Electrical: '98 V40 Headlamp issues

[D4nskii]

Recently, and for the second time in two years, the headlamp switch on my V40 as burnt out, leaving me on this occasion with no dipped beams in a dark country road in the middle of Cornwall - not pleasant!

Having been helped out of the mire by the AA (Gaw bless'em) and sent on my way with a little re-earthing to re-enable my dipped beams, but remove the ability to swicth to mains, I now need to get it fixed permanently. And so I have a couple of questions:

1. My local garage took a look at the car and confirmed the headlamp switch has burnt out again: Is this a known fault? If so, can anyone advise me what the cause may be? I'm aware of the good old CEM issue, however this unit doesn't appear to be present on my car.

2. Does anyone have a suitable replacement switch available for a '98 V40 1.8CD auto? The replacement used to rectify this last time around was new from the manufacturer and lasted just two years, almost to the day: I'd like to keep replacement costs down as far as practical, as the old girl is getting a little long-in-the-tooth for high cost repairs. The switch in question includes the right hand dash air vent, rear fog switch, and dash light & headlamp-pitch rotary switches. The offending article is pictured below for reference.



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Any help or advice you fine people can offer me woud be greatly appreciated! Apologies if I have posted in the wrong area: please feel free to move this if necessary.

Many thanks,

D4n

[Dog_Book]

Salvo...

[D4nskii]

Thanks, Dog. Obviously I realise that salvage yards are an option, but I thought I'd ask here first so I can deal with people who know what they're talking about - the recovered spares market around here isn't great.

Also, and more importantly really, I'd really like to know if anyone has any ideas as to what the root cause is: it's not the CEM as I don't have one, so why is the switch under so much load, and why doesn't it fuse before it burns?

Any offers?

[Baffler]

I think DB was referring to Salvo Group Volvo breakers.

Bit of a guess but is it possible the switch is overheating due to poor spade connectors on the back of headlamp bulbs?

You can use a switch with front fog option, surely one can be found not too far from you. If you have no luck I believe I have a used switch (no front fog) but I'm not %100 not sure of its condition save for the fact that it was working prior to removal.

[stevo48]

D4nskii, re- the cause of your headlamp switch burning out, spade connectors as above but I would get the wiring loom under the radiator checked as well, it is well documented that the phase1 s/v40 has issues with corrosion in the wiring loom which may cause the problem you are having.

[Dog_Book]

I read they burn out due to the constant heat because of the DRL. Other than that try the loom as mentioned above. You could buy a 2nd hand one and open it up and re grease the contacts inside with vasalene. Be carefull though there's lots of springs and contacts to go flying.

[puntodan]

I have a good working spare with a rer fog only option on it, will need the back light bulb though as it is missing but you can pull that from your existing one.

Dan

[D4nskii]

Thanks Dan, can you PM me to let me know how much you'd want for it, please?

[Dog_Book]

Originally Posted by D4nskii

Thanks Dan, can you PM me to let me know how much you'd want for it, please?

Tell him you use the forums search button and you will get discount! Don't tell him i told you though

[puntodan]

At this rate I will be taking your 'grumpy' crown!