust or marks. In that case, be sure to clean the electronic cleaner and dry them.
Plus, it’s essential to clean the coat bulb that contacts with a film of dielectric grease. Once the new bulb is installed, the parking lights will turn on with the ignition (but not the engine) to check if everything working or not.
If other lights still aren’t working or if the problem comes back, it might be worth checking for any electrical issues. And, you can inspect the wiring or connections could help find any other issues.
Note: You should try to check the owner’s manual to find the right bulb type for your Volvo position light.
How to Reset the Volvo Bulb Failure Position Lamp?
If you’ve fixed the issue with your Volvo’s bulb failure position lamp but the error message is still showing, you can manually reset the position light by following these steps:
- To begin with, insert your key into the ignition and turn it to position 1. And, this is when only the red airbag light comes on but the other dashboard lights stay off.
- On your instrument cluster, locate the reset button. Then, you can press and hold it down while keeping the key in position 1.
- While still holding the reset button, you can turn the key to the ON position. That’s also where all the dashboard lights come on including the service lights. And, you’ll need to keep holding the reset button for about 10 seconds.
- After that, you should watch the dashboard. The service light or yellow triangle light will also blink a couple of times.
- As soon as the light blinks, release the button and then quickly press it again. This action will also reset the bulb failure position lamp warning on your dashboard.
Ending Notes
Solving the Volvo bulb failure position light issue won’t take more than 30 minutes. But, be sure to take care of the bulb to get rid of this error.
You’ll need to clean the bulb and add grease on metal parts near bulb mechanisms to avoid corrosion. If you have no success with any of the solutions, don’t wait around; seek the help of an expert.
