Focus blowing dipped beam bulbs

[Allyc85]

On my 2003, 2.0 Focus I must be on dipped beam bulb change number 7 in under 20,000 miles and when taking it to a garage I only get told either its me when changing the bulb (Not true!) or that the fault needs to happen more often for them to diagnose the fault.

I changed the n/s bulb last week and this morning I noticed the the o/s had gone too. Looking at the bulb ive noticed that the back of it looks burnt and im hoping this could give a clue as to what is going on..

Back of the bulb..



The blown filament..



Cheers for any help

[helsey]

How is the wiring, any frayed or bare wires? Any corrosion or condensation in headlights? Could be a bad earth in there too. A cleaning with some sand paper would sort that.

[Conian]

buy a bi-xenon kit
it'll eliminate the problem as it draws power from it's own new loom and the old loom will be low powered as it doesnt send power to the bulbs anymore, only to the relay to activate the xenons.

[Allyc85]

Do you have a link to a kit?

helsey said:

How is the wiring, any frayed or bare wires? Any corrosion or condensation in headlights? Could be a bad earth in there too. A cleaning with some sand paper would sort that.

As far as I can see the wiring looks fine, the bulbs sit securely in the headlight and the connector fits snugly on the bulb. Ive checked and cleaned the earths and they are also fine as far as I can see and i havnt noticed any condensation in the light unit.

What I have noticed is some scraping marks on the auxilary belt so the car will be going in the garage ASAP for that

[Conian]

looking into this, it seems as if the focus has seperate hi and low beam bulbs
so you cant have a hi-lo kit, but you can have a kit for each set, H1 for dip, n H7 for full beam (or other way round maybe)
but have a look here:
http://www.hidkits.co.uk/hidkits.php

[Allyc85]

Ohh HID kits. I was thinking of upgrading to them but they are an automatic MOT fail next year unless you have washers etc so il give them a miss

[Conian]

Allyc85 said:

Ohh HID kits. I was thinking of upgrading to them but they are an automatic MOT fail next year unless you have washers etc so il give them a miss

is there anything definate on this, cos the net reports MOT testers saying theyve not heard of this.

[Stefluc]

I know what you mean my lad has a 52 plate 03 reg focus and I have changed the bulbs in that about 4 times this year ,but mainly the N/S one which is as you will know a bas***rd to change,I keep asking myself the same question but the only conclusion that i can come up with is cheap bulbs as in make not price however dont know if there is any better ones out there. (Ring).
Stefluc

[Allyc85]

Stefluc said:

I know what you mean my lad has a 52 plate 03 reg focus and I have changed the bulbs in that about 4 times this year ,but mainly the N/S one which is as you will know a bas***rd to change,I keep asking myself the same question but the only conclusion that i can come up with is cheap bulbs as in make not price however dont know if there is any better ones out there. (Ring).
Stefluc

Ive been mainly using using Osram Night breakers and while they do last slightly longer, there is no set pattern as to when the bulbs go