If the low beam lamps on a car often burn out, it doesn’t matter whether one or all of them at the same time, then the first thing to do is measure the voltage in the on-board network.
This is not difficult to do - take a multimeter, set the measurement threshold to no more than 20 volts, start the car, connect the black wire of the device to the minus, and the red wire to the positive of the battery. The readings should not exceed 14.5V.
There is no point in taking readings directly on the lamp since they will still be less there (voltage loss on the connectors and in the wires).
If the voltage is higher than 14.5 volts, then the battery may be overcharged, keep this in mind.
What are lamps afraid of?
Any low or high beam lamps on a car will burn out prematurely if:
- Dirt got on them;
- You pawed them with your hands;
- You often drive on bad roads and the car constantly shakes;
- You close the hood with force, for example, throw it, and vibration is transmitted to the nearby lamps;
- Cold - at low temperatures, the resistance in the wiring decreases, which means the starting current increases, which is why the low beam lamp may burn out when starting the engine in severe frost (read the continuation of the topic below);
- Voltage drop and increased current.
Poor fastening of the headlight or lamp
If the car has been in a minor accident and the headlight mount is damaged, it will begin to vibrate. Incandescent lamps do not tolerate vibrations well. Sooner or later, the spiral, and even a heated one, simply breaks off. Eventually, the light bulb goes out forever.
The same applies to poor lamp mounting. Unfortunately, on modern cars, replacing a light bulb is a very difficult procedure. Due to this inconvenience, many car owners install them incorrectly. Because of this, the lamp receives additional vibration.
Which lamps burn out more often?
There is no need to hope that expensive products from Philips burn out less often than from the Chinese “Mayak”; it happens, just the opposite.
Here the problem should be looked for not in the quality of the product or in the manufacturer, but in the operating features of the car’s electronics and its design. We should also not forget about a number of factors that affect the service life of lighting fixtures, but more about them below.
Low beam lamps located on the driver's left tend to burn out more often than those on the right.
This is due to the fact that the wires going from the switching unit to the headlights have different lengths, and, accordingly, different resistance (R).
From physics we know that the amount of current is inversely proportional to the amount of resistance.
That is, if a wire goes to the left headlight that is half as long as to the right one, and this is actually the case, then the starting current will flow to it twice as much, which reduces the service life of the device.
On most modern cars, the low beam headlights turn on automatically when the engine is started. At this time, the engine is just starting to pick up speed and does not work stably, the starter stops rotating and the generator starts working, and the battery begins to receive charging current.
All these switching modes negatively affect the operation of electronics, including lighting devices.
Therefore, if possible, and many cars have it, first start the engine, and after a while turn on the low beam headlights, or better yet, the running lights if they have them.
Also, in order to extend the “life” of the lamps, many craftsmen install special boards for smooth ignition of the low beam, solder in diodes, running light relays, but this is another story and a difficult solution for the average car enthusiast.
Why is the low beam light dim?
There are only a few reasons why a low beam light turns dim. Let's consider them further. Firstly, dim lights can be caused by electrical problems, so to fix such a problem you need to have certain skills and knowledge in this area. Secondly, the reason may lie in the fact that the lamp itself has already lost its original qualities. Thirdly, if the car is operated in dusty conditions, or the glass on the headlight is cloudy, it may also shine dimly. If the headlights sweat, the light also becomes less intense. An electrical problem should be the last thing checked, and if you don't understand anything about electricity, you shouldn't deal with the repair yourself; it can be quite complicated.
If the low beam light is dim, you must first rule out all other causes of this malfunction. Check the headlight glass itself. To do this, you need to look at it in the light. If the sun's rays easily penetrate the glass, the headlight is smooth, without inclusions, then it will shine brightly. If it is worn or faded, you need to either replace the glass or polish it. You can use any abrasive of low hardness, but it will be more effective to use special polishing pastes. LED lamps or lamps operating on inert gases are characterized by the problem of dim glow after a certain period of operation. But halogen and other “gas” lamps may begin to shine less brightly due to poor sealing. If the integrity of such lighting devices is compromised, they will lose their original qualities quite quickly.
The service life of LED headlights is about one hundred thousand hours, and manufacturers guarantee that up to 90% of this period the lamp will shine at its original brightness. Therefore, if the LED low beam light is dim, then most likely the reason is a manufacturing defect. If one diode element is installed, then if it burns out, the headlight will go out completely. But when several dozen weak diodes are installed, only one of them can fail, and the headlight light will dim. At the same time, the voltage on other diodes will increase, which will lead to their rapid wear. Therefore, if one diode is broken, you need to replace it as soon as possible. Each lighting device is marked with characteristics that can help you understand exactly which diode to purchase instead of the faulty one.
Interrelation of factors
The service life of all lamps, not just low beams, is influenced by a number of factors. We have already mentioned some of them above.
The table below shows the relationship between voltage, luminous efficiency and product life.
