strange rear light bulb ..................
Discussion
very odd. Noticed that my near-side rear lamp was much dimmer that the off-side. This is in a 04 reg Mk4 Golf GTI. Had a look at the lamp cluster (in the dark) and the bulb was secure and working, but still much dimmer than the other - same voltage and wattage.
This HAD happened before and swapping out the bulb cured it, but it's now happened again. Drove to 'Mr KWIK' and got and took the bulb out to find the glass completely silvered over. Still worked though. Same side, and presumably the same problem as before. What's going on here?
Known bulbs blow before, but not silver over as if they've been spray painted.
Not exactly SP&L but any clues chaps?
This HAD happened before and swapping out the bulb cured it, but it's now happened again. Drove to 'Mr KWIK' and got and took the bulb out to find the glass completely silvered over. Still worked though. Same side, and presumably the same problem as before. What's going on here?
Known bulbs blow before, but not silver over as if they've been spray painted.
Not exactly SP&L but any clues chaps?
well, I'm a senior electronics engineer and never heard of that!, and have dealt with a lot of 'bubble' issues in my time. Just goes to show that you never stop learning!
Cheers Streaky. Just seemed odd 2 bulbs doing the same in the same bulb holder. Wonder if there is a localised heating problem and the hole is caused by solder migration?
Cheers Streaky. Just seemed odd 2 bulbs doing the same in the same bulb holder. Wonder if there is a localised heating problem and the hole is caused by solder migration?
bryan35 said:
well, I'm a senior electronics engineer and never heard of that!, and have dealt with a lot of 'bubble' issues in my time. Just goes to show that you never stop learning!
Cheers Streaky. Just seemed odd 2 bulbs doing the same in the same bulb holder. Wonder if there is a localised heating problem and the hole is caused by solder migration?
Cheers Streaky. Just seemed odd 2 bulbs doing the same in the same bulb holder. Wonder if there is a localised heating problem and the hole is caused by solder migration?
Would have thought that it would have to be one hell of a localised heating problem to get the solder that hot to migrate.
Would certainly show signs of overheating at the very least I'd have thought - if not worse.
BB
bryan35 said:
very odd. Noticed that my near-side rear lamp was much dimmer that the off-side. This is in a 04 reg Mk4 Golf GTI. Had a look at the lamp cluster (in the dark) and the bulb was secure and working, but still much dimmer than the other - same voltage and wattage.
This HAD happened before and swapping out the bulb cured it, but it's now happened again. Drove to 'Mr KWIK' and got and took the bulb out to find the glass completely silvered over. Still worked though. Same side, and presumably the same problem as before. What's going on here?
Known bulbs blow before, but not silver over as if they've been spray painted.
Not exactly SP&L but any clues chaps?
This HAD happened before and swapping out the bulb cured it, but it's now happened again. Drove to 'Mr KWIK' and got and took the bulb out to find the glass completely silvered over. Still worked though. Same side, and presumably the same problem as before. What's going on here?
Known bulbs blow before, but not silver over as if they've been spray painted.
Not exactly SP&L but any clues chaps?
I've seen a few do this, but like you I don't know the cause. I just put it down to a faulty batch of bulbs. Try a different make?
Try asking on the vw forum, My mk4 golf did exactly the same thing. I have quite a long commute and noticed the bright/dull problem on a number of Mk4 Golf's through the winter. Garage who sold me car new (not VW) advised me it appeared to be a common fault, (along with water in the passenger footwell).
Andy
Andy
I'm not that familiar with the Golf lights, but do the brake lights match each other for brightness?
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
ec1 eex said:
I'm not that familiar with the Golf lights, but do the brake lights match each other for brightness?
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
Seem to remember that the locating pins are there to try and prevent this happening.
ec1 eex said:
I'm not that familiar with the Golf lights, but do the brake lights match each other for brightness?
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
The crazy thing is that you were able to put it in upside-down. The pins on dual-filament, mixed wattage bulbs are off-set to prevent this - Streaky I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
just had to replace another silvered bulb yet again!
bought another 2 spares and kept them in the little cubby hole next to the light cluster.
Same side, same bulb, same problem.
I've seen other golfs with the same problem. the lad from pronta-quick-while-u-wait-quick-parts fitter garage thing suggested it might be the fuse! - rubbish, or the wiring - rubbish, or the weather.
well trained these lads!
how bizaar
bought another 2 spares and kept them in the little cubby hole next to the light cluster.
Same side, same bulb, same problem.
I've seen other golfs with the same problem. the lad from pronta-quick-while-u-wait-quick-parts fitter garage thing suggested it might be the fuse! - rubbish, or the wiring - rubbish, or the weather.
well trained these lads!
how bizaar
bryan35 said:
just had to replace another silvered bulb yet again!
bought another 2 spares and kept them in the little cubby hole next to the light cluster.
Same side, same bulb, same problem.
I've seen other golfs with the same problem. the lad from pronta-quick-while-u-wait-quick-parts fitter garage thing suggested it might be the fuse! - rubbish, or the wiring - rubbish, or the weather.
well trained these lads!
how bizaar
Bad Earthbought another 2 spares and kept them in the little cubby hole next to the light cluster.
Same side, same bulb, same problem.
I've seen other golfs with the same problem. the lad from pronta-quick-while-u-wait-quick-parts fitter garage thing suggested it might be the fuse! - rubbish, or the wiring - rubbish, or the weather.
well trained these lads!
how bizaar
Sean
ec1 eex said:
I'm not that familiar with the Golf lights, but do the brake lights match each other for brightness?
I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
yup, I had the same thing on one of my cars, dont remember which though.I remember in one of my dad's old cars the bulb was put in upside down. Maybe this sounds crazy, but there were two filaments in one bulb. One filament was for the side lights and the other for the brake lights.
Remove the bulb, rotate through 180 degrees, replace. Sorted. (Well, it was in my case.)
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