There is a fault code stating accessory lighting has an open circuit which is correct of course, and presumably attributable to the running board damage.
(B1479 – Accessory Illumination Supply-General Electrical Failures- Circuit open)
The prior owner did some really sh!tty bogwork to clip the cables and just left them attached but non-functional, with the damaged underside of the running board just hanging off.
Looking at the connectors behind the front wheels inside the running boards, they use an LED fitting (in the large connecter) that casts a light along a glass tube (glass filament) to light up the entire length of the tube. You can unscrew the back side of this connecter and view the LED on a PCB. I can’t confirm if there is only a single LED at the front of each side, as a cable does run towards the rear from this connector which I suspect may drive another LED as the light bar is split in two. I haven’t removed the running board to get in the back area of it.
I haven’t yet approached Volvo about whether I can get a particular connector only (as opposed to the entire running board kit), as from everything I’ve read they’ll only be able to source the entire running board kit at huge cost.
The cost for initial delivery install is likely so high as the electrical installation is a pain to do, per the manuals available online.
Busted connector (cables running in from right have lost the clip):
View attachment 206807
Unscrew the back to expose LED:
View attachment 206808
Other ‘back’ side unscrewed showing glass filament to light bar:
View attachment 206809
Opened connector ‘back side’ to LED bar connection above:
View attachment 206810
Opened connector ‘front side’ with PCB and LED:
View attachment 206811
Side of LED/connector, Schott branded:
View attachment 206812
Example of ‘good’ side:
View attachment 206813
Back to the connector, if you get under the car and unscrew the larger connector from the cable running to the lit bar portions – this is actually the LED unit.
You may be able to see if the LED is functioning, though I’ve had no luck holding the wires in circuit for them to light up.
I’m going to attempt to re-attach the two wires (solder them) to the ‘LED’ connector and see if that fixes my fault when I get some time, otherwise I think I’ll just let them remain off and try and forget about it, unless anyone has any smart ideas?
If the LED lights up but the bars do not, this may indicate that the glass ‘bar’ is cracked and thus won’t light???
Apart from this I haven’t troubleshooted any further so haven’t got any other discoveries at this point.
The LED connector is supplied by SCHOTT, but has no part numbers that I can identify unfortunately. It would be awesome if I could source this separately somehow – anyone have any idea how to source this or whether reattaching it should be an easy fix (which I’m guessing not).