I've become increasingly aware recently of cars with at least one defective front light (and I don't mean those with fog lamps that won't switch off in clear visibility!), so going home last night (suburban Wolverhampton/Shropshire countryside) I did an inpromptu count. Of the next 100 cars that approached me on the opposite carriageway, 7 had defective front or side lights (that is bulbs blown, rather than being misdirected). 7% seems very high to me. Has anyone else tried this?
Incidentally, there was a higher proportion of blown bulbs in the town than in the countryside. Does this mean that the townies rely on stret lighting and don't notice defective bulbs so readily?
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Week between Xmas & New Year I was just about to leave a car park when a car parked in front of me - 1 headlamp out.
I got out the car and told the driver about the dipped bulb -
Her reply was " I know aboout it........."
"The MOT is not due until February"
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yeah I know what you mean!! I see about 10 everyday, one headlight much brighter than the other, people just don't seem to care.
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The cars with headlights out are those that have body damage from crashing into things when the driver was counting the number of headlights out......
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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You could extend the carp headlight to the ones where, although both work, the reflector is so aged that all you get is a yellow glow that casts a faint beam onto the road just infront of the car. Old Mercs, VWs, and Audis are good for this.
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You could extend the carp headlight to the ones where, although both work, the reflector is so aged that all you get is a yellow glow that casts a faint beam onto the road just in front of the car..
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And the MK 1 pre-face lift Mondeos.
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The police should stop and fine them.. see other thread whingeing about police fining people for moving traffic offences..
madf
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I got out the car and told the driver about the dipped bulb - Her reply was " I know aboout it........."
A common reponse. They are too thick to reply with a simple thank you.
IMO common reasons for defective lights are
Totally unaware of the situation.
Aware. Don't care and unlikely to get caught.
Frightened to explore DIY.
Tried to do it but failed.
Done it before and it is a pain to do.
Its a dealer job and expensive.
Incorrectly fitted so leave it as it is.
Me. I have to take bits and the grill off my Mondeo before I remove the whole units to replace the bulbs.
I carry a full set of bulbs and tools but there are few places at which I would change a bulb away from home at night.
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Yes, and many of these cars are of the age where they surely have bulb checkers. These were on many cars during the early 1980s, I'm sure most cars must have them now. No need for them to find a shop window or back end of a shiny bus!
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I'm sure most cars must have them now.
I think you'll find they don't.
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>> I'm sure most cars must have them now. I think you'll find they don't.
Don't think that i ever had a car with one of those. I've had 9, varying makes.
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I have one now. Its my first.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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My first too.
98 Mondeo Ghia X
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My first too. 98 Mondeo Ghia X
God bless Ford, they removed them from the 99 onwards Ghia X's.
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You used to be able to change a headlight bulb by flicking off a couple of springclips and pulling out the connector - a ten minute DIY job without tools. Recently designed cars have the lighting units so inaccessible that they often require a trip to a dealer. It's little wonder that some drivers put it off for as long as possible.
A friend's Audi had to have the front bumper unbolted to allow the mechanic access.
Until all cars have low-maintenance gas-discharge or LED headlamps this will remain a disgraceful situation.
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To change a Headlamp bulb,sidelight or indicator i have to remove the headlight assembly completly this requires a star headed screwdriver(not included) with the car and also that the headlamp is checked for aim !!
this against the rear cluster two plastic wing nuts which take seconds to undo
I always check mine (taught by the Driving instructor) and how meny check before they jump in and set off ?
Also carry a spare bulb.
I flash those who have a bulb out but this has little effect and can't be done if in a group of cars or If I am following a car.
what is needed is a buzzer which will be on all the time that the car has a failed headlight or a nice big red flashing light on the dash !! , this will prompt the driver into action.
Or Like one Jag owner found with a car which would book it's self into the dealership for repair aranged an apointment the car went in for the work for the owner to find it was only a defective headlight!!
The reason most don't notice in a town centre is a well lit centre or built uparea can have lights with bulbs that produce at least 400watts of light, try turning off your headlights in a builtup area with well designed and frequent streetlamps - you will notice hardly any difference if at all.
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What about when your "low-maintenace" HID has a ballast blow. Not that uncommon, possibly more common than a headlamp blowing, and as it's integrated into the entire headlamp unit (including gyro leveller, reflector et al) has to be back ordered from France then fitted. That'll be £400 + 1hour labour (3 y.o. mk1 C5 - total junk should have been scrapped).
The new Passat has a removeable bulb/ballast combination - hate to think what a complete unit would cost otherwise (bi-xenon with dynamic curve lighting and cornering lighting). Perhaps they're learning they are not quite fit-and forget. HID's last *upto* 5 or 10 years, depending on who you ask, but ballasts may last more or less - many have had good old H4s last 20 years. Now LEDs, a different story, but I bet the control circuitry will be its achilles heel.
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A friend's Audi had to have the front bumper unbolted to allow the mechanic access. Until all cars have low-maintenance gas-discharge or LED headlamps this will remain a disgraceful situation.
If you had good access to change headlight bulbs you'd probably be just as scathing about the unnecessary excess space under the bonnet in other areas, or the excess length of the car, or the excess height of the bonnet, or the ugly styling, or the absence of some of your desired under-bonnet goodies or ........
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L\'escargot.
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No I wouldn't L'escargot. I cannot believe that it is beyond the wit or wisdom of car manufacturers to revert to the easy replacement of bulbs without tools or specialised knowledge.
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