great.. blew ANOTHER bulb!

[red-i]

ok i just had another bulb go. it's a stock one. This is like the 5th bulb to go on me in the past 5 or 6 months. What's fucked is that, in the past week, I've seen 4 protege5s with the drivers side bulb gone. is this some sort of electrical issue????? i've already gone to the dealer once to get them to replace the driver's side.

[CrazyCaker]

I after blowing a few bulbs myself, I decided to take a look at the wiring. As it turns out, I had flipped over the harness plug that goes into the bulb. If you check your owners manual you will see that the plug goes on facing a certain way. The white plug is sort of shaped like a T, make sure that it is facing the proper direction. Also make sure that the bulb is in the correct way, that is why there is a flat side on the base of it. Finally, make sure that when you reinstall the rubber boot that the arrow on it is on the top, and make sure to push it firmly around the bulb where the white plug attaches. After making sure of all these things I have not had to replace another bulb yet.

[Bumble G]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (CrazyCaker @ May 12 2004,09:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I after blowing a few bulbs myself, I decided to take a look at the wiring.  As it turns out, I had flipped over the harness plug that goes into the bulb.  If you check your owners manual you will see that the plug goes on  facing a certain way.  The white plug is sort of shaped like a T, make sure that it is facing the proper direction.  Also make sure that the bulb is in the correct way, that is why there is a flat side on the base of it.  Finally, make sure that when you reinstall the rubber boot that the arrow on it is on the top, and make sure to push it firmly around the bulb where the white plug attaches.  After making sure of all these things I have not had to replace another bulb yet.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
There is no right or wrong way....well there shouldn't be. If there was a difference they would have made the harness plug so you cant put it on wrong.

Take a look at the fan harness it only goes on one way and you can not reverse it. That's cause the fan will run the wrong way if you messed up the connection.

A light bulb is just a resistance. When you flow current through a resistor polarity does not matter.

I'm thinking it has to do with the lights power and ground going through the DRL circuitry. It's kinda freeky the way it's done.

I was thinking of running an auxillary relay and wiring strait  off the battery to power the headlights.

[red-i]

is there anything the dealer can do about this? i have a set of PIAAs that i wanna put in, but i'll probably get the stock one replaced before i swap them (that way i have a spare set).

however, considering how many p5's i've seen with dead drivers side lights, it seems to me that there's something going on here.

i got pulled over yesterday by the po po for having my one light out. i got off without a ticket but i need to get it replaced soon.

[CrazyCaker]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Bumble G @ May 12 2004,10:13)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A light bulb is just a resistance. When you flow current through a resistor polarity does not matter.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
But, this also what I thought. That is why I over looked it before, until I got pissed and said 'fuck this, I am going to put them in the EXACT same way the factory does' and no problems now for over 3 months. So take it for what it's worth, you can try it or not, I don't really care I am just sharing what I have found. Btw I am using Osram SilverStars.

[ChopstickHero]

don't let anything touch the bulb when installing the bulb into the headlight housing. make sure the plug and rubber boot are on securely.

when i park, i pull my handbrake up before i turn off my lights. this avoids going into DRL mode. also, i ALWAYS turn off my headlights BEFORE i turn off my car. conversely, i make sure my headlights are OFF before i start my car. i've done this with my Litech bulbs and they have lasted me 11 months (bought them last June).

[Bumble G]

I'm thinking there is some kind of current surge going on when ever the lights go on/off.

When I get some time I'm gona measure the voltage and current draw of the lights.

[red-i]

good idea bumble.

as for me, I try to always engage the parking brake before shutting the lights off. the bulb that just went was replaced about 2 months back, by the dealer.

[CrazyCaker]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Bumble G @ May 12 2004,11:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'm thinking there is some kind of current surge going on when ever the lights go on/off.

When I get some time I'm gona measure the voltage and current draw of the lights.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Can anyone answer this question? Why is it that my stock bulbs lasted over 1 yr. and where still working when I took them out, but when I changed them to aftermarket bulbs they blew in about 2 months? Here is another catch... I replaced the blown bulb with my stock that I had orginally taken out, only to have that blow in less then a month!!! I know for a fact that I DID NOT touch any part of these bulbs. But now that I have done what I said in my previous post everything seems to be fine. Any ideas? I for one don't buy that there is some sort of surge that is causing these problems, if there was the stock bulbs would have blown in no time and I'm sure Mazda would have had MANY bitching customers about it.

[ChopstickHero]

of course, cheap aftermarket bulbs are of lesser quality than those of the stock Mazda bulbs. so naturally, one would assume that those bulbs would be easier to blow. i've blew my stock bulbs after 2 years (it was during the winter, so i'm not sure if the -20 weather had anything to do with it... probably not).

[jsywong]

i don't know if this help or not but here goes, i never had a bulb blew on me but my car was making some whistling noise when traveling at 120 (it still is), when i took it back to the deal, they checked the alternator for me and said that it was over charging. they changed it for me under warrenty, but this might be the problem with all the blowing bulbs....

[CrazyCaker]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ChopstickHero @ May 12 2004,1:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">of course, cheap aftermarket bulbs are of lesser quality than those of the stock Mazda bulbs.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I don't use cheap aftermarket bulbs. I use Osram (which are the same as OEM bulbs), but SilverStars. So this still leads to my original question.

