Will low headlamp blow if driven with just 1 side (psgr) installed? click dash, probs - Ford Forums

bent · 04-28-2008, 16:42

I have a 1997 Escort which uses #9007 low/high headlamp bulbs. Soon
(days/week) after the psgr side's low beam went out the other side went. The
high beams were unaffected. So I bought and changed bulbs on both sides.
Within a day or two the psgr side was out again and only the driver side
regular low beam worked. To be honest I didn't notice if both sides worked
for any short period of time when I first installed them because I didn't
realize I had to release the parking brake. Then I took the good low bulb
from working driver side and put in in the psgr side and it did work there.
And the dead bulb from the psgr side psgr did NOT work at the same time on
the driver side. So I then took the broken low bulb right out of the car and
drove 1/3 mile to the store to get another bulb. On the way I guess it was a
circuit breaker or some electronics that was clicking loudly like crazy
under the psgr dash (first and last I ever heard it). I installed the third
new 9007 on the driver side in the parking lot, and when I got home (2/3
mile total) that new bulb in the driver side was the only bulb working; the
psgr was blown again. It could have blown on the way to the store.

If both the 9007 bulbs did work when I bought and installed them, then that
could mean the car's electronics could be blowing the psgr side bulb, even
if I blew one 9007 driving with just a single. If however I bought a bad
bulb the first time, and then when I switched the good one over it blew
because I drove to store with just that one side installed, then maybe I yet
just have to buy another 9007 bulb and have both installed at same time.

AN ANSWER TO THIS ONE QUESTION COULD PROVIDE MY ENTIRE SOLUTION

>If I drive with only one of the two front headlight bulbs installed is it
>logical to conclude that the other side will typically burn out?
>(psgr/drv)

OR IS IT:

Could it be a fuse or something else simple bad somewhere, or is there poss
a problem with the electronics? My best case is if there is no problem with
the electronics; no repairs/diagnostics.

**360ci** · 05-04-2008, 05:29

It shouldn't matter if you have one low beam burned and the other working. I've had many a headlights fail over the years and never had a problem as you specified. I'd suspect that it's electrical related.

rescue76 · 05-14-2008, 02:44

Vibration..........T'is all it is.

Your car wiring is not effecting the lights.

When you turn on your headlight switch that sends a low amp trigger to two relays that spit independently to both headlights.

Same when you click the high beams..power is switched from the low beam relays to the highbeam relays.

The 1.5/2.0 fords are notorious for vibrations. the filament in the bulbs are being shaken loose causing them to go out.

You are either gonna have to buy some very good probably expensive bulbs..or new motor mounts.

One other thing it could be...is moisture building up in the headlight housing..but then the bulb would just shatter.