Failed Headlights

[Paul_W]

This morning I found that my headlights weren't working. They had been fine last night. I checked the bulbs and 1 had blown but the other looks fine. My first thought was to check the fuse. Then I found that thers's a separate for for each side. I checked anyway and they're fine too. Is it common for 1 failed bulb to cause the opposite side to stop working? Every single other light on the car works fine, just the dipped headlights have failed.

 

[Paul_W]

UPDATE: Would you believe it? Both bulbs had failed at the exact same time. You wouldn't know the other had blown to look at it. The filament still looks intact. I've never known 2 bulbs to go together like that. Oh well!

 

[Dodson]

ha ha was just about to say they both must have gone.

I always change them in pairs anyway as sods law says that the other willgo soon after the first

 

[Paul_W]

Yeah. Usually if I have 1 bulb blown I replace them both too. At the moment I've put the cheapo bulbs in that came with the car just incase there is some fault somewhere that caused a surge to make them both go. Although, they were about 2 yrs old and got a lot of use. Pretty good going for Osram Silverstars. Got some more on order though.

 

[Nathanio]

Cheapy bulbs don't do well with the intial surge from turning the lights on. Get some decent bulbs in and get some decent light.

My girlfriends drivers side bulb failed on the way back from me picking it up! THat was an Osram Silverstar too!

 

[Paul_W]

The ones that had blown were silverstars. I know these and Philips Vision Plus generally don't last as long as ordinary halogen bulbs but I still say that the higher expence is worth the extra light.

Already decided that my next car WILL have HIDs

 

[Nathanio]

HIDs are awesome!

 

[daveyonthemove]

Check the earth connection on the inside of the headlight casing. i had probs with my passenger side a week or 2 back and when i opened the cover to look inside the earth connection had come loose and was touching but not connected. Every bump i had caused my lights to flicker. put it back on properly and its fine again. Cost nothing to look