[ChopstickHero]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jsywong @ May 12 2004,1:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i don't know if this help or not but here goes, i never had a bulb blew on me but my car was making some whistling noise when traveling at 120 (it still is), when i took it back to the deal, they checked the alternator for me and said that it was over charging. they changed it for me under warrenty, but this might be the problem with all the blowing bulbs....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
i've had a whistling noise since day 1 when going over 120km/h ... it has nothing to do with the bulbs.

could excessive vibration cause the bulb filament to prematurely break? an improperly installed bulb can allow for movement and too much vibration.

[red-i]

well i'm gonna drop into dufferin mazda tomorrow to get the bulb changed (might as well), and get them to look at the rear right brake. something there is making a little creaking noise.. only notice it when the wheel is spinning slowly. prolly just dirt built up in the brake and causing a bit of rubbing or something but might as well get it checked out.

[Bumble G]

the oem bulbs in the P5 are OSRAM 64210L (L stands for Long Life). This came right off the back of the blown OEM bulb I took out.

the life rating is from 200h to 960h. If you used them for 1 hour each day they would last you from 200 days to 960days, or about 3/4 year to 2.6 years.

Mazda warranty on the bulbs is 3 years 80K. (this is what I was told) is it right ???

Crazy- I don't know the answer, but that's why I'm gona check the voltage and current thing.

I don't want to shell out $10 or so per bulb every 2 months to a year.

[RobbieTheStiff]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ChopstickHero @ May 12 2004,2:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jsywong @ May 12 2004,1:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i don't know if this help or not but here goes, i never had a bulb blew on me but my car was making some whistling noise when traveling at 120 (it still is), when i took it back to the deal, they checked the alternator for me and said that it was over charging. they changed it for me under warrenty, but this might be the problem with all the blowing bulbs....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
i've had a whistling noise since day 1 when going over 120km/h ... it has nothing to do with the bulbs.

could excessive vibration cause the bulb filament to prematurely break?  an improperly installed bulb can allow for movement and too much vibration.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Totally off-topic, but there is a TSB for the whistling noise. Apparently it's caused by an improper seal at the top of the windshield. I haven't gone to get this fixed yet, but they just wedge some foam in the gap and it's supposed to fix it.

[MP5]

I just replaced them after I got pissed with the silverstars. 1 year warranty so pretty much free bulbs for life cuz I bought mine in late Feb. of this year and both already blew. CT replaced them for me with no problems. And I get a nice bright-white light. Looks good and they will probably never last a year so I never have to buy bulbs.

[redfyre]

I've never noticed one side blowing more often then the other. I find the Eurolites blow on me at about 8 months and the NGTec bulbs I tried once blew after 2 weeks. My OEM bulbs did not blow in the 8 months I had them before I started installing aftermarket bulbs. Currently I have Silverstars in and it's been great.

[jsywong]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (MP5 @ May 13 2004,12:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I just replaced them after I got pissed with the silverstars. 1 year warranty so pretty much free bulbs for life cuz I bought mine in late Feb. of this year and both already blew. CT replaced them for me with no problems. And I get a nice bright-white light. Looks good and they will probably never last a year so I never have to buy bulbs.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Tom, i think the one year warranty is from ur original purchase, they do not extend ur warranty if ur replace it under warrenty.

[CrazyCaker]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jsywong @ May 13 2004,11:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I just replaced them after I got pissed with the silverstars. 1 year warranty so pretty much free bulbs for life cuz I bought mine in late Feb. of this year and both already blew. CT replaced them for me with no problems. And I get a nice bright-white light. Looks good and they will probably never last a year so I never have to buy bulbs.<span id='postcolor'>
Tom, i think the one year warranty is from ur original purchase, they do not extend ur warranty if ur replace it under warrenty.[/quote]
That is correct.  Once one year from your orinigal purchase date is up, you are SOL.  Good thing with CTC though is that you don't need a receipt to exchange, so I guess they'll never know how long you've had them.

[redfyre]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (CrazyCaker @ May 13 2004,11:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That is correct.  Once one year from your orinigal purchase date is up, you are SOL.  Good thing with CTC though is that you don't need a receipt to exchange, so I guess they'll never know how long you've had them.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
That's so sneaky, like something I would do! http://ib2.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[ProBoy]

I complained about my lights constantly going a while back.

So Mazda did a complete inspect of the lighting system.

Turns out it has somehting to do with the ballast or something of that line.

The ballast was cleaned and adjusted and after the bulb was replaced, the lights are a little brighter now and no problems since.

[red-i]

interesting... if another goes i'm definately gonna get them to look into it further.

[Diddy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (CrazyCaker @ May 12 2004,09:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As it turns out, I had flipped over the harness plug that goes into the bulb.  If you check your owners manual you will see that the plug goes on  facing a certain way.  The white plug is sort of shaped like a T, make sure that it is facing the proper direction.  [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
joe..got any pics of how u'r harnesses are connected? i have yet to have a problem w/ that, but i wanna see how the OEM setup look like..

[leungwingkei]

I haven't noticed many P5 with their headlights blown, and mine have lasted 2 years and still going when I swapped them out for Osram Silverstars.

Joe, how do you find the Osram SS? At first they were super bright, but after 1/2 year, they kinda dim out, or is it because I just got use to them?