I can't turn my lights off

dulpit · 19-06-2024 11:09am #1

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I've tried to Google and I'm not getting proper results.

I have a volvo s60. I usually just leave my lights on all the time, but one of my bulbs went yesterday so I was playing with the lights. I have discovered that my car won't let me turn the lights off.

The car has 3 settings: off, side lights (parks?), and on. If I turn them on, they're on. If I go to side lights, those come on, and stay on when I turn car off. If I switch to off setting the lights come on, same as if I had switched them on. They turn off when I turn car off as usual though.

So it looks like there's a switch or setting or something that is causing the on setting and off setting to be the same.

It's not a big deal, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to fix this if needed? Might it be a fuse issue or something?

Again, sorry if this is a completely stupid question. Any help is appreciated.

JamBur · 19-06-2024 11:14am

Is there a timeout, do they turn off after a few minutes? Some cars have a guide me home feature. What year is the car?

JamBur · 19-06-2024 11:16am

A quick google for S60 guide me home lights show:

Home safe light duration

Some of the exterior lighting can be kept switched on to work as home safe lighting after the car has been locked.

To activate the function:

Switch off the car.

Move the left-hand stalk switch forward toward the instrument panel and release.

Get out of the car and lock the door.

User1998 · 19-06-2024 11:18am

Lots of cars are like this. You can’t turn off your lights in lots of VW’s as well. Usually the ones that aren’t equipped with auto lights.

Miscreant · 19-06-2024 11:44am

I think the more pertinent question to ask here is if the car is running or not when you are doing this? I had a Volvo S60 with what they called "Day Time Running" lights which meant the dipped headlights were on all the time, regardless of switch position. The car had to be running for this to happen though and it was not a fuse issue. The dealership at the time did say they could code it out for me but I just left it.

19-06-2024 11:49am

I've never driven a Volvo but I always heard that they had lights permanently on.

dulpit · 19-06-2024 12:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122278225#Comment_122278225

Nope, this is when car is running, not when turned off.

dulpit · 19-06-2024 12:26pm

Sorry if I wasn't clear - the issue is turning lights off while driving. There is a dial that has the 0 for off, but when I switch to that they come on. It's like the off switch and on switch are identical in behaviour.

It's a 2013 S60 btw.

dulpit · 19-06-2024 12:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122278384#Comment_122278384

My car has DRLs also - but they are separate lights (LEDs I believe) and aren't affected by me changing the dipped headlight switch.

sundodger5 · 19-06-2024 12:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122278417#Comment_122278417

This is my understanding of Volvo as well, They had DRLs as such before DRLs were a thing. Maybe they left the dipped lights on all the time function and added DRLs on top of that.

greasepalm · 19-06-2024 12:35pm

Has the bulb you replaced the exact same and not different , recheck bulb you replaced is correct and if removed fixes your issue.

Agree on some cars use running lights when started up and might use a twin filament bulb.

Does your car have parking lights by different methods as where indicator is positioned or ignition lock in parking light position.

R.O.R · 19-06-2024 12:43pm

It's a 2013 S60 - the lights are always on whether you like it or not. I think it's a legal requirement in Sweden so they didn't bother changing it for other markets as it's safer to always have lights on.

The only difference between the off and on settings is that you can put the full beams on when the lights are on, but only flash when the lights are in the off position.