Why do my headlights keep blowing?

[myminirocks Member Find all posts View Profile Close myminirocks]

I'm getting about 2 months out of headlight bulbs and it's really starting to p#%@ me off!

The car originally had Phillips Crystal Vision bulbs, so when one blew I replaced it with more crystal vision bulbs but after 2 packets of them I used the Narva high intensity bulbs, a few packets of them later I go for the Repco 90% bright white ones but they also are blowing!

Things to note:
- I never touch the bulb (or any part of it) with my fingers (I use cotton gloves or a sock if I'm out bush)
- I drive with my lights on (low beam) at all times day and night.
- yes I understand the higher burning/brighter/whiter bulbs are possible more fragile but seriously? 2 months?


Anyone else having this problem? Have you settle on a good bulb?

The Prado is my 7th vehicle, I have NEVER had to replace a headlight before the Prado.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Anyone else having this problem? Have you settle on a good bulb?

Yes the originals. Been going nearly 5 years after trying Philips and Narva. Not as bright but at least don't keep blowing.

Cheers Jim.

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday myminirocks

The Prado is my 7th vehicle, I have NEVER had to replace a headlight before the Prado.

Mine is over 7yrs old with nearly 180k on the clock & still original globes/bulbs!

I do not think it would be an electrical short as they don't normally blow bulbs. (They normally absorb spikes).

Given that you have a second battery and spotties on your rig and given that i wouldn't have a clue how it all was wired up i would first start by doing some simple test first.

#1 Get a multimeter and check the voltage supply to the bulb to make sure that there is not 24v instead of 12-14v (You might have an issue with the dual battery set-up or the way the spotties was wired?).

#2 Check voltage output of the alternator to make sure the regulator is not over charging (Doubt it as you would notice a cooked battery).

#3 Make sure the connectors on the bulb are clean as this can make the bulb run hot! (Given how much you change your globes i doubt it!).

#4 Make sure the headlight housing is secure as this can shake the crap out of the globe and reduce its life span.

#5 Is the ride in your Prado a harder ride than your previous rigs because if on corrugated roads with hard tyres or hard suspension or both would shake the crap out of the elements.

ALSO! .. Is it the same headlight globe that blows every time or both?

Cheers

[Hendo66 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hendo66]

I had the same problem with mine blowin globes mainly because I was increasing the watts which lowers the voltage which causes them to overheat & blow (something like that anyway) go to ARB and they have a wiring loom that rectifies this problem. Really easy to fit by giving it to the guys at work & so far so good. The wiring thingy was about $120 from my failing memory

[myminirocks Member Find all posts View Profile Close myminirocks]

Hey skywalkerrun, some good tips, I'll try them tomorrow. Both sides blow, not just one side. The ride is considerably stiffer and we do about 40/60 off-road/on road these days so there is that.

I did have some dramas with the spotties but once they fell off the problems were solved (1 is somewhere on the NT side of the Plenty highway, the other is between Broome and cape Leveque)

Jim I think you are right, I'll call Toyota tomorrow and price some standard globes because at this rate it's costing me about $35/mth to maintain light, very frustrating!

[brooksy78 Member Find all posts View Profile Close brooksy78]

Buy your globes on ebay!

If I use the higher out put globes I get about 12 months out of a globe.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I get about 18 months out of Philips X-treme Vision and I thought that was bad...

[myminirocks Member Find all posts View Profile Close myminirocks]

Brooksy and d4d do you drive with your low beam on during the day?

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

- I drive with my lights on (low beam) at all times day and night.

Rather than run your headlights during the day, put some LED DRL's on the front and run them instead. They should last forever.

I'd check the voltage at the headlight and monitor it for a while. High voltage kills globes.

[brooksy78 Member Find all posts View Profile Close brooksy78]

Like you I keep my headlights on all day all year round.

I do run a diode off the alternator so my voltage is a bit higher, normally sits around 14.2-14.4 at the battery.

[OziOffroad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OziOffroad]

I run Phillips Plus 50's. 7 years never blown one.

To be fair I rarely run them during the day in good conditions. But I do always when off road so they've seen plenty of corrugations etc.

Mick

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

I put extremes in, one lasted one day! On close examination can't see anything obviously wrong
so not sure why it died, maybe element not welded properly.

Have replaced with another brand, can't remember what but they are still working.

Seems to be a common issue, if you want brighter lights then your going to have to
replace the bulbs more often.

Other option if you have a high compensation alternator is fit a booster diode and use
standard bulbs. They will be brighter but not as much as the higher equivalent wattage types.

Cheers
Leigh

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Brooksy and d4d do you drive with your low beam on during the day?

I used to, looking at DRLs now.

[myminirocks Member Find all posts View Profile Close myminirocks]

I also have the diode voltage booster so maybe my voltage at the globes is a but high.

I have been trying to get approval for an web bar so 'when' that happens ill put the LEDs in the bar for day time driving. It not going to worry about changing too much while i still have the sovereign.

I checked today and the voltage at the bulbs is 13.2, so not 'series' wiring problem doubling to 24v

The headlight itself seems solid as a rock, no problem there.

I think it must be a combo of using the 90-120% higher grade lights, running all the time, with firmer suspension and considerable off road use.

I might try just going with the 50% higher lights and see.

Oh I forgot to mention, it is only ever the low beam that goes, hence why I think it is caused by driving with the lights on at all times. (Our Prado is the nice 'bitumen' color!)

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Headlight globes are designed to run at 14.4V or there abouts, using a booster should have no affect on the service life. The most plausible explanation is simply that the head light bulbs run hotter hence brighter, unfortunately that also means the filaments will be softer and therefore will age quicker and any harsh shock can cause them to fail.

It is simply a trade off, brighter lights less life, I would suspect this is the reason the auto industry when to HID's as they provided brighter lights without the high filament failures.

I would imagine the low beam is more susceptible to failure as it is a lower wattage and therefore the filament will be slightly thinner, as the low beam filament has a hood on it and the hood probably reflects some of the heat back on the filament.

Cheers
Leigh