Ok, I'm having issues with the low beams on my 1999 V70 Wagon. The headlights will randomly turn off after I start the car. I haven't tried to measure how long they stay on: the length of time seems variable. Sometimes they stay on for the whole drive (my commute to work is about half an hour), sometimes they turn off after the car has been running for 5-10 minutes. When I pull back on my turn signal stalk my brights will turn on, consistently, and stay on for as long as I hold it. I haven't had any problems with my high beams.

I figured out that I can turn the headlight toggle switch to the parking lights position for a minute or two, then turn it back on the headlights will work again. Quite often they will turn off after 5-10 minutes and I will have to repeat the process. Occasionally they will stay on longer than that. This has been working for me so far as a stopgap solution but I don't want to be that jerk with his brights on all the time.

My dad and I have tried troubleshooting this but can't find anyone with exactly this problem. My dad thought it was one of the relays but we just replaced it and the problem is still there. Someone suggested to me that it might be one of the grounds, but I honestly don't know enough to be sure. We're both stumped.

This may simply be a coincidence, but the problem started after an unfortunate collision I had with a deer on my way to Burning Man last year. Deer crossed the road at the exact moment I passed by and I hit it in the head with my driver's side mirror. Mirror was dangling from the car with wires still attached. Stopped at a Safeway with the rest of my convoy and when we left (about half an hour later, the low beams cut out as we were pulling out of the parking lot. I had to hold the brights on for the next hour until we got to the hotel for the night. I also had problems with the toggle switches for the windows.

After I got back my dad went to the junkyard and got me a new mirror and set of toggle switches for the door. I haven't had any issues with the windows since, but the headlight problem has remained. My dad wiggled the conduit containing the wires for the window switches, and that seemed to fix it, but it came back a few days later. It was manageable for a while (once every few weeks/months) but since July it has been constant. This wasn't so much an issue over the summer, but, being September, this now includes my morning commute.

I'm hoping someone can help me figure this out. TL;DR

1. Only the low-beams are affected, brights work just fine.
2. Time interval between starting the car and headlights cutting out appears variable.
3. Headlights will turn back on after a 1-2 minute "cool-off" period.
4. No prior history of electrical gremlins with this car. Just an SRS light that never turns off.
5. Car was in an accident which yanked on wires connected to the driver's side mirror.

Any ideas?

I noticed your images in the upload/select library are not showing up properly. Neither are mine and I cannot get them them to show with the message.

Are you having the same problem with the website?

Bob

I just found the issue today and the problematic component was the Headlight Control Relay. I went into the Engine Bay Fuse box and sort of jiggled and tapped the rack of relays. The lights are working normal ever since. Even the side markers are working, at least I think they are. They only turn on when a directional is activated. So now WTF ? Is this normal ? I looked at the manual and it does not say anything about them other than identifying what they are. But the side lights did work as directionals, and the driver's side headlight no longer sporadically blinks.
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900

Glad you managed to fix it. A loose relay could definitely face been causing your problem. In my case, considering I'd been having the problem for more than a year, the past was probably just failing. I don't know if that part is the one. Your 2004 might use a different part than my 1999. Just to be safe I would go with whatever number it says on the part that's in your car now. Mine said 94-83-309 so I found another one of the same. If yours says 35-23-200 then go with that.

I am still having the headlight cycling on and off, the relays in the fusebox I do not think are associated with any exterior lighting. I am going to keep tracking this down until I correct it.

More Volvo Gremlins are on the prowl.

Rich
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900

Glad you managed to fix it. A loose relay could definitely have been causing your problem. In my case, considering I'd been having the problem for more than a year, the past was probably just failing. I don't know if that part is the one. Your 2004 might use a different part than my 1999.

3523200 Light Control Module Relay ?

Is this the part number of the relay you replaced ?
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900

Hey ! I have a 04 V70 and the headlights are doing the same shit on mine, so I am glad to hear someone else is trying to solve the same problem. Klaus and ChrisMullet are both awesome contributors and they chimed in on my headlight post too. So I'm getting in on this thread, these lights are driving me bananas trying to find the problem. -Rich
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900

UPDATE #2: Replaced Light Control Relay. Problem appears to be fixed? Headlights are still on and Bulb Indicator Light has turned off. BIL has been on for months and this is the first time I've seen it off in as long as I can remember. I'll post another update when I'm certain the problem is fixed.

UPDATE:

So far my dad and I have swapped out the overload relay and headlight toggle switch. We know that the grounds and bulbs are all good. About to go to the junkyard and replace the light control relay to try and eliminate the last of the possible component failures.

Pulling back on the stalk overrides the headlight switch and does turn on the high beams. I am somewhat puzzled that the rearview mirror would trigger this fault.
I would check the wire harness at the A pillar, it is possible that something broke and is now shorting out with heat - the tell tale being that your father moved the switch harness and it worked for a while.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

What does the rearview mirror have to do with it? I mentioned the driver's side mirror... I'm confused.

EDIT: Sorry, I'm new at this.

What does the rearview mirror have to do with it? I mentioned the driver's side mirror... I'm confused.

I tried to find the Wiring Diagram for your car here
http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/?dir=volvo/S70%20V70%20C70%20Wiring%20Diagrams

The manual TP3941202 C70 S70 V70 1999 Wiring Diagrams.pdf is not complete

It does not have the usual schematics and pictorals showing component locations.

Find the complete wiring diagram for your model and that's where to start
trouble shooting. The complete manual will show the headlight harness, Junctions,
relay, switch and ground locations.

Post back where to find the complete manual. Then I can offer suggestions.
The complete wiring diagram for your car is essential for troubleshooting.

Bill

I did find this manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/533732/Volvo-V70.html Diagram for headlights is on page 82/327 of the PDF. Is this what you meant?

EDIT: So far my dad and I have swapped out the overload relay and headlight toggle switch. We know that the grounds and bulbs are all good. About to go to the junkyard and replace the light control relay to try and eliminate the last of the possible component failures.

UPDATE #2: Replaced Light Control Relay. Problem appears to be fixed? Headlights are still on and Bulb Indicator Light has turned off. BIL has been on for months and this is the first time I've seen it off in as long as I can remember. I'll post another update when I'm certain the problem is fixed.

Sounds like you fixed it, good for you.

BTW, all cars have 3 rearview mirrors, one happens to be inside the cabin.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Does anyone have the part number to the Headlight Control Relay ?
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900

I'm not sure how much of this will transfer over since your car is a different generation than mine. My LCR says 94-83-309, was made in Hungary, and is gray & yellow. It's about 2"x1" on top, should be the biggest relay in the box.

There should be a fuse box in your engine compartment. In my '99 it's in the top right corner and you might have to remove some screws to access the relays. Check your owner's manual just in case.

Hey !! Where is the Light Control Relay located on the vehicle ? I think it is what is wrong with mine too. Where can I find a relay like this ? It seems logical the relay is having operability issues So I want to replace that relay on mine too.
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'72 P 1800Es Wagon ::'92 740 B230F Wagon::'92 B230F 240::'86 B230FT Wagon (RIP-Parts Car):'83 320I::'79 320I::'81 320I::'74 2002::'70 Torino GT Convertible(351C)::1970 Dodge Dart GT 340::'70 Monte Carlo::1979 Dodge Tradesman B300 Custom(360)::'84 SAAB 900