Trunk/Tailgate Support Strut (Shock) Replacement

After a few years you might find your trunk heavier to lift up. Below are the instruction on how to replace the trunk support struts.

 

 

The struts are locked to the car frame by a C-clip.

 

Use a flat screw driver and ply out the C-clips at the end of the struts. Remove all four C-clips and then pull out both struts from the hinges.

 

Press in the new struts into the hinges and you are done. You might need to lower the tailgate slightly to align the holes.

 

Total replacement time was 10 minutes.

Auxiliary (Serpentine) Drive Belt Replacement

The factory maintenance schedule recommends replacing the auxiliary belt every 100,000 miles or 9 years. You can check the condition of the belts by looking at it next to the alternator close to the oil level dipstick. Before you start the work, make sure you have the correct tools available. You will definitely need a 10mm socket, Torx bits T50 and T25.

First lift up the car and remove the wheel closest to the front passenger.

Remove the wheel liner by removing the Torx screws and two nuts. Peel it out slowly and make sure to remember how it goes back together.

 

There are two drive belts. Each one consist of two pulleys and a wheel acting as a tensioner.



To remove the first belt for the air conditioning system, use the T50 bit and rotate the first tensioner clockwise as far as possible. The tensioner is spring loaded, so you have to constantly apply a force. Remove the belt. Now use the same T50 bit and rotate the second tensioner for the alternator counter-clockwise as far as possible. Remove the second belt. Now make sure all pulleys and wheels are clean. Now it is time to install the new belts. First install the second belt by dropping the belt from hood near the alternator shown in the first picture. Release the tensioner and fit the belt into the groves of the pulleys. Make sure the grooves are aligned. Follow the same procedure and install the first belt.

 

Start the car and check everything is working correctly. Install the wheel liner and the wheel.

Total replacement time was 90 minutes.

 



Headlight Bulb Replacement

The front headlight bulb replacement for the S40 is rather easy but it is still one of the most complicated compared to other cars that I owned. You will need to remove the whole headlight assembly in order to replace the light bulb. The following steps only covers bulb replacement for halogen light and not the gas discharged headlights. First, you will need a pair of H11 bulbs. It is always recommended to replace both bulbs at the same time, so you will have uniform lighting. Open the hood. Find the headlight locking pin, pull up and remove.

Slide out the headlight assembly towards the front of the car. Make sure it is straight and make sure not bump it into car or scratch the headlights.

Press the retaining clip of the connect to the headlight assembly to disconnect the electrical wiring.

Place the headlight assembly on a surface and make sure it will not scratch the headlight. Pull the retaining clips outward to remove the cover.

Turn the bulb holder anti-clockwise and pull out the bulb assembly. Disconnect the cable from the bulb assembly. Install the new bulb by making sure not touching the bulb. Reassemble everything back. Follow the same procedure for the other front headlight.

Total replacement time is about 15 minutes.