C5 reversing lights melted

[nicholgd]

Hi I have a Citroen C5 VTX X7 Tourer 58 plate for the last 6 months. I have never been happy with the brightness of the reversing lights ,but have never done any thing about it. A few days ago I noticed that both reversing lights had stopped working. Once I removed the boot rear light clusters I found that I could not remove the bulb holder from either light cluster. Looking closer I was amazed to find that the inner "led" lens had comprehensively melted on to the reversing light bulb and set solid. With a bit of brute force and a dremel I have managed to remove the melted lens and bulb. Also had to remove some of the LED lenses as some plastic had melted across them The bulbs fitted were 24 watts not the 21 watts specified. I must say I am surprised how much the lenses have melted for only an increase of 3 watts. I did not fit the 24 watt bulbs they must have been fitted by the previous owner. Reversing lights are working ok now with the Led lens removed and the correct bulbs fitted.

[TodiCroitor]

I've noticed something similarly with my car and when I checked it out it seems that the socket power had started melting due to poor connections with those pins.


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[Gibbo2286]

This is quite a common problem with electrical components in plastic casings, poor connections cause heat and heat melts the plastic around the connection.

The first one I had was years ago on a Renault 18 dashboard switch (demister I think), there have been many more since.

[GiveMeABreak]

I changed mine on the X7 as they were too dim - have a look at the result in a previous post I did - you can see the difference putting in some good quality LEDs made - although it's not as bright as a lighthouse, the colour is far crisper:
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 15#p474790

These will of course release less heat than a conventional bulb, so will solve the melting problem. Links toi the LEDs I used are in the post.

[nicholgd]

The remains of the two LED lenses. The white bits are the remains of the glass envlope of the lamp.

Side view of light cluster


Top view of light assembly

[Stickyfinger]

Jeeze !

[GiveMeABreak]

It just goes to show what a difference 3 watts can do! At least you won't have that problem if you fit LEDs as they run cooler (as long as they are within the same wattage).

[Hell Razor5543]

Make sure if you go the route of LEDs that they are compatible with your C5. If they are not it can cause weird issues with the CANBUS, from what I have read.

[GiveMeABreak]

Although the C5 doesn't have bulb out warnings, just go for CANBUS in any LEDs you choose - the newer type have built in resistors to prevent the behaviour exhibited by the first gen LEDs - typically rapid flashing. I've replaced all my interior door, pavement lights, front and rear underseat footwell bulbs with the new W5W blade type LEDs and they are great. Sidelights have also been upgraded with these to give a crisp white light more in line with the Xenons; I've replaced the DRLs with LEDs and the reversing lights. I've left the Stop, brake and front and rear fogs as they are for obvious reasons.

If you have the Xenon headlights, the angular lighting is an HP19 bulb - but on the non-Xenon models the angular lights have a normal H7 bulb. So if / when my angular lighting goes, I will be replacing those with LEDs too - but these will definately need resistors - unless by the time these go they have developed some newer LEDs that have enough resistance built in.