Hi Guys,

While my wife was getting out of the garage, as I was waiving goodbye to her, I said .. wait a minute ... something is hanging out of the front right wheel!

The picture better describes what I found. A rod connected at one end to the frame and at the other to some sort of an electrical device through a plastic lever. The obvious questions are ...

1. Is it OK to let my loved one drive the vehicle without this part? In my opinion it does not have anything to do with safety, but you never know! I removed the rod by the way.
2. What is the role of the part? What does the electrical box do?
3. How expensive is to replace it? Can I use the electrical part and install just the rod and the plastic lever?

Thanks in advance for your help and advise.

 

If I am not mistaken that is without knowing the year and model if course so don't hold me to it, that is the level sensor for the headlights

 

Thanks Damien. It is the 2005 V50 T5 AWD model. Strange that it has to do with the Xenon lights. The plastic lever as I see it, rotes around an axle on the outside of the electrical box and it seems that it has a lower and upper limit. Anyone else that has the knowledge about this part and can provide some input on this issue?

 

Damien is right, it's for the auto-leveling bi-xenon lights. I've replaced one for damage but I don't remember the price.

 

Guys this is what a senior member from Volvo-Forums provided as an answer

"that looks like the rod for your air suspension .the top bracket for that rod should be held on by three ten mil bolts .the bottom part of the rod that is broken off ,is on your wishbone.so 4 bolts to remove.that should be a dealer only part.so need to get it from your volvo dealer.the electrical box as you call it.is for your air bag.as for it being safe to drive,i would have to say NO .order the part and fit it.not hard to do. "

To play it safe, until I have the part installed, I would have my wife drive my car.

If anybody else wants to debate this more, please let me know your opinion.

 

Whoever said that has no idea what they are talking about. You don't have air suspension. Volvo doesn't have air suspension. It is for the bi-xenons. That is not an opinion.

 

Vcna had never used air suspension to my knowledge. Like es6t said, it isn't our opinions we work on these cars everyday for a living which is how I was able to tell what it was without knowing the year or model.

 

I had a guy ask me to pull lights from a car in a junk yard once, they specifically had me pull a box like that from the suspension so I agree that it was for lights.

If it were for an airbag, it would likely deploy the air bags every time you hit a nice pot hole.

 

I have a feeling that would happen just once....lol

 

The guy on that other forum meant a suspension airbag, which Volvo does not use.

 

Thank you all!

Do you have any idea how expensive this part is? I can change it myself. Also is it required to have the headlights levelling system tested and adjusted after? Testing should definitely require a visit to the dealer right?

The good news is that is not the airbag. Since I told my wife the story, she asked me to drive the car! I am still alive.