2011 VOLVO V50 lights

06 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)*
06

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.167
G018177
The vehicle's own shadow against a large, light,
smooth surface such as barriers between lanes on
a highway
Sunlight directly in the camera when the sun is low
on the horizon
Cleaning the BLIS camera lensesIn order to function optimally, the BLIS camera
lenses must be kept clean. They can be wiped
clean with a soft cloth or wet sponge.
CAUTION
•Clean the lenses carefully to avoid
scratching.
•The lenses are electrically heated to
help melt ice or snow. If necessary, gen-
tly brush away snow from the lenses.
Switching BLIS on and off
G018270
BLIS button (left button in the illustration)
BLIS is automatically activated when the igni-
tion is switched on. The indicator lights will
provide confirmation by flashing 3 times.
•The system can be switched off by press-
ing the BLIS button in the center console.
The indicator light in the button goes outwhen the system is switched off, and a text
message is displayed.
•BLIS can be switched on again by pressing
the button. The indicator light in the button
will illuminate and a new text message will
be displayed. Press the READ button, see
page 61, to erase the message.
BLIS system messages
Text in the
displaySystem status
BLIS SERVICE
REQUIREDBLIS not functioning
properly. Contact an
authorized Volvo serv-
ice technician.
BLIS CAMERA
BLOCKEDBLIS camera obscured.
Clean the lenses.
BLIS ONBLIS system on

08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the car
08
204* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Washing the car
The following points should be kept in mind
when washing and cleaning the car:
•The car should be washed at regular inter-
vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots
adhere to the paint and may cause dam-
age. To help prevent corrosion, it is partic-
ularly important to wash the car frequently
in the wintertime when salt has been used
on the roads.
•Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight.
Doing so may cause detergents and wax
to dry out and become abrasive. To avoid
scratching, use lukewarm water to soften
the dirt before you wash with a soft
sponge, and plenty of sudsy water.
•Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork
as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish
may be permanently damaged.
•A detergent can be used to facilitate the
softening of dirt and oil.
•Dry the car with a clean chamois and
remember to clean the drain holes in the
doors and rocker panels.
•Tar spots can be removed with tar remover
after the car has been washed.
•A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy
water can be used to clean the wiper
blades. Frequent cleaning of the wind-
shield and wiper blades improves visibilityconsiderably and also helps prolong the
service life of the wiper blades.
•Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel
housings, fenders, etc).
•In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-
quent washing is recommended.
NOTE
When washing the car, remember to remove
dirt from the drain holes in the doors and
sills.
Exterior componentsVolvo recommends the use of special cleaning
products, available at your Volvo retailer, for
cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental
components such as chromed strips on the
exterior of your vehicle. The instructions for
using these products should be followed care-
fully. Solvents or stain removers should not be
used.
CAUTION
•Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rub-
ber components
•Polishing chromed strips can wear
away or damage the surface
•Polishes containing abrasive sub-
stances should not be used
CAUTION
•During high pressure washing, the
spray mouthpiece must never be closer
to the vehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not
spray into the locks.
•Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can
reduce lighting capacity considerably.
Clean the headlights regularly, for
example when refueling.
Special moonroof cautions:
•Always close the moonroof* and sun
shade before washing your vehicle.
•Never use wax on the rubber seals
around the moonroof.
•Never use abrasive cleaning agents on
the moonroof.
•

