Why do my bulbs keep blowing???

[Sisson]

As above really... im fed up with changing my bulbs, at the moment, my Main beam RH has gone, so has the Indicator and the LH sidelight and LH dipped beam,

About 2 weeks ago a replaced both sidelights

and an indicator bulb was replaced...

Someone mentioned a voltage regulator???? could this be my problem?

Or are my coilovers shaking the fook out of my bulbs, All rear bulbs are fine tho??

Help me!!!!

EDIT: sometimes if i hit the headlamp the light will come on, ive checked all of the wiring and connectors and they're all secure???

 

[MattMK4IC]

theres no bare wire anywhere thats shorting it is there???? just a thought..... or wires comin out of the connectors

 

[Nath.]

if the bulbs that you are fitting are not good quality ones than vibration from slamming the bonnet down or as you say hard suspension could be your problem

 

[Sisson]

ive bought "cheap one" from ebay, and had ones from SEAT and philips ones...

 

[J@mes]

be careful when fitting new bulbs!

make sure ur fingers dont touch the actual bulb, otherwise u will get natural oil on ur fingers and this will make the bulb blow when its hot... if u touch a bulb give it a whipe with meths and a clean cloth

 

[Sisson]

nope... i always take extra care with the bulbs, i never touch the glass part,

any more ideas?

 

[J@mes]

i assume ur car is under warranty still? go to SEAT!

 

[muddyboots]

Get your voltage regulator checked (it's usually on the back of the alternator).

It's there to limit the voltage produced by the alternator while the engine is running.
If you have a voltmeter, check the battery voltage with engine running and rev it up a few times, voltage should stay in the region of 14-14.5volts regardless of engine revs.
If the regulator goes, voltage will increase - with RPM I think - and start blowing things (like....bulbs!). I had one go on an old Golf once, was wondering why my normally dim headlights were suddenly light footie pitch floodlights !!

 

[muddyboots]

By the way, if it is the regulator, you can buy them separately, I know 'cos I bought one for mine whilst trying to track down another problem.

 

[Sisson]

ill have a look later..

 

[Housey80]

I've got the Ibiza FR and I've had to replace two headlights, a sidelight and an indicator and mine is still basically standard. When I asked at the dealership they mentioned something about cheap bulbs being used in assembly.

So far touch wood I've not had to replace any of the bulbs that I put in so maybe?

 

[EddyH]

I had this problem when I first got the Ibiza, I was replacing with halfords own and they kept blowing. Then switched to Bosch and no problems since.

 

[Sisson]

Right then...

Last night i took both headlights out... checked all the wiring and it seemed fine,

Battery voltage is 14.4v and doesn't rise with the revs...

All new bulbs fitted, working fine, i drive home from work, check again and my passenger sidelight is very dim???

The only problem i can see is the sidelight bulb holders have got very hot and melted slightly... couild this be causing my problems... DO i need a new headlight???

 

[Red ibiza]

think you need it looking at, as a 5w bulb shouldn't get that hot it melts it holder.

 

[andycalvia]

Im constantly replacing the brake lights on mine, replaced about 6 bulbs in probably as 4 months

 

[Nath.]

Right then...

Last night i took both headlights out... checked all the wiring and it seemed fine,

Battery voltage is 14.4v and doesn't rise with the revs...

All new bulbs fitted, working fine, i drive home from work, check again and my passenger sidelight is very dim???

The only problem i can see is the sidelight bulb holders have got very hot and melted slightly... couild this be causing my problems... DO i need a new headlight???

you havn't been putting super bright chav blue side light bulbs in have you?

cos they get hotter than the standard 5w jobs

unfortunately I am speaking from experience.... but not on my own car thank christ

 

[Sisson]

Blue bulbs have been in my car yes... but at the moment there just white...???

maybe i have ****ed the holders up.

 

[Sisson]

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=97&strPageHistory=cat

Are these ok?

Bit expensive tho???

or these from ebay? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Clear-501-Capless-Bulbs_W0QQitemZ8039127176QQihZ019QQcategoryZ72233QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Anywhere where i can get just standard clear jobbies, good quality?

 

[Nath.]

as long as they are 5w then they should be ok

my mates 2005 astra had the blue sidelights "20w" I think and he needed 2 new headlights cos the extra heat melted the bulb holders and also part of the reflectors....loads of money cos of some £9.99 blue bulbs

also when I saw the state of the holders it was easy to see a short circuit or flickering of the bulbs happening

 

[Red ibiza]

Sisson i've got those phillips ones and there fine. Look alright i only put them in because i got them free!