Volvo has long been a symbol of automotive safety and reliability, a reputation earned over decades of engineering and innovation. With safety at the core of its brand identity, Volvo consistently prioritizes advanced safety features, durability, and comfort in every vehicle they produce. The Volvo V40 Cross Country, for example, reflects these values through its robust construction and a suite of safety enhancements designed to provide a secure, smooth driving experience in varied terrains.
One critical safety component in the Volvo V40 Cross Country is its lighting system, specifically the dipped beam headlights. Efficient and powerful headlights are essential to ensure visibility on the road, especially in low-light conditions. However, headlights can encounter issues over time, and malfunctioning dipped beams can pose significant risks for night-time or inclement weather driving.
This brings us to xenon headlights—a technology that has elevated headlight performance and efficiency, allowing Volvo drivers to experience exceptional illumination and enhanced safety on every journey.
What Are Xenon Headlights
For those who often drive at night or through adverse weather, the quality of headlights is not just a convenience; it's a safety necessity. Effective headlights must illuminate the road sufficiently to enhance the driver’s visibility without blinding oncoming traffic. Xenon headlights, also known as high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, offer a significant improvement over traditional halogen headlights, enhancing both visibility and safety.
Xenon headlights operate on advanced technology that differs from conventional halogen lights. Unlike halogens, which use heated filaments, xenon headlights generate light by passing an electrical arc through xenon gas contained within an airtight bulb. This absence of physical filaments means xenon bulbs are more efficient and durable, as there are no filaments to wear out. Instead, the electrodes inside the bulb ignite the xenon gas, producing a bright, bluish-white light that closely mimics daylight. This color temperature is advantageous because it illuminates the road more naturally, reducing eye strain and improving visibility during night driving.
Common Volvo Headlight Warning Messages and Their Meanings
Modern Volvo cars are equipped with sophisticated systems that alert drivers to any issues with vehicle components, including the headlights. When xenon headlights malfunction, the dashboard typically displays a warning message, signaling a potential problem with either the xenon HID bulb or the ballast. The ballast functions like a power regulator, controlling the electrical current that ignites and maintains the brightness of xenon lights. When the ballast or bulb encounters issues, messages such as “Headlamp System Malfunction – Service Required,” “Dipped Beam Malfunction,” appear on the dashboard.
For xenon lighting systems in Volvo vehicles, the D3S HID bulbs are most commonly used. These bulbs provide high-intensity illumination and are specifically designed to meet the standards of advanced Volvo models, enhancing nighttime visibility and safety. The factory original part number for a genuine D3S Volvo xenon bulb is 31290593.
However, for those seeking replacements, compatible D3S 35W gas discharge bulbs are available from reputable manufacturers like Philips, OSRAM, and Narva, which produce models specifically compatible with various Volvo models. Popular compatible options include the Philips D3S XenStart or XenEcoStart models with part numbers 9285304244S, 9285302244, 9285301244, as well as OSRAM Xenarc Electronics 66340HBI. These bulbs are ideal substitutes, matching the original specifications required by Volvo and ensuring reliable performance.
Certain Volvo models manufactured between 2010 and 2018, such as the C30, C30 Electric, S60CC, S60II, V40 CC, and V40 II, are compatible with OSRAM bulbs, which provide a high-quality replacement for the factory bulbs.
In addition, Volvo often equips its vehicles with Mitsubishi Electric ballasts, especially for models like the V40, XC40, S60, and V60. These ballasts are specifically designed to work seamlessly with D3S 35W xenon headlight bulbs. If a headlight malfunction is due to a ballast issue, it’s likely that a replacement will resolve the problem without requiring additional reprogramming. The genuine Volvo HID ballast has the part number 31335777, and Mitsubishi Electric Original Xenon headlamp ballasts often have compatible part numbers to accommodate various Volvo models.
For newer Volvo models or variations across international markets, different ballasts or bulbs may be factory-installed. When replacing a ballast or bulb, it’s essential to verify the part numbers and specifications to ensure compatibility with your specific Volvo model. By selecting the correct replacement components, drivers can maintain the high-performance standards of Volvo’s xenon headlights, ensuring safety and reliability on the road.
Why Headlights Fail
Xenon headlights in Volvo vehicles are designed to be durable and provide long-lasting performance. However, like any car component, they can fail over time due to several factors. Normal wear and tear is a primary cause, as xenon headlights have a limited lifespan despite their efficiency.
