Why so many dud headlamps?
Discussion
Friday morning head-scratcher: why are there so many cars with only one working headlamp at the moment? I've noticed absolutely loads in the last few weeks, and lo and behold my car coughed up his passenger-side main bulb this morning.
So:
Are there actually more failed lightbulbs around this time of year, or do we just notice them more because there's more time when it's appropriate to use them?
Does the increased amount of time the bulbs are being used hurry old bulbs towards the great Halfords in the sky?
Or could the extra wet weather be killing them?
So:
Are there actually more failed lightbulbs around this time of year, or do we just notice them more because there's more time when it's appropriate to use them?
Does the increased amount of time the bulbs are being used hurry old bulbs towards the great Halfords in the sky?
Or could the extra wet weather be killing them?
I have a completely unscientific theory that a significant percentage of bulb failures occur on starting the car; the slightly iffy supply as the loads vary during ignition can't be all that good for them.
Thus, if you start the car with the lights on, which you might do every time in winter, there's more chance of failure.
This can only be true for cars where the lights go off with the ignition though.
Thus, if you start the car with the lights on, which you might do every time in winter, there's more chance of failure.
This can only be true for cars where the lights go off with the ignition though.
ismellburning said:
we just notice them more because there's more time when it's appropriate to use them?
That would be my answer. Some people never check anything on their car until it breaks.
Though another thing would be how incredibly awkward changing bulbs can be on some cars. I made an attempt at fitting new ones to the KA on Monday but after two hours of being cold, unable to remove 6 year old rusty screw/bolts and unable to easily remove the light pods I gave up. I've told her that when they 'need' replacing we may just have to PX the car for a new one and I'm at least 50% serious.
Headlights should be changeable by someone with no tools or training and an instruction manual at the roadside in 15-30 mins, if anyone can do this on a KA and complete the job without any blood being drawn I'll pay good money to see it.
In the old days it was just a case of changing a bulb - cheap and easy to do
These days it is often the case that the whole thing has to be changed and is expensive and in many cases needs an expert to do it
Recession means that if its expensive it has to wait so they take the chance that they will not get a tug
These days it is often the case that the whole thing has to be changed and is expensive and in many cases needs an expert to do it
Recession means that if its expensive it has to wait so they take the chance that they will not get a tug
trashbat said:
I have a completely unscientific theory that a significant percentage of bulb failures occur on starting the car; the slightly iffy supply as the loads vary during ignition can't be all that good for them.
Thus, if you start the car with the lights on, which you might do every time in winter, there's more chance of failure.
This can only be true for cars where the lights go off with the ignition though.
Makes sense, although the old volvos (and possible saabs) were always started with the lights on dip, as you couldn't turn them off. Although this would have been before the new-fangled style of headlamps.Thus, if you start the car with the lights on, which you might do every time in winter, there's more chance of failure.
This can only be true for cars where the lights go off with the ignition though.
Chrisw666 said:
Headlights should be changeable by someone with no tools or training and an instruction manual at the roadside in 15-30 mins, if anyone can do this on a KA and complete the job without any blood being drawn I'll pay good money to see it.
I feel your pain. Managed to break a chip of plastic off my Pug headlamp assembly this morning. Those little wire clips are monsters.ismellburning said:
Does the increased amount of time the bulbs are being used hurry old bulbs towards the great Halfords in the sky?
That did make me chuckle. hehe!!I notice it too every winter that more cars have lights out. Dunno if its the cold, or just more observation due to darker days. One or t'other will be the answer
Chrisw666 said:
Though another thing would be how incredibly awkward changing bulbs can be on some cars. I made an attempt at fitting new ones to the KA on Monday but after two hours of being cold, unable to remove 6 year old rusty screw/bolts and unable to easily remove the light pods I gave up. I've told her that when they 'need' replacing we may just have to PX the car for a new one and I'm at least 50% serious.
Headlights should be changeable by someone with no tools or training and an instruction manual at the roadside in 15-30 mins, if anyone can do this on a KA and complete the job without any blood being drawn I'll pay good money to see it.
