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

Georgey dee · Mar 4th, 2010, 17:23

The trouble with that is that the light will fill up with very fine dust over time.

jackthehat.co.uk · Mar 4th, 2010, 18:49

Well, I've had another look at it and the connectors seem fine and everything is clean and tidy. The bulb was indeed a cheap and nasty brand (can't remember the name) so I'm just hoping that it was the cheap bulb that caused the blowout. It's impossible to get a replacement bulb in this useless town I live in so I'll go out hunting for one tomorrow and see how it goes.

andycallaghan · Mar 4th, 2010, 19:33

Definitely use Volvo/Osram bulbs.
I blew 4 bulbs in a week coz they were cheap ones.

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.

Mar 4th, 2010, 17:23	#8
Georgey dee Premier Member Last Online: Feb 14th, 2024 18:36 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norwich View Photos By: Georgey dee	The trouble with that is that the light will fill up with very fine dust over time. __________________ 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, 18:49	#9
jackthehat.co.uk Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2019 11:10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cumbria	Well, I've had another look at it and the connectors seem fine and everything is clean and tidy. The bulb was indeed a cheap and nasty brand (can't remember the name) so I'm just hoping that it was the cheap bulb that caused the blowout. It's impossible to get a replacement bulb in this useless town I live in so I'll go out hunting for one tomorrow and see how it goes. __________________ VOLVO - Dependable, Reliable, Solid Workhorses ...then I woke up!

Mar 4th, 2010, 19:33	#10
andycallaghan VOC Member Last Online: Sep 12th, 2012 21:26 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kent/London	Definitely use Volvo/Osram bulbs. I blew 4 bulbs in a week coz they were cheap ones.

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