Modern headlight bulbs
Discussion
Yeah you shouldn't touch the glass of new bulbs as the grease transferred from your fingers causes hot-spots and uneven heat which can cause the bulb to prematurely blow... apparently.
I wonder if it's more prevalent now that the norm is to get someone else to fit them - your typical guy in Halfords is going to smudge his chip-fat fingers all over your bulbs so you'll be back to replace them in a few months time (tinfoil-hat).
I wonder if it's more prevalent now that the norm is to get someone else to fit them - your typical guy in Halfords is going to smudge his chip-fat fingers all over your bulbs so you'll be back to replace them in a few months time (tinfoil-hat).
Edited by shandyboy on Wednesday 19th November 17:09
We've got a 2009 ford fiesta that blows bulbs regularly, at least 2 per side a year. Doing a little digging it appears ford have come out with an adaptor for the cabling that is supposed to prevent it. I picked up a pair yesterday, £14 each side and nobody in the dealership seemed to know what I was talking about. If the dealers don't even know about it I can't imagine many owners do, and there's thousands of fiestas out there popping their bulbs.
Just got rid of a 15 year old golf, still on it's original bulbs. They don't make them like they used to!
Just got rid of a 15 year old golf, still on it's original bulbs. They don't make them like they used to!
I seem to recall that the worst thing you can do to a HID headlight is to turn it off, and then turn it on again while it's still warm. So parking up for a few minutes or flashing someone out when your lights aren't on - that sort of thing. Auto lights are a convenient way of repeatedly engaging a warm light that most non-petrolheads don't even consider.
Martyn-123 said:
When you change the bulbs do you touch them with your fingers as i recall reading somewhere the grease transfered from your fingers causes them to burn out, some lights come with the filament part wrapped in a roll of cardboard to help you avoid touching them,
Martyn
I may be wrong ?
That doesn't explain why new cars do it more than older cars. Shouldn't the older cars be the ones more likely to have had the original bulbs replaced by grubby mitts?Martyn
I may be wrong ?
We have an 08 Volvo V50 that gets through a few headlight bulbs a year. It's always puzzled me.
GravelMachineGun said:
Why do I see so many very new cars with headlights out?
Not having a rant or anything, just a question...rarely ever see an older car with a light out though.
The Evoque and Audi A4 seems to be a top offender.
Is it to do with LEDs?
I'd say more to do with modern policing. Easy to catch someone doing over the limit at night, when it's safe- there's a camera for that.More difficult to catch tailgaitrs at any time . Just as hard to catch defective lights- one light out / badly aligned headlamps .The badly aligned headlamps really takes the mick, as it's SUPPOSED to on MOT check list, and checked as part of any decent service. One of these days, the Chief Supt, will open the road safety cupboard and a card with "tailgaiting causes accidents" and another " headlamp faults cause winter accidents" will drop out and for the next few weeks that will be the serious road safety issues checked out. Not having a rant or anything, just a question...rarely ever see an older car with a light out though.
The Evoque and Audi A4 seems to be a top offender.
Is it to do with LEDs?
I can remember over 30 years ago paying nearly seven pounds for a lucas 472 headlamp bulb, now I can buy them trade price for less than a pound that tells you all you need to know about the quality of modern bulbs. The most commonly used bulb nowadays is a 477 and most of the factors sell Ring branded bulbs, in the last few weeks Ive had to return 2 of them so badly made they wouldnt even fit in the reflector on a couple of cars.
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