Headlamp bulb keeps blowing, any ideas?

jackthehat.co.uk · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:05

Hi folks,

This weeks fault is that my car keeps blowing the driver's side headlamp bulb. It went yesterday, I put a new one in and it blew again today.

Can you think of anything I should check before I waste more money on bulbs? What would cause the bulb to keep blowing?

Mr-V70 · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:10

In my V70 the drivers side head light kept going out. It turned out to be that the plastic connector had broken down and was allowing the wires to touch.

Worth checking?

Failing that could it be faulty bulbs? I know some of the ones I get last for ages and some blow within a month....

Sam

Bill_56 · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:16

I've seen it argued that it's worth spending extra £££ on long-life bulbs as the DRL give them a hard time. But I don't think that's relevant here with a one day bulb -life.

If you bought the two new bulbs in the same shop at the same time, or even nearly the same time, it could be a bad batch of bulbs. I would guess that would be less likely, but still possible, even for the more up-market bulbs.

pdrvolvo · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:21

make sure the bulb is well fixed in as any vibration while the filament is white hot will cause it to break more easily.

peter.

Georgey dee · Mar 4th, 2010, 11:36

Main thing to do with bulbs are ;

-Get Osram or Volvo (Same thing)
-Never touch the glass
-Make sure that you don't scratch on the way in
-Make sure that they fit correctly, that is, make sure they are flush with the fitting and not touching the metal deflector bit in the headlight.

Only if the above is done should you expect them to last longer than 5 minutes.

jackthehat.co.uk · Mar 4th, 2010, 13:13

Thanks guys

Both bulbs were different brands (not sure which brands though). The one I put in yesterday was fitted correctly and the glass had not been touched. I think Sam's idea about the plastic connector is certainly worth investigating. I'll let you know.

Chrismmoore · Mar 4th, 2010, 13:35

Another tip for Volvos with constant on headlamps, is to leave the back cover off during warmer months, to let heat escape

loboh · Oct 12th, 2017, 21:21

Hi the Volvo modified wiring harness produced to help with this from what I can see simply removes the feed to the parking lamps. So the cheapest way is to cut the feed wire to the parking lamp on both sides. I have just fitted the kit to my V70 as a couple of weeks ago mine started to blow nearside headlamp bulbs (3 in a week).

Georgeandkira · Oct 12th, 2017, 22:00

A neighbor and I had this problem.

I found the bulb sockets (for the H7 bulb) burnt almost completely away and its female blade connectors (spade style) were quite loose.

The parallel blades of the bulb prevents shorting out so I could crack the remaining thin plastic away. I crimped the spade connectors so they grabbed tighter and used dielectric grease on all contacts.

This stopped our cars ('05 S60, '02 V70) from eating our low beam headlights.

This harness fix revelation is a stunner-CUT A LAMP FROM A VOLVO? Is that "SAFE"?

What's the part number of this 40 quid kit?

Opening the fixture to vent heat is not the way to go.

loboh · Oct 17th, 2017, 22:50

Hi The part number is 274261 Bulb Kit.

Mar 4th, 2010, 10:05	#1
jackthehat.co.uk Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2019 11:10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cumbria	Headlamp bulb keeps blowing, any ideas? Hi folks, This weeks fault is that my car keeps blowing the driver's side headlamp bulb. It went yesterday, I put a new one in and it blew again today. Can you think of anything I should check before I waste more money on bulbs? What would cause the bulb to keep blowing? __________________ VOLVO - Dependable, Reliable, Solid Workhorses ...then I woke up!

Mar 4th, 2010, 10:21	#4
pdrvolvo Master Member Last Online: Oct 4th, 2012 19:08 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: middlewich	make sure the bulb is well fixed in as any vibration while the filament is white hot will cause it to break more easily. peter. __________________ 244DL-1976/244DL-1983/740GL-1986/940GL-1992/850GLT-1995/V70-1998/S8O-2000/V70-2005/XC90T6 Exec.-2004.

Mar 4th, 2010, 11:36	#5
Georgey dee Premier Member Last Online: Feb 14th, 2024 18:36 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norwich View Photos By: Georgey dee	Main thing to do with bulbs are ; -Get Osram or Volvo (Same thing) -Never touch the glass -Make sure that you don't scratch on the way in -Make sure that they fit correctly, that is, make sure they are flush with the fitting and not touching the metal deflector bit in the headlight. Only if the above is done should you expect them to last longer than 5 minutes. __________________ HAD; 440 GLT(Loved it), 850 GLT auto(Loved it), S70 2.5T(Nothing but problems!), 850R auto(Loved it!!), S60 D5 SE (Nothing but problems!) GOT; S60 D5 SE Lux Auto RAF Marham Track Day Co-Ord'

Mar 4th, 2010, 13:13	#6
jackthehat.co.uk Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2019 11:10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cumbria	Thanks guys Both bulbs were different brands (not sure which brands though). The one I put in yesterday was fitted correctly and the glass had not been touched. I think Sam's idea about the plastic connector is certainly worth investigating. I'll let you know. __________________ VOLVO - Dependable, Reliable, Solid Workhorses ...then I woke up!

Mar 4th, 2010, 13:35	#7
Chrismmoore Junior Member Last Online: Jan 21st, 2018 15:02 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: EGLINTON	Headlight bulbs blowing Another tip for Volvos with constant on headlamps, is to leave the back cover off during warmer months, to let heat escape

Mar 4th, 2010, 10:10	#2
Mr-V70 Senior Member Last Online: Feb 6th, 2019 22:28 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nr. Ashford, Kent	In my V70 the drivers side head light kept going out. It turned out to be that the plastic connector had broken down and was allowing the wires to touch. Worth checking? Failing that could it be faulty bulbs? I know some of the ones I get last for ages and some blow within a month.... Sam

Mar 4th, 2010, 10:16	#3
Bill_56 Premier Member Last Online: Oct 29th, 2021 23:58 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Over the hill	I've seen it argued that it's worth spending extra £££ on long-life bulbs as the DRL give them a hard time. But I don't think that's relevant here with a one day bulb -life. If you bought the two new bulbs in the same shop at the same time, or even nearly the same time, it could be a bad batch of bulbs. I would guess that would be less likely, but still possible, even for the more up-market bulbs.

Oct 12th, 2017, 21:21	#8
loboh New Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2019 21:11 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: basingstoke	Hi the Volvo modified wiring harness produced to help with this from what I can see simply removes the feed to the parking lamps. So the cheapest way is to cut the feed wire to the parking lamp on both sides. I have just fitted the kit to my V70 as a couple of weeks ago mine started to blow nearside headlamp bulbs (3 in a week).

Oct 12th, 2017, 22:00	#9
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Today 11:58 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	A neighbor and I had this problem. I found the bulb sockets (for the H7 bulb) burnt almost completely away and its female blade connectors (spade style) were quite loose. The parallel blades of the bulb prevents shorting out so I could crack the remaining thin plastic away. I crimped the spade connectors so they grabbed tighter and used dielectric grease on all contacts. This stopped our cars ('05 S60, '02 V70) from eating our low beam headlights. This harness fix revelation is a stunner-CUT A LAMP FROM A VOLVO? Is that "SAFE"? What's the part number of this 40 quid kit? Opening the fixture to vent heat is not the way to go.

Oct 17th, 2017, 22:50	#10
loboh New Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2019 21:11 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: basingstoke	Hi The part number is 274261 Bulb Kit.

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