[[email protected]]

Not a performance issue, but I figured I'd post. The rear turnsignals on my 850 were blinking white, rather than orange. Having a large dislike for cheap clear taillight modifications, and preferring my wife's car to be as safe as possible, I pulled the bulbs to see if the incorrect clear ones had been installed on the car.

Turns out, the amber paint coat on the bulb was peeling and the lights now blinked white. I replaced the bulbs, but I've been noticing on a lot of other older 850s that they also blink clear, so it could be bulb degradation, and not something unique to my car.

 

[S.R.]

George,

It is definetely not unique to your own car, because I had this same thing happen to my 960. For some reason, the amber paint starts to flake off the bulbs and I have seen many Volvo's that seem to have the white turn signal problem as you mentioned. I have seen Mercedes with this same problem as well. I think that this occurs because of the on/off nature of the bulbs. They heat up and cool down quickly. Also, turn signal bulbs are not replaced that often so they can get pretty old I suppose.

BTW, you also might want to check your license plate lights, both of mines had burned out a long time ago, and I just recently noticed it. On my car, you have to have a Torx head screwdriver to access those bulbs, which not many people have, including me.

-Drew

[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 05-01-2001).]

 

[WatsonMD]

George,
Same thing happen with my 97 850 GLT. I managed to find replacement bulbs at NAPA for $4/pair instead of $5 each at the dealer. I replaced all of my lights at that time (turn signals/brake/parking/backup/rear fogs).

Andrew T. Watson