Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Starting a few weeks ago my pop up headlights have been occasionally not going up. When it works it works fine with no issues but maybe 10% of the times I start the car they don't work.
Any ideas on how to fix this?
You fix one problem and another shows up
Any ideas on how to fix this?
You fix one problem and another shows up
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2515
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Try to give them a good exercising. Either by putting them up/down yourself for a few minutes or searching on here for the solution (Brinkir likely posted this plus a good pic) where you bridge a few relay contacts, override the bonnet safety over-ride switch and leave them popping for 10 mins or so. This cleans up the contacts in the relays and the motors.
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
-
- Knows where Volvo is from
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 7:08 pm
- Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
First thing I'd check is the relay, sounds like the most likely culprit. There is a post somewhere showing bridging the relay contacts to give the motors a work out. Also probably worth mentioning at this point to check the gas struts. If they're worn out, the motors will be under more strain and eventually stop working. One of my pop ups was slower to lift than the other, eventually the motor gave up.
Current: 480 GT 2.0 '94 in Red
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
- jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2515
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Oh yeah that too! new gas struts are a good idea too to take the strain off the motors
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Thanks for the advice
Interestingly taking the headlight switch/dial out and putting it back in seems to temporarily fix the problem
Interestingly taking the headlight switch/dial out and putting it back in seems to temporarily fix the problem
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
-
- Knows where Volvo is from
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 7:08 pm
- Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Ahh, could be a loose or dirty connection in the switch or the connector then.
Current: 480 GT 2.0 '94 in Red
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
https://imgur.com/a/Ziqa2Tw
Has anyone got pictures of the light switch pins? It looks like one might be snapped?
Has anyone got pictures of the light switch pins? It looks like one might be snapped?
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
-
- Knows where Volvo is from
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue May 08, 2007 7:08 pm
- Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
Here's mine. It appears that what looks like a broken pin is actually meant to be like that.
https://flic.kr/p/2mXUN3x
https://flic.kr/p/2mXUN3x
Current: 480 GT 2.0 '94 in Red
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
Previous: 480 ES 2.0 '93 in White K464SWP -Sold in 2009. Presumed dead
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
The headlights do seem to pop up with the ignition off, I have only tried it once so I don't know how reliable this is
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
Re: Pop up headlights sometimes stuck down
So far turning the headlights on with the ignition off has worked every time. Does anyone know what makes this method so reliable?
'94 Volvo 480 GT (project)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)
'98 BMW Z3 (daily)