C5 sidelight bulb burning out quickly

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Jabo
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C5 sidelight bulb burning out quickly

Post by Jabo »

Hey guys

Only 2 weeks ago I replaced my nearside sidelight bulb and everything was hunky dory. As I've not been out much in the dark I've barely used the lights but yesterday I had a look at the nearside bulb when it was on and it seems to be burning out - it's dull and the bulb is a bit black.

Are problems like this common? What should I do to try and cure it?

It's a 2001 C5.
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Post by Jabo »

Anybody?
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Post by myglaren »

There has been mention of sidelights not lasting very long but it doesn't seem to be common.
I have only replaced one in five years and my lights are always on.
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Post by Philjw »

Hi,
I've had to replace the side light bulbs in my Mk II more times than I would like. There does seem to be a difference in the quality of bulbs. Those from the local car spares place last less long than the bulb from Citroen. I hate to say it but it seems true.
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Post by Jabo »

The bulb has only been in for a couple of weeks and has barely been used at all. It's unbelievable :evil:
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Post by mongoose100 »

Convert to decent quality LED's?

Have done so on my MK2 Xantia with all the external lighting, never looked back
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Post by GB »

Stay away from ebay LED's, had a set fitted a couple of months ago that lasted er... less than 20 minutes. They just melt.

There is also a PIAA brand LED set available, more sturdy design, but 60 quid it is rather expensive for sidelights.

Three weeks ago (just before MOT) installed a set of Osram Ultra Life bulbs, so far so good. They come with a 2 year warranty, or something like that.
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Post by JohnD »

One or the other of my C5 side light bulbs always seemed to go just before MOT date. Two years ago I fitted a pair of these:-
http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/pr/ig ... -433c-led/
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Post by mooseshaver »

My father-in-law's C5 facelift (57 plate)has both sidelights gone. A dealer discovered it while it was in to look at other faults (1 year Citroen warranty). They told him it must be a electrical fault as both bulbs had blown. Today they had it back to fix parts for two other faults (rear window on tailgate not opening and screen wash fluid says its too low everytime you use it), but fixed nothing because the car had some electrical fault.
I've not found out yet what faults they have found as they have not fixed it and need the car back for another day, but I did try my own 56 plate C5, and both side lights are gone too. I might give those LEDs a go.
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Post by Peter.N. »

The only two things that will cause good bulbs to fail are excessive voltage or vibration, if you check the voltage across across the battery with the engine running you should have a little over 14 volts, if that's correct you either have rotten bulbs or a vibration problem.

Peter
Last edited by Peter.N. on 30 Apr 2011, 13:27, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by yeomills »

Look at the fit in the bulb holder. I had repeated loss of side lights so decided to run without and put in new for MOT. tested bulbs once fitted and were ok replaced front of car and tested again nearside had failed. On investigation I found that the bulb was loos in the holder a litte perswasion with a screwdriver tightened the connection anb both bulbs now work ok.
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Post by Citroenmad »

C5Is don't have a problem with sidelight bulbs, they last a good while if you get good bulbs and try not to leave greasy finger prints on the bulbs.

C5IIs do eat through their sidelights bulbs quite quickly.

Though as said above, quality bulbs from the dealers or even halfords last longer than the cheap ones from motorfactors.
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Post by Jabo »

Citroenmad wrote:Though as said above, quality bulbs from the dealers or even halfords last longer than the cheap ones from motorfactors.
They were Halfords brand. I'm gonna get another pair when I put the car in for MOT then I'll see how long they last.
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Re: C5 sidelight bulb burning out quickly

Post by Jabo »

The second pair are still fine nearly 6 months on. The headlight on that side did require re-alignment for the MOT, perhaps that had something to do with it.
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Re: C5 sidelight bulb burning out quickly

Post by cachaciero »

This does seem to be a recurring theme and as has been said quality is everything. The lamp design is about as cheap as you can get, the connection being an extension of the wire pillars that support the filament. I suspect that if this wire gets too hot where it passes through the envelope it cracks the envelope, air starts to get in, the filament starts to burn which causes the smoky dull appearance followed shortly by failure. The wires obviously get hot from carrying the filament but there is no brass cap heatsink to take the heat away, if at the same time the contact in the socket is poor then there is little or no heatsinking, probably the reverse as the poor contact will generate heat making the situation even worse.
Would be interesting to compare wire diameters with an expensive one and a cheap one, my guess is that the cheap one will have thinner wire.

Personally I fitted LED's over a year ago and have had no more problems, The bluish light combines quite well with the light from the HID's as well :-)

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