They are also susceptible to external damage from environmental factors. For instance, moisture or water exposure can disrupt the electrical components of the headlight, potentially leading to issues with both the bulb and the ballast. This can occur when water leaks into the headlamp housing due to cracked seals or a damaged headlight assembly, causing components to short-circuit.
In some cases, physical damage from accidents can also compromise the headlight, affecting either the bulb, the ballast, or both.
Symptoms of Headlight Component Failure
Understanding the specific symptoms of component failure can help identify whether the issue lies with the ballast or the bulb.
- Ballast Failure Symptoms: When the ballast begins to fail, it may cause noticeable issues with the xenon lights. Typical symptoms include:
- Flickering lights: The headlights may flicker intermittently.
- Unpredictable shutdown: The lights may turn on and off unexpectedly.
- Failure to turn on: In some cases, the headlights may not turn on at all when the ballast is failing.
- Bulb Failure Symptoms: Bulb failure is generally indicated by a change in the color and functionality of the light. Signs include:
- Color change: A failing xenon bulb may start to emit a purple or pink hue, which is a clear indication of imminent failure.
- Complete shutdown: Eventually, the light will stop working entirely as the bulb reaches the end of its lifespan.
If you’re uncertain about which component has failed, a simple troubleshooting method is to swap the xenon bulb from the faulty side to the working one. If the problem follows the bulb, it’s likely an issue with the bulb itself; if not, the ballast may be the source of the malfunction.
Which Part to Replace?
If you’re experiencing warning messages such as “Headlamp System Malfunction,” “Service Required,” or “Dipped Beam Malfunction,” it’s essential to first determine whether the issue lies with the HID bulb (D3S) or the ballast. While these warning messages commonly appear due to ballast issues, they may also result from a faulty bulb. Therefore, before replacing the ballast, inspect the D3S HID bulb to see if it might be the root cause of the problem. If the bulb is in working condition, then the ballast is likely the issue.
Both the ballast and the bulb can cause warning signals when they fail, and understanding these symptoms can save time and costs when troubleshooting and replacing parts. Replacing the correct component helps ensure that your Volvo’s xenon headlights continue to perform effectively, keeping you safe during nighttime and low-visibility driving conditions.
How to Fix Headlamp Malfunctions
If you're dealing with headlamp malfunctions on your Volvo, the solution often lies in replacing the ballast or the bulb. Once you purchase the necessary replacement parts, you can swap out the faulty components directly without needing additional diagnostic steps. Below is a list of compatible parts for Volvo models that make it easy to restore your headlamps to full function.
For the bulb replacement, Osram D3S 35W Xenarc 66340HBI Xenon Bulb and Philips D3S 35W Xenon HID Bulb are both compatible and reliable options. Volvo’s original part number 31290593 corresponds to these xenon bulbs, providing high-quality illumination and seamless performance. These bulbs fit a range of Volvo models, ensuring broad compatibility:
Volvo Compatibility for D3S Xenon Bulbs Volvo Part Number 31290593:
- Volvo S60: 2011 - 2016
- Volvo V60: 2011 - 2016
- Volvo C30: 2011 - 2016
- Volvo C70: 2011 - 2015
- Volvo XC60: 2014 - 2016
For ballast replacement, the Mitsubishi Electric W003T22771 72261 15099 Xenon Control Ballast is a compatible and effective choice, designed for easy installation with a plug-and-play setup. No coding is required after replacement, simplifying the process. The Volvo part number for this ballast is 31335777 and supports the following models:
Volvo Compatibility for Xenon Ballast Part Number 31335777:
- Volvo V40 CC Cross Country D2 T2 Estate
- Volvo V40 D3 D4 190 R Design 5DR
- R-Design
- 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Mitsubishi Electric Part Numbers for Cross-Reference:
- W003T22771
- 722.61.150.99
- 7226115099
With these genuine parts, you can confidently replace faulty components, restoring your headlights’ functionality and keeping your Volvo in optimal condition for nighttime and low-visibility driving.
If you don’t want to get into this time consuming process just move and approach a garage or any dealer to help you out and fix it for you. HID lights are the best option to be used rather than the simple LED lights for your complete road safety with bright light. You can find all types of halogen, LED and xenon HID bulbs with repairing services at xenons4u.
