98 s70 buzzing noise from front passenger side
 

Hello all!

I searched the forums but could not find anything exactly like the problem I am having with my 98 s70.

Since we recently bought this car I have been doing some minor repairs, nothing too big yet. I feel pretty certain that this noise began shortly after I replaced the headlights with silverstar high intensity bulbs. The noise is a buzzing that begins with the turn of the key, even before starting the car. It continues virtually without variation if headlights are on or off, or if engine is idled or being reved up. The noise seems to be coming from the area of the headlights and is definitely louder on the passenger side, but also seems to buzz on driver side a little.

I took the silverstar bulbs out and went back to the ones in the car before, but that was no help.

Any ideas on this?

I have a video of the noise without the engine running:


Thanks!

That sounds pretty bad. Does the car run ok?

I would disconnect the battery overnight and see if that helps.

I have a Rockwell tool that sounds just like that....

You've got some kind of significant electrical vibration. If I remember right the S70 uses a H7 or H1 bulb which has a metal base and metal latching spring. You may not have connected that up correctly.

I would unplug the electrical connections to the bulbs and see if the noise persists. I think the reason you are getting the buzz from the get-go is the daylight run/headlights come on when the key is turned on. The metal base is a pain to realign and latch the base to the shell. If the noise doesn't stop, feel for it. Just lightly tough things where the noise is loudest. A vibration like that you can feel if you touch lightly. It may even cause the noise to stop.

On a separate note, I do not recommend the Sylvania Ulta lights. You will be lucky to get 1 yr out of them. Do yourself a favor and go to Volvo and the OEM lights. I recommend that for ANY car. Ever notice how it takes years to replace your 1st bulbs but your doing it again ever couple of years after replacement? Ask for the OEM, not the generic units. They are a better grade.

Thanks for the replies. I showed the video to a buddy at work who said it was very loud to be an electrical buzz and that it almost sounded like the high horn.
I got home and pulled the horn fuse. No noise.:o

I must have jiggled the horn wire loose when I was working on the headlight assembly.

I will take your advice on the bulbs. We had one like it years ago and it did tend to go through the bulbs in a hurry!

Thanks!

I thought it sounded like a horn as well but the horns on the front don't sound like that and the alarm horn is at the firewall.

Here are a couple of video's you should watch if you have not done so already.

Great information, thanks!