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Drivers headlight blows 2-3 months

sidecar55

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My VZ ute blows the drivers headlight globe 2-3 months. Tried buying expensive 'good' globes, turning of lights & only switching on once running to avoid altenator surge, cheap globes & checked all connetions. Still does it. Spoke with auto-elec & had no joy. Any ideas?
 

Tasmaniak

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Is the headlight reflector loose inside the housing at all? If there is excess vibration through the bulb, this can cause the bulb to fail.
 

Tasmaniak

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lol, iblown beat me to it.
 

hotrod

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u didn't touch the bulb with ya fingers did ya , oily spot causes hot spots makes them blow. if not maybe your relay faulty causing it. or ya wires are shortening .
 

sidecar55

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Always careful not touching globe. It happens when you start the car like a power surge but blows the drivers side only.
 

hotrod

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so it may be your automatic on and off switch , make sure when ya starting have ya lights off.
 

naf33n

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What are the globes looking like once they blow?? Is the glass still clear?? And bubbles, burns etc.
Is there any moisture in the head light??
 

bcw61

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My VZ ute blows the drivers headlight globe 2-3 months. Tried buying expensive 'good' globes, turning of lights & only switching on once running to avoid altenator surge, cheap globes & checked all connetions. Still does it. Spoke with auto-elec & had no joy. Any ideas?


If you are getting around 2 to 3 months life out of the globe, it sounds very much like low voltage being supplied to the globe. Due to the way Halogen globes operate (an explanation of which is really outside the scope of this thread), they are quite dependent upon receiving the full voltage (circa 13.8V for an average vehicle electrical system), and their life can be seriously curtailed if they are operated on a voltage that is lower that what is specified for them (at least 12V at a bare minimum).

Accordingly, you may need to do a voltage check directly at the globe terminals, whilst the globe is operating (both high and low beam if that is the globe that is causing the problem). This should show if you have any voltage drop from the headlight 12V+ supply wiring, and/or on the earth side of things.
 
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