08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the car
08

205
Automatic washing – simple and quickWe do NOT recommend washing your car in an
automatic wash during the first few months
(because the paint will not have hardened suf-
ficiently).
An automatic wash is a simple and quick way
to clean your car, but it is worth remembering
that it may not be as thorough as when you
yourself go over the car with sponge and water.
Keeping the underbody clean is most impor-
tant, especially in the winter. Some automatic
washers do not have facilities for washing the
underbody.
CAUTION
•Before driving into an automatic car
wash, turn off the optional rain sensor to
avoid damaging the windshield wipers.
•Make sure that side view mirrors, auxil-
iary lamps, etc, are secure, and that any
antenna(s) are retracted or removed.
Otherwise there is risk of the machine
dislodging them
•Chromed wheels: Clean chrome-
plated wheels using the same deter-
gents used for the body of the vehicle.
Aggressive wheel-cleaning agents can
permanently stain chrome-plated
wheels.
WARNING
•When the car is driven immediately after
being washed, apply the brakes several
times in order to remove any moisture
from the brake linings.
•Engine cleaning agents should not be
used when the engine is warm. This
constitutes a fire risk.
Exterior lightingCondensation may form temporarily on the
inside of the lenses of exterior lights such as
headlights, fog lights, or taillights. This is nor-
mal and the lights are designed to withstand
moisture. Normally, condensation will dissi-
pate after the lights have been on for a short
time.
Polishing and Waxing
•Normally, polishing is not required during
the first year after delivery, however, wax-
ing may be beneficial.
•Before applying polish or wax the vehicle
must be washed and dried. Tar spots can
be removed with kerosene or tar remover.
Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing
compound.
•After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
•Several commercially available products
contain both polish and wax.
•Waxing alone does not substitute for pol-
ishing a dull surface.
•A wide range of polymer-based waxes can
be purchased today. These waxes are easy
to use and produce a long-lasting, high-
gloss finish that protects the bodywork
against oxidation, road dirt and fading.
•Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct
sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should
not be warmer than 113 °F (45 °C).
CAUTION
Volvo does not recommend the use of long-
life or durable paint protection coatings,
some of which may claim to prevent pitting,
fading, oxidation, etc. These coatings have
not been tested by Volvo for compatibility
with your vehicle's clear coat. Some of them
may cause the clear coat to soften, crack,
or cloud. Damage caused by application of
paint protection coatings may not be cov-
ered under your vehicle's paint warranty.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Maintaining your car09

213 Owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and inter-
vals are described in your vehicle's Warranty
and Service Records Information booklet.
The following points can be carried out
between the normally scheduled maintenance
services.
Each time the car is refueled:
•Check the engine oil level.
•Clean the windshield, windshield wipers,
headlights, and taillights.
Monthly:
•Check cold tire pressure in all tires. Inspect
the tires for wear.
•Check that engine coolant and other fluid
levels are between the indicated "min" and
"max" markings.
•Clean interior glass surfaces with a glass
cleaner and soft paper towels.
•Wipe driver information displays with a soft
cloth.
•Visually inspect battery terminals for cor-
rosion. Corrosion may indicate a loose ter-
minal connector, or a battery near the end
of its useful service life. Consult a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician for
additional information.
As needed:
•Wash the car, including the undercarriage,
to reduce wear that can be caused by a
buildup of dirt, and corrosion that can be
caused by salt residues.
•Clean leaves and twigs from air intake
vents at the base of the windshield, and
from other places where they may collect.
NOTE
Complete service information for qualified
technicians is available online for purchase
or subscription at www.volvotechinfo.com.
Hoisting the vehicle
If a garage jack is used to lift the vehicle, the
two jack attachments points should be used.
They are specially reinforced to bear the weight
of the vehicle. A garage jack can also be placed
under the front of the engine support frame.
Take care not to damage the splash guard
under the engine. Ensure that the jack is posi-
tioned so that the vehicle cannot slide off it.
Always use axle stands or similar structures.
If a two-post hoist is used to lift the vehicle, the
front and rear lift arm pads should be centered
under the reinforced lift plates on the inboard
edge of the sill rail (see illustration).
Emission inspection readiness
What is an Onboard Diagnostic System
(OBD II)?
OBD II is part of your vehicle's computerized
engine management system. It stores diagnos-
tic information about your vehicle's emission
controls. It can light the Check Engine light
(MIL) if it detects an emission control "fault." A
"fault" is a component or system that is not
performing within an expected range. A fault
may be permanent or temporary. OBD II will
store a message about any fault.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs 09
224
Introduction
Before replacing bulbs in your vehicle, please
keep the following points in mind:
NOTE
Never touch the glass of bulbs with your fin-
gers. Grease and oils from your fingers
vaporize in the heat and will leave a deposit
on the reflector, which will damage it.
The optional Active Bending Light bulbs
contain trace amounts of mercury. These
bulbs should always be disposed of by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian.
Certain bulbs should only be replaced by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian:
•Courtesylighting
•Reading lights
•Glove compartment lights
•Turn signals and courtesy lights in the
side door mirrors
•Brake lights
•Active Bending Lights, Brake lights
Removing the headlight housing
WARNING
•The engine should not be running when
changing bulbs.
•If the engine has been running just prior
to replacing bulbs in the headlight hous-
ing, please keep in mind that compo-
nents in the engine compartment will be
hot.
G019599
The entire headlight housing must be lifted out
when replacing the high/low beam, parkinglight, turn signal, and side marker bulbs. To lift
out the housing:
1. Remove the key from the ignition and turn
the headlight switch to position
.
2. Open the hood.
3. Pull up the headlight housing's retaining
pin.
4. Pull out the headlight housing.
G019600
5. Disconnect the wiring connector by press-
ing down the clip with your thumb while at
the same time pulling the connector with
your other hand.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs09

