Hubby has a 2005 S80. The headlights, on the normal setting, light up only about 10 feet in front of the car. Flicking them up to high beams illuminates maybe 18-20 feet ahead. WHY? Recently, due to a deer hit, we got new headlights installed and we asked them to aim the lights better, they said the aim was fine. We live in a DARK part of northern NM and 20' illumination at night is dangerous!
Please advise !

 

what else was repaired or replaced after the deer hit? I am a ASE master collion tech in s.w. ohio, maybe I can help.

 

sorry I spelled collision wrong.

 

everything from the engine forwards was replaced along with the hood. the car crumpled perfectly as the deer was hit, air bags didnot even pop and we ewre going 90 mph at the time. see pics at http://rides.webshots.com/album/561320078aYHpJC(enjoy!). The car is repaired very well now, but the bad head light issue remains from when we got the car. Is that normal? It looks like they are aimed for city driving, they only throw ahead about the distance to a car ahead in city traffic. The car is an ex volvo fleet car, "executive" i think they call it.

 

Oh Deer!, was the radiator support and left and right headlamp mounting panels replaced or repaired? also, your estimate will state this if your not sure, have you tried adjusting the lamps? this can be done to satisfaction.

 

Pretty much everything from behind the radiator going forwards was replaced !!! aiming the headlamps is the question - HOW TO ! both the volvo dealer here and the reapair FOrd shop in Flagstaff said the headlights are aimed well. balderdash!

 

also, do you know if your original headlamps were xenon, or halogen, this can make a difference as well, xenon are crisp white beams, headlamps are $, halogen are cheaper, and dont give you that, anyway, having said that, you really need to take the car back to the repair shop and tell them you are not happy with the headlamps, ask them to let you watch them adjust the beams, more than likely they pull the car up to a surface such as a garage door and do it that way, anyway, they should be happy to let you come out in the shop and watch you do this, I would not insult acustomer of mine by not letting them out in the shop and letting them have hands on experience to try and make them happy and also show them how this type of work is done, there are headlamp adjusting tooling products, but to tell you the truth, they are very $ even here at the certified shop, we adjust the lamps this way, the % of returns is small.

 

interesting - i was rather expecting to hear that they did that method of aiming and was amazed when they didnt even try. sheesh. i am going to send all you've written to my hubby - it is his car after all. thanks for the input, esp that the aiming tools are $ive.... his beams are very bright and crisp. i do remember that to replaceeach headlight after the deer hit was $1000. wow.

 

so in general, the headlight should be aimed up like other cars, and that there is no deisgn reason for them to be so low?

is it possible for us to adjust them?

other question: Can you recommend a repair manual for the S80? I have Haynes for my mazda vans, but hubby wants ot know if there is a volvo written manual available? THANKS

 

are the actual mirrors that project them angled wrongly? My old car the s40 the mirrors were damaged ( something abt them not clipping on right anymore), and they did not project the light correctly so they said I had to replace both headlights, I declined lol b/c i sold the car.