Here we see that 13.2V is taken as 100% - this is the voltage at which the ideal balance between service life and light output is achieved.
But then the following picture is observed - with an increase in voltage by 5% (to 13.86 volts), light transmission increases only by 18%, and the lamp service life drops by 40% (to 60). And with a reading of 14.15V, the light transmission will increase only by 2.5 - 3%, and the service life will decrease by another 18%, i.e. up to 42% of the declared one.
In other words, increased voltage, especially sudden surges, negatively affect the service life of products.
How can traffic police prove guilt?
It is mandatory to prove guilt. To do this, traffic police inspectors can use photos or videos recording traffic violations, as well as testimonies of witnesses to the violation. Of course, occasionally you may encounter unlawful actions by patrol officers when they include strangers in the protocol and sign it.
But in the end, the judge rarely takes the driver’s side, since he is primarily guided by the evidence and the protocol, and not by the testimony of the offender. But fortunately, there is always the opportunity to appeal both the court decision and the protocol , which can restore justice.
It is important to know what other fines there may be for lighting devices, for example, for xenon, not turning on the turn signal and driving in the wrong direction, tinting the rear lights and headlights, diode bulbs in the headlights, installing and using a special signal, not turning on the low beam.
Chevrolet Lacetti
In the Chevrolet Lacetti, the dimensions and low beam lamps are located next to each other, so they heat each other up greatly. This design decision negatively affected the service life of the latter, and they often burn out.
A solution to the problem can be found in replacing the dimensions with diode analogues, which heat up less, or installing a special relay that would turn off the side lights when the low beams are on. If you have your own solution to the problem, write in the comments.
Is it possible to save money?
If you were unable to get away with a simple warning for not working low beams or other lighting devices, you have the opportunity to pay a fine that is half the amount required.
According to Art. 32.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, all of the above articles fall under the opportunity to save 50% if you manage to pay the fine within a twenty-day period from the date of the decision on an administrative offense.
Niva Chevrolet
Niva Chevrolet has factory Philips LongLife low beam lamps, if they are burnt out, then try to install the same ones, as a rule, they last a long time, according to reviews 60,000 mileage, but no less than six months for sure.
The reasons for their burnout are the same (see above).
Many Niva Chevrolet car owners install xenon 5000 kelvin instead of burnt-out low beam lamps (lower is not reasonable), but it is important to install them correctly so as not to blind oncoming drivers. It is important to pay attention to the condition of the ignition units.
As a last resort, it is better to install inexpensive Chinese analogues of the “Mayak” type, which is not so expensive if they are replaced frequently.
Why do LEDs in cars burn out?
Manufacturers of LED lamps claim that the devices are practically eternal and insensitive to most loads typical for a car's electrical system. In fact. This is true, but only if they experience moderate, and not critical or sudden, loads.
Failure and reduction of their service life in the vehicle’s electrical system are directly affected by:
- Electrical wiring problems. It is necessary to check the quality of electrical connections and the condition of the wires.
- Oxidation and corrosion of contacts under the influence of air and moisture if the device is leaking or damaged.
- The actual power consumption of the lamps is higher than the declared one, or you mistakenly installed high-power LEDs, which shine weakly but heat up more.
It is also important to remember that LED lamps, like any other electrical products, have their own service life. If it has expired a long time ago, then the LED should be replaced, but if the warranty period has not yet expired and the LED has already burned out, feel free to contact the seller with a claim (be sure to keep the receipt when purchasing).
Low quality LED lamps
Poor assembly of LEDs is one of the reasons for their rapid failure. Their main design is a semiconductor pn junction, which critically responds to violations of operational parameters:
- temperature conditions;
- power supply current;
- forward/return voltage.
To minimize the destructive effects, complex control circuits for the operation of LED lamps are required, although they significantly affect the cost of products. Manufacturers strive to minimize costs and try to use simple circuits and low-cost assembly technologies without heat sinks.
Most budget LED car lamps use a simple rectifier. LEDs are inexpensive, but their quality and durability are naturally questionable.
To increase the brightness of the glow, manufacturers overestimate the passing current, and since there is no heat dissipation, the element quickly heats up and quickly fails. In addition, you often have to deal with poor quality of contact soldering.
Kalina
The problem of low beam lamps burning out also affected the Lada Kalina. For some time, German products from OSRAM were installed on the car, which served for a very long time and the drivers were happy about it. Over time, the situation changed, and the problem worsened.
In addition to the general reasons mentioned above, this car model also has other reasons:
- The generator relay is faulty - as a rule, it changes. You need to contact a specialist;
- There have been cases when, in severe frost, a car's generator briefly produced a voltage of more than 15 volts. This led to the low beam lamps burning out if they were turned on immediately after starting the engine. To prevent this from happening, the low beam must be turned on only after preliminary operation of a strong current consumer (interior heater, etc.). Those. started the car, turned on the heater, let it run at maximum for 30-60 seconds, and then turned on the low beam headlights.
