Q: How to safely and effectively renew exterior car bulbs on 2000 Volvo S70?
A: Whenever a bulb is being renewed, disconnect the battery negative lead before work starts and be careful as the bulb can be extremely hot if it has been in use. When replacing a bulb, always inspect the contacts and holder of the bulb for good metal-to-metal contact, and remove any corrosion or dirt that might be present. And on bayonet-type bulbs, make sure that the live contacts are firmly against the bulb contact. Use the correct rating for the new bulb and be sure it is clean, especially for headlight and foglight bulbs. When handling quartz halogen bulbs use a tissue or clean cloth so as not to touch the glass, in case of grease blackening and quick failure, if touched, clean with methylated spirit. To renew the headlight dipped beamsk opening the bonnet, turning the outer plastic cover anti-clockwise, pulling the wiring plug off the bulb, releasing the bulb retaining clip, and lifting out the bulb, taking note of its fit in the holder. When fitting the new bulb, take care not to touch the glass and make sure that the lugs fit into the slots in the holder. The process for main beam consists of the opening of the bonnet and the unclipping of the inner plastic cover. For the front sidelight, the bonnet should be opened, the outer plastic cover turned, and the bulbholder pulled from the back of the headlight and remove the wedge-base bulb. The foglight bulb is reached from behind the light unit and for S70 and V70 models, twist the bulbholder anti-clockwise to release it. For the C70 models, rotate the rear cover to the anti-clockwise position and squeeze the wire retaining clip to get in. Remove the bulb from the bulbholder and refitting is a reversal of removal. For the front direction indicator, open the bonnet and press down the plastic catch and withdraw the light unit, pull the bulbholder out and twist the bulb anti-clockwise to remove it. The side repeater involves sliding the light unit forwards, twisting the bulbholder to release and pulling the bulb out of its holder. For the rear light cluster on S70 models, you should open the boot, remove the trim cover, release the retaining catch and withdraw the bulbholder to remove the relevant bulb. In models of V70, access to the upper light cluster from the luggage compartment, release the access cover and withdraw the bulbholder. For the lower light cluster, remove the outer back floor covering, remove the access cover and pull out the bulbholder. In C70 models, in order to remove the bulb, unclip the trim cover, unscrew the plastic wing nut, disconnect the wiring plug, and pull out the bulbholder. The high level brake light uses LEDs and if it stops working, check the fuse as well as wiring before thinking of a complete light unit replacement. For number plate light, remove screws holding light unit or lens, carefully prise out lens and remove wedge base bulb from its holder, using pliers if required. Refitting is reversal of removal.