I just moved to Virginia and needed the safety inspection in order to get my 1999 S70 titled/licensed in the state. The neighborhood mechanic performing the inspection said my headlights barely registered any foot-candle power-he said I needed to replace both headlight assemblies because the reflector's reflective material within had become dull over time (he also said another customerwith a '99 S70 had the same problem there recently...) Does this sound legit?.. Has anyone had this same problem?... OR is this just a case of poor headlight aiming (in another forum I read that the factory aim is set a tad low...)

Or is it a case of a layer of dirt/film on the reflector?... and if I could remove lens and clean the reflector that might do the trick..? (Butfrom reading another forum, it sounds like I would have to pull the assembly out in order to remove the lens becausethe bottom lens clips are behind top of the bumper...True or False?...)

Finally, if aiming is the real problem... I am not sure about which screw to adjust- I understand that it isbehind the assembly... Does it have a white plastic top which looks like a plus sign from above?...

(sorry about all the questions... thanks for your time and your insight is welcome...)

Matt

 

Please only post this in one forum. Someone will get to it eventually ok.

I deleted your other thread in General Volvo.

 

How old are the light bulbs that are in there?

I would maybe try brighter bulbs before the headlight assembly's.

They should have checked the aiming as well. If it was off I think they would have told you.

 

I've owned the vehicle for approx 18 months- the lamps are at least that old- don't really know how old they are...but even if old, their brightness shouldn't degrade to the point that they don't register any footcandles would they?... (I guess that I could believe a 30-40% brightness loss but not this extreme)

-The mechanic didn't say anything about the aim- My impression isthat he didn't goas far as to check the aim...Maybe he felt the reading was so low it couldn't be simply an aim adjustment...

Matt

 

Maybe. I would try getting the silverstar bulbs which are alot brighter than the stock ones and get it to sneak through.

They are like $40.00 as far as I know. Yes a little expensive but alot cheaper than 2 new lights.