I have a 2011 Volvo S60 with two 31325255 headlight assemblies. The right headlight has a broken plastic cover. I called my local dealership to hear my options, and they said that Volvo does not sell the cover by itself, I would have to purchase a completely new assembly and that the 31325255 has been superseded by the 31420678. This new assembly costs $800+, so I wasn't about to drop another $200 in labor, shipping and taxes and I figured that I would install it myself. I've replaced the bulbs, so I know how to remove the assembly. When it arrived, I got it all plugged in, but when I started the car, the low beam didn't light up. I was able to use the high beam and the turn signal. I figured it might have been shipped with a bad bulb, so I took the bulb out of the broken assembly, but that didn't work either. I sent for a replacement part, but that arrived on Thursday and it had the same issue. Once is an accident, twice is I'm doing something wrong. I figured it might be one of two things; either there is a diagnostic that I have to run from the car for a new assembly, or more likely, I was given the wrong part number to order. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Do you have the Bi Xenon active (turning) headlamps that were an option? With a D3S Xenon outer bulb and a H7 inner bulb?

Or do you have the standard headlamps with a H11 low beam and a H9 high beam?

If you have "active" headlamps - that turn with the steering. A software download using a VIDA subscription is needed to make that system work - you might be able to swap the control unit from your old headlamp to avoid that.

For the low beam - There is only one bulb for high and low beam if you have the gas discharge zenon bulbs. The bulb moves down for low beam in a Volvo. There is a daytime running light - the h7 bulb (in the "high beam" position next to the D3S xenon.

Have you tried swapping bulbs from left to right?

 

I'll have to look and see what I have. The car was bought used, so I didn't get to pick the options, but I'm 90% certain it's an H11 and H9. I definitely do not have active headlamps. I'll try swapping the bulbs from the drivers side.

 

Google says your part numbers 31325255 and 31420678 are a bi xenon active lamp. The outer bulb on a active lamp looks like an eyeball - where it can move left and right.

 

Here's a picture of the assembly. I can kind of see how it looks like an eye, but unless it's extremely subtle, I'm never noticed them moving when I steer. Is it possible that it uses the same headlamps, but that system is disabled? Would it still need a software update to turn the light on?

 

Yes, active bending can be turned off. And a software update or possibly reusing the old control unit is needed to get rid of the error shown on this page from your owners manual. Why does the lamp not work? I've had earlier non zenon headlamps fail to have power at the bulb until codes were erased from the CEM. My theory is the CEM shuts off power (like a circuit breaker) when a bulb shorts out - and a few times it has taken a scan and erase to restore power to a headlamp. But i've not seen that on zenon bulbs. Swap left and right bulbs and see what happens.

Page courtesy of https://www.volvocars.com/us/Own/Own...Owners-Manuals

 

Here's a Picture of a 3138070 for a 2011 s60 - with halogen bulbs.

 

Okay. I'll put the new, assembly back in the car and swap the bulbs, but it'll have to be tomorrow. I'll post the results when I get a chance. Thanks for your help so far.

 

So I swapped the left and right bulbs and the situation didn't change. The driver's side low beam still turned on and the passenger's side did not. The high beams and turn signals still work on both sides. I also checked the settings menu from the sheet that you provided and there is no option for active bending lights.

 

Testing with your $5 test light - Do you have 12v at terminal 3 on each headlamp - (shown with the arrows) that's the yellow and red wire on the left and the blue with green wire on the right side. Is the plug the same on both headlamps? - If so can you (temporarily) plug the right headlamp into the left side wiring harness to make sure it works?

 

I don't have a test light, but the connections are the same on both sides. So I swapped the lights around. The driver's side light (now on the passenger's side) lit up and the new light on the driver's side did not.

 

Does anyone else have any idea what could be going wrong?

 

I thought you determined that the other day

A. Wiring is the same on both sides
B. Left lamp works on both sides
C. New right lamp does not work on either side
D. About the only choice is the right lamp is bad - yes I understand this is the second bad new one. What brand is this? Is it a complete lamp? If it's an HID assembly is the ballast installed? (you've never verified you have an HID d3s bulb versus a H11) Have you tried swapping out the ballast from your old one or your left one? Does the new bulb from the right lamp work in the left lamp?

 

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As you mentioned in your first post swapping the original control unit in.

 

Okay, Thanks for your help. I'll have to talk to the company about a return again.

 

Hi, I got an XC90 2005 from my Mom. The headlight wasn't working. I put it in the shop to fix this and some other things and it turns out that when the headlight gets hot, it melts the socket, so he replaced that for me and it's been working for the last 2 years.
Just saw your forum and thought I would share.
I replaced the headlight assemblies today and they look great. They are not the expensive ones that come from the dealership, but they work for my Oldy but Goody car (no car payment over here)

 

Yes the H11 bulb socket melting and creating a bad connection or open circuit is a common problem on the cars that use H11 bulbs.

 

Now I'm reading this post, reminding how thrilled I was to buy a ceramic socket from China years ago. It is cheap and still works after so many years.