Our 2013 does the same, the overspray goes everywhere. The spray comes out hard and hits the angle of the lens and goes in all directions.

I haven't checked yet but I doubt there is a software setting to turn this off, so the only other option might be to pull a fuse to disable the headlight washers completely. The only time I would like to use these would be during the winter when there is a fair amount of road spray that can cover the lights - other than that, they can remain off.

 

Our 2013 does the same, the overspray goes everywhere. The spray comes out hard and hits the angle of the lens and goes in all directions.

I haven't checked yet but I doubt there is a software setting to turn this off, so the only other option might be to pull a fuse to disable the headlight washers completely. The only time I would like to use these would be during the winter when there is a fair amount of road spray that can cover the lights - other than that, they can remain off.

Thanks. Going with your potential fuse idea, I did some searching and found this:
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?169049-Headlight-washers

I checked my owner's manual and it looks like the "fuse" in question is only used for the headlight washers which is good news.
However, it also stated this particular fuse (fuses 1 - 15, 34 and 42 - 44 for MY model) is one of the "relays / circuit breakers and should only be removed or replaced by a trainer and qualified Volvo service technician."
This warning does not apply to some of the other (standard) fuses that they say "may be changed at any time when necessary" (i.e. by the owner).

Does anyone know what is different about the relay / circuit breaker variety and whether I can easily remove one myself without risking any issues?
I'll do some googling now in the meantime.

 

To my surprise, what must have been the headlight washer fluid sprayer for the LEFT headlight oversprayed covering 1/2 of my hood with washer fluid spray!

And that's why I appreciate my old 1999 V70 XC's headlight washers. Even if they look less sleek. Oh well, I guess reserve that for (if) you ever go off roading or on muddy ground.

 

If you are doing 35mph+ does it still get all over hood?

 

And it does not matter if it gets all over the hood as it will not harm the paint.

 

This is how it is in most vehicles I've driven with pressure washers for the headlights.

 

Does it all the time. I dropped my car off for the 15,000 mile service and was told the only option is to disabble it.:facepalm:

 

Maybe it's because I live in Seattle, but are you people deploying the washer when it's not raining???? I only use it when it's raining (Seattle!), and the rain takes care of any overspray. If I want to clean the headlights and windshield when it's not raining, I don't use it (duh!), I use a hand cleaner.

 

Interesting. I would think that if it's raining, you have no need to wash the headlights... the rain does it for you. The washers work well when they are dry and dirty or wer and dirty (think dirty slush).

 

In Seattle, you have need to wash the muck off the headlights and mainly windshield. There is rain and there is Seattle rain, it is frequently not enough to clean everything (think mist), I only use it to get the gunk that has accumulated since the last rain. As far as I know, you cannot selectively invoke the headlight washer, it only comes on at a fixed ratio of wash cycles. I still don't get the idea of using the washer when it is dry out! You certainly can't expect a high pressure blast on the headlight to stay only on the headlight.

 

I hear you, we just set a record for no rain in August, here in Seattle. I still get out my bottle of Windex and a micro-cloth and clean my windshield. The last thing I would ever think of, is to use the windshield washer to clean the windshield. The fluid still goes somewhere after the wipers are done with it. I want my glass spotless.

 

Such a simple solution would have been to use a separate switch for the headlamp washers. Maybe use that dead button next to the rear fog light. I too would only need them in the winter and then only after a snow. Perhaps pulling the fuse 10 months out of the year would be the easiest solution..

 

I wonder if they are trying to conform to ECE regulations (which apply to Europe to standardize
products across European countries) and just left it that way. Regulation No. 45 - Rev.2 - Headlamp cleaners
at http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs41-60.html:

6.5.4 The control of the cleaning device shall be operable from the driver's seat and may
be coupled with the controls for other cleaning devices.
In addition, when the cleaning device is required to be fitted according to Regulation
No. 48, and in the absence of any automatic activation of the cleaning device, it
must operate through at least one cleaning period when, the headlamps being already
switched on, the windscreen washers are operated.

I bet a lot of how functionality is implemented in a car is regulated somewhere, by someone
(and regulations trump logic). Also, I wonder if the headlights were switched off if it would clean them?

 

...it must operate through at least one cleaning period when, the headlamps being already switched on, the windscreen washers are operated.

And there's the graceful solution by a simple software change. Don't wash the headlights if they are off or in parking light mode!

 

You can't turn the headlights off in the US, can you?

 

Yes, with DRLs move switch to the parking light position. Without DRLs use the off or parking light position, at least in MY 2011-12.

 

How on earth are you guys getting windshields so dirty that you need the washer while keeping the rest of your car so clean that a little overspray bothers you?
Whenever I need to use the sprayer my car is already filthy and in need of a wash anyway... helps that the dealer here gives you free washes for life of course...

 

Well, I was unable (did not want to damage anything electrically by forcing it) to try to 'lift' the top engine bay fuse section out of the way so as to uncover the lower fuse holder section where the headlight washer fuse (#8 in that section) is housed.

I did recall someone saying something about pulling the windshield (and headlight) washer stalk (lever) slightly towards me instead of all the way which might only trigger the windshield washer jets and not the headlight washer jets as well.
It seemed to work (will need to try it multiple times in a row to confirm it works, since I believe the headlight washers don't activate every single time, at least under certain conditions, according to the manual, but I forgot what the logic and frequency are).

 

Well, I was unable (did not want to damage anything electrically by forcing it) to try to 'life' the top engine bay fuse section out of the way so as to uncover the lower fuse holder section where the headlight washer fuse (#8 in that section) is housed.

I did recall someone saying something about pulling the windshield (and headlight) washer stalk (lever) slightly towards me instead of all the way which might only trigger the windshield washer jets and not the headlight washer jets as well.
It seemed to work (will need to try it multiple times in a row to confirm it works, since I believe the headlight washers don't activate every single time, at least under certain conditions, according to the manual, but I forgot what the logic and frequency are).

I've noticed that if I turn on the sprayers twice or more within a short time interval, the headlights only get sprayed the first time and they won't get sprayed again unless you wait a certain about of time. However, when you mentioned only pulling the stalk slightly, it makes me think that it might have actually worked for me without intending to just spray the windsheild alone. I have to give it a shot whirl actually paying attention to it sometime...

 

I'm curious, if you installed a simple switch with some copper wire could you manually enable/disable the headlight washers? Or would the dashboard warning light flip out because of some networking issues?