Ah, the infamous KA headlight bulb change! A friend used to have one and she had a blown bulb but was told by Halfords that they don't include fitment on the KA due to it being a 'bumper off' job.Headlights should be changeable by someone with no tools or training and an instruction manual at the roadside in 15-30 mins, if anyone can do this on a KA and complete the job without any blood being drawn I'll pay good money to see it.
I reckoned that it couldn't possibly be that hard to change a bulb, so I broke out my tools and did it for her. Around an hour and a half later I'd managed to change the bulb, without bumper removal, but I had to take a section of the wing-liner out to come at it from behind, and there were a lot of scuffed knuckles. A horrid, horrid job!
Imagine my dismay when my ex bought a KA as her first car; but luckily it never needed a bulb changing!
Always wondered about this. My old dear's Clio seems to consume dipped beam bulbs and yet the Volvo has never needed a bulb in the past 18 months and it does a hell of alot more mile and the lights are on constantly. But yes, I'd agree than given the complexity of some cars... even those who are fairly handy at DIY related things may opt not to bother and also would grudge giving a dealer an hours labour to change a dud bulb.
Brigand said:
Ah, the infamous KA headlight bulb change! A friend used to have one and she had a blown bulb but was told by Halfords that they don't include fitment on the KA due to it being a 'bumper off' job.
I reckoned that it couldn't possibly be that hard to change a bulb, so I broke out my tools and did it for her. Around an hour and a half later I'd managed to change the bulb, without bumper removal, but I had to take a section of the wing-liner out to come at it from behind, and there were a lot of scuffed knuckles. A horrid, horrid job!
Imagine my dismay when my ex bought a KA as her first car; but luckily it never needed a bulb changing!
I tried the arch liner out job. But the rusted screw heads has made that a job I couldn't manage with the tools I have, but having to take the bumper or wheels off to change a bulb should be illegal. I reckoned that it couldn't possibly be that hard to change a bulb, so I broke out my tools and did it for her. Around an hour and a half later I'd managed to change the bulb, without bumper removal, but I had to take a section of the wing-liner out to come at it from behind, and there were a lot of scuffed knuckles. A horrid, horrid job!
Imagine my dismay when my ex bought a KA as her first car; but luckily it never needed a bulb changing!
Inaccessibility of bulbs will have something to do with it.
I used to have a 2005 Focus, and it seemed to eat it's way through headlight bulbs. The drivers side was an easy <5 minute job, however the passenger side was a battery out, battery tray out job making it a 30 minute job for someone who uses (at the time anyway) tools every day fixing cars.
I used to have a 2005 Focus, and it seemed to eat it's way through headlight bulbs. The drivers side was an easy <5 minute job, however the passenger side was a battery out, battery tray out job making it a 30 minute job for someone who uses (at the time anyway) tools every day fixing cars.
I once spent 4 hours in the cold changing headlight bulbs on an A4. The offside one particularly took an age, just couldn't get it in place and had to try dozens of times.
Finally finsihed and put everything back together, including several bits of plastic piping/trunking, I was freezing, fingers numb, back aching, but I thought, at least I'll never have to do that again. 15 seconds later there's a loud 'pop'. The offside one had gone. I literally cried with rage and frustration, and I do mean "literally".
The W124s are a bit different, from popping the bonnet catch, replacing both bulbs, to closing the bonnet again, about 4 minutes. God knows how long the C1 will take, I'm afraid to look. You do hear some horror stories on here of how much dismantling is required on some cars for what should be a very simple job.
Finally finsihed and put everything back together, including several bits of plastic piping/trunking, I was freezing, fingers numb, back aching, but I thought, at least I'll never have to do that again. 15 seconds later there's a loud 'pop'. The offside one had gone. I literally cried with rage and frustration, and I do mean "literally".
The W124s are a bit different, from popping the bonnet catch, replacing both bulbs, to closing the bonnet again, about 4 minutes. God knows how long the C1 will take, I'm afraid to look. You do hear some horror stories on here of how much dismantling is required on some cars for what should be a very simple job.
Edited by mccrackenj on Friday 14th December 10:22
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