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.225
6. Lift out the headlight housing and place it
on a soft surface to avoid scratching the
lens.
CAUTION
When disconnecting the connector, pull on
the connector itself and not on the wiring.
After the defective bulb has been replaced,
reinsert the housing in the reverse order. Check
that the retaining pin is correctly inserted.
WARNING
Active Bending Lights* – due to the high
voltage used by these headlights, these
bulbs should only be replaced by a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician.
Low beam bulb
G019131
Cover with retaining clamps
1. Open the hood and remove the headlight
housing (see page 224 for instructions).
2. Release the retaining clamps on the cover
and remove it.
3. Release the bulb's retaining spring holding
the bulb in place by pressing it inward and
downward.
4. Pull out the bulb.
G019133
Low beam bulb
Installing a new bulb1. Insert the new bulb. It can only be installed
in one position.
2. Press the retaining spring inward and
upward and slightly to the right until it
snaps into place.
3. Press the wiring connector onto the bulb.
4. Put the plastic cover in place.
5. Press the retaining clamps back into place.
6. Reinstall the headlight housing (see
page 224).

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs 09
226* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
High beam bulb (halogen)
G019136
Halogen high beam bulb
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the headlight housing (see
page 224).
3. Remove the cover on the upper side of the
headlight housing by turning it counter-
clockwise.
NOTE
The halogen high beam bulb has a different
socket on vehicles equipped with the
optional Active Bending Lights. On these
models, pull the bulb straight out.
WARNING
Active Bending Lights* – due to the high
voltage used by these headlights, the Active
Bending Light bulbs should only be
replaced by a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician.
4. Driver's side headlight: Turn the bulb
holder counterclockwise.
Passenger's side headlight: Turn the bulb
holder clockwise.
5. Pull out the bulb holder and replace the
bulb.
6. Reinstall the bulb holder. It can only be
installed in one position.
7. Reinstall the cover on the upper side of the
headlight housing by turning it clockwise.
8. Reinstall the headlight housing (see
page 224).
Parking light bulb
G019145
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the headlight housing, see
page 224.
3. Remove the cover on the upper side of the
headlight housing by turning it counter-
clockwise.
4. Pull out the bulb holder.
5. Replace the bulb.
6. Press the bulb holder back into position. It
will click into place.
7. Reinstall the cover on the upper side of the
headlight housing by turning it clockwise.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs09

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.227
8. Reinstall the headlight housing.
NOTE
Vehicles equipped with the optional Active
Bending Lights (headlights) have LED park-
ing lights that cannot be replaced.
Turn signal
G019150
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the headlight housing, see
page 224.
3. Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise and
remove it.4. Remove the bulb from the holder by press-
ing it in and twisting it counterclockwise.
5. Insert a new bulb and reinstall the bulb
holder in the headlight housing.
6. Reinstall the headlight housing.
Side marker light
G018050
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the headlight housing, see
page 224.
3. Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise,
pull it out, and replace the bulb.
4. Reinstall the bulb holder. It can only be
installed in one position.5. Reinstall the headlight housing.
Front fog lights*
G019605
1. Switch off all lights and turn the key to
position 0.
2. Remove the panel around the fog light
housing by inserting a screw driver as
shown in the illustration and pressing the
panel outward to release the retaining clip.
3. Grasp the edge of the panel and pull it
straight out.
4. Unscrew the screw in the fog light housing
and remove it.