What’s with the crappy electrics on these things ?

[Benscab123]

I’m changing headlight bulbs more often than my undies................. LITERALLY !
I’ve tried decent, rubbish, inbetweenies and they all only last a few days at best.
Could this be related to the previous owner changing the rear number plate lights to led ?

[myglaren]

Measure the voltages at the bulb sockets. Over voltage will decrease their life substantially.

[Peter.N.]

Check the charge rate too, you should have around 14.4 volts across the battery with the engine running, much more and you have an alternator problem.

The only two things that normally cause bulb failure are over voltage and vibration.

I always use 'Ring' bulbs, pretty cheap on ebay and I don't think I have ever had one fail.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

I’m changing headlight bulbs more often than my undies................. LITERALLY !
I’ve tried decent, rubbish, inbetweenies and they all only last a few days at best.
Could this be related to the previous owner changing the rear number plate lights to led ?

I would check the rest of your rear light in the lamp clusters. If the previous owner has changed any others for LEDs, there could well be an over voltage situation as of course LEDs use significantly less power and often require load resistors. A bit of invesigative work is needed I think.

[van ordinaire]

The C15 & red Cherokee have LED sidelights & rear/brake lights (as have most of my vehicles for the last 20 years) - & there's never been an issue with headlights, not even with high wattage bulbs, which are known to have shorter lives.

I agree with Peter re voltage & vibration although I do see a remarkable number of modern cars with only one headlight (because they can be so difficult to change?) - even more with one foglight (if only they knew how silly that looks) so do wonder about quality now. Even el cheapos should last a good few months, no, there's definitely something amiss here.

[Activa TCT]

Bad battery that doesn't absorb electric shocks. System relies on it to smoothen out the power delivery. May also be the alternator's fault

[andy5]

The only two things that normally cause bulb failure are over voltage and vibration.

Or water ingress

I had a crack across the front and to start with didn't realise it was letting in a small amount of moisture.

Waterproof tape could have lasted years, but after a while I got a replacement.

[Peter.N.]

Yes it could, hadn't thought about that. Sudden cooling will crack the glass.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

As this was going way all the non-relevant lighting posts have been moved here:

Lighting Chit Chat

[Filberton]

Silly question .... but what type of bulbs are we talking about?
Halogen, tungsten, gas discharge, LED?

Fitting LED elsewhere on the vehicle will make no difference but i agree over voltage will.

For halogen remember touching the quartz glass with fingers or getting them damp can shorten life.

Tungsten/halogen (ie filament bulbs) vibration can knock out bulbs (as older motor-cyclists will know).

I agree on voltage checks (testing across battery with engine at max revs should not go above about 14v or you may have an alternator problem).

If voltage ok you could try the older Tungsten Bulbs or LED headlight bulbs even if just short term to see if any better?

Mike

[GiveMeABreak]

They will - if they are are not of sufficient load. LEDs consume far less load and can affect the 'bulb out' system. Rapid flashing is one such symptom of this and LEDs should not be fitted where halogens are intended for headlamps. braking, fogs, tail or indicator lights as they won't meet type approval.

[van ordinaire]

Sorry, can't agree, simply because it's not been my experience & for years now many cars have had halogen headlights & LED high level brake lights, at very least, as standard.

[GiveMeABreak]

You’ve not read the thread properly and taken my answer out of context.

I’m talking about when people replace halogens for LEDs when the lighting system on the vehicle is not designed for LEDs! This WILL result in bulb out warnings or rapid bulb flashing as they are not designed for the electrical system, unless the user also fits load resistors.

That’s why I suggested the OP check the other lights to see if a previous owner has replaced them with LEDs - and if you read the previous posts, you would see that the rear number plate lights have already been swapped for LEDs.

LEDs were not fitted to this vehicle....... it’s thenlens that is made to look like it has LEDs for effect only.

Also, although you may think high level brake lights are fitted with LEDs, on most models (including this one) they are not. They just look like it but in fact take standard W5W bulbs in the high level brake light......


And here’s the evidence in case you won’t accept my answer.....

W5W bulbs on a 2010.

[myglaren]

[Paul-R]

Very impressive but I kinda think they won't pass the Construction and Use regulations!