Headlight globes keep blowing - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

The Goodz · 06-20-2002, 19:43

About 3 or so weeks ago one of my headlight globes blew. So I replaced it, no worries. About 2 weeks later it blew again. They were cheap globes that I used so I thought that was why. Then I bought a pair of xenon globes and after about 3 days one of those blew. Now I am really pissed off. What's going on? The lights don't seem to flicker on and off or anything like that, could it be it's not getting enough voltage? I haven't really had much chance to get an in depth look at it, but any ideas?

Alex

gmanEA · 06-20-2002, 20:07

Ive had two blow recently too

XplodEd EA · 06-20-2002, 20:14

I've had a few bulbs that I thought were blown but there was no damage to the filament, I ended up just jiggling the connector and they all worked again, I've got 2 sets of spare globes now

06-20-2002, 20:17

What sort of globes? H4? H1? What type of headlight? What power globes? Are there relays in the circuit?

My experience with Xenon globes is not good - I don't find them any better than quality brand name QH globes - Hella and Philips seem to be the best. The cheaper Narva (including Narva xenon) have not lasted long in my cars. High wattage globes will not last long in small headlights - OK in AUs. I've found even though the lenses are plastic the largeish front area manages to disperse the heat adequately - I run Philips 55/100 H4s in my AU.

Troutman · 06-20-2002, 20:26

The Goodz, this is off topic but you said you were having trouble tracking down H1 Xenon globes - well I saw them at Autobarn in the city. Some of the globes they had were incredibly expensive, though.

PS what does H1, H4, etc mean?

The Goodz · 06-20-2002, 21:27

They're H1 globes, in ellipsoid projector headlights. It's a pretty small enclosure. I ended up finding these xenons at Autobarn in Mentone, $30 for the pair. They are 100W and yes there are relays and all that. You could be right about the heat, it might be that, but I dunno. I hate normal halogens as the light is too yellow and is very hard to see.

Jack, H1, H4 etc is the type of globe. H1 globes are only one filament, so they are only of one wattage. Usually used when there is no high beam option for that particular reflector. H4 globes have to filaments, that's what the Falcons use, they have a low beam filament and a high beam filament.

Alex

Troutman · 06-20-2002, 21:33

Ah thanks for that. The next time I have a spare $30 I'll look into it

galapogos01 · 06-20-2002, 22:01

when this was happening to me there was water getting into the headlight... so double check the seals.

The Goodz · 06-20-2002, 22:51

I checked for water and that's not a problem. It's the headlight that is working that has water in it... But only in the highbeam part, not the low beam bit.

Alex

fUSiON · 06-20-2002, 23:50

Firstly, never *ever* touch the glass of the bulb with your bare hands, if you do that the bulb will blow either instantly or within weeks..

all bulbs, h1-h4 should not be changed to a 100w which what seems most people are doing in their fords.

Use 50/55w bulbs only otherwise they WILL blow quite often, "SOMETIMES" you can get away with it, but not very often.

So what i could think is your using to much wattage or your touchin the bulb with your hands or skin! :)