v8bertha Posted October 8, 2009 Posted October 8, 2009 The gods of weirdy electricalness are not looking down on me in an approving way Some time ago I posted up about a very peculiar problem with my '98 Freelander. The investigations showed that part of the brake light bulb filament had bent over and was touching the tail light filament. This resulted in the car not being able to accelerate if the lights were on because the ecu thought the brakes were also on. Very strange. Anyway, since then I've had to change that very same brake light bulb on a multitude of occasions. If I put a new bulb in, the brake light bit will blow within a couple of days. It's costing me a fortune in bulbs! The tail light continues to work fine. What sort of weird black magic stuff is going on here? Is a simple short likely to cause this sort of thing to happen and if so how does one go about finding it? Or is it likely to be something altogether more sinister? The advice of the clever people would be muchly appreciated Cheers Dan Quote
v8bertha Posted October 9, 2009 Author Posted October 9, 2009 Stick an LED bulb in? Errrr... how will that help me to locate the actual problem? Quote
FridgeFreezer Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 Errrr... how will that help me to locate the actual problem? Well, it won't blow*. Aside from that, I know nuffink about this 'cos I don't have ETC. * = Edited to add: It shouldn't blow, if it does you really do have a problem! Quote
errol209 Posted October 10, 2009 Posted October 10, 2009 <mad hair professor voice> I sink ve hav to tek a step bak unt consider vy a 12v bulb in a 12v systim vould blow, ja? </mad hair prof voice - can't be arsed anymore> Filament bulbs go (in my experience of cars, houses and theatre lighting) because they are old (mechanical failure), because they are thumped when hot (ditto), because they are switched on from cold to often (inrush or cold shock), because they are run at too high a voltage (stupidity (110V PAR cans on 240V ...) or badly regulated generator) or because they are cheap sh*t. The first and fourth don't apply (new 12V bulbs in a 12V* car), but frequent on-offs, thumps and cheap bulbs are still runners? *Your alternator is OK, isn't it? I ask cos if it were putting out a high voltage, i.e. the regulator pack is kaput or the battery sense wire is broken, then repeatedly turning a cold (low resistance) filament on at an over-voltage would make them pop Quote
v8bertha Posted October 12, 2009 Author Posted October 12, 2009 Errol... You're barmy! I suppose it is possible the bulbs are poo... I bought a box of 10 and they have all come form that same box so far. Maybe I'll go to Halfrauds and purchase some of their highly over-expensive bulbs just to test... and then when it blows I can take it back and complain!! I presume the alternator is ok as I'm not having problems with any other bulbs, only the nearside brake light. But I will dig out my volt-measuring device and see whats going on. Cheers Dan Quote
errol209 Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 Errol... You're barmy! Vy sank you I'd say sh*t bulbs based on your further info. Good luck! Quote
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