If you have your own experience in solving this problem on Lada Kalina, write in the comments.
Non-standard reasons
Sometimes the abnormal operation of headlights is caused by completely unusual factors. There was an indescribable incident when the owner removed the headlight cleaners from his Niva because they had not functioned for a long time. As a result, he lost low beam on both headlights. And it took me a while to guess the reason! During the experiments, the owner found out that to obtain low beam, the presence of at least one of the motors is required, and it does not matter which one - left or right.
In the end, he simply short-circuited the connector, as if simulating the presence of a headlight cleaner. There were no further problems with light. So if you tapped all the links of the chain, but have not established the reason for the headlights, try to remember if you recently made any improvements to the design of your car. Perhaps in the process of these changes some engineering design was violated, which is the reason for the disappearance of light.
However, if such simple, although usually effective, measures do not produce the desired effect, you will still have to remember the phone number of a familiar auto electrician. Otherwise, you can spend a lot of time looking for reasons and never find them.
Renault Logan
Renault Logan cars of the first assembly were previously equipped with OSRAM H4 Ultra Life 60/55w low beam lamps, about which you can only hear positive reviews from car owners.
Owners of the latest assemblies complain that low beam lamps often burn out.
The main reasons are the same as mentioned above (voltage surges, problems with the relay generator, etc.).
But Renault Logan is characterized by another problem - oxidized or carbonated contacts in the block to which the light sources are connected. For this reason, in these places the resistance increases, and therefore the ambient temperature, which is why the lamps burn out.
Many owners of this model praise products with thick thread from NARVA, but this is not a panacea.
What kind of lamps do you install in Renault Logan headlights and how did you solve the problems with their frequent burnout? Write in the comments.
How to choose the right LEDs for a car
Miser pays twice. This saying has a lot to do with trying to save money on LEDs. A high-quality LED lamp is never cheap: an LED will either be inexpensive or will work for a long time - but not at the same time!
If the manufacturer is unknown, either refuse to purchase such an LED, or study the lamp itself:
- there should be no traces of casting or stamping on plastic elements;
- there should be no play or visible gaps on the base;
- the lamp should not flicker during operation;
- In terms of brightness, the lamp should not differ much from analogues with the same voltage consumption, power and temperature of the light flux.
The current and voltage characteristics must exactly correspond to the markings. When installing multiple LEDs into one driver, consider the overall current consumption level.
Ford Focus 2
The car has products with an H7 socket. The manufacturer can be either General Electric or Philips. The first has the article 17123, the second has 12972 PR.
Common causes of optics burnout for Ford Focus 2 in addition to those listed above:
- Problems with the generator relay;
- The absence of a back cover in the headlight will lead to increased humidity, oxidation of the terminals, increased resistance in the circuit, and, accordingly, the air temperature in the area of the lamps.
- Incomplete fastening of the headlight to the body means there is a play that should not exist;
- The rubber plugs in the headlights are damaged or missing;
- Bad contacts in the fuse box responsible for daylight.
Some owners of Ford Focus 2, who were tired of constantly changing low beam lamps, approached the problem creatively - they installed a daylight control controller.
Thanks to this, only the high beam lamps work in the incandescent mode (drivers do not use them often). They are used instead of running lights.
This solution has a number of advantages:
- The side lights do not light up;
- The resource of low beam lamps is saved.
It is also worth paying attention to the correct installation of optics on the Ford Focus 2. First, the lamp is installed in the headlight and only then the base is connected. This prevents hand contact with the glass bulb.
If you have your own experience in this matter, write in the comments.
The fuse is broken
This is the second common reason why the low beam light of one of the car headlights does not light up. Let's look at how to fix it yourself:
- the fuse box for electrical circuits must be opened;
- if one of the fuses has blown, it needs to be identified (usually this is not difficult) using a diagram;
- The faulty fuse must be replaced with a new one.
“The oil light is on at idle: let’s look at the reasons” More details
Let’s clarify that if fuses on your car often burn out, you need to look for a breakdown in the wiring. Then, using a special device, it is necessary to ring the wires to determine where their integrity is compromised. If it is impossible to do this yourself, you need to contact an electrician who can find the cause of frequent breakdowns. In fact, this is a rather serious problem, in which repairs cannot be put off for a long time, since breakdowns in the wiring can lead to a short circuit and fire of the machine.
Lada Priora
Lada Priora was also affected by this problem. The reasons are still the same, but there is something to add here:
- Poor contact in the cartridge - clean it;
- Increased charge voltage - take measurements (see at the beginning of the article).
- Poor quality of products - use original ones.
Solution:
- Installation of DRLs (daytime running lights);
- Many Lada Priora owners praise the OSRAM SilverStar 2.0, Osram 64210 ALL, Philips 12972 PRC1 or factory Mayak LBS, but there are so many people and so many opinions.
Great Wall Hover H5
If the model has a gasoline engine, then when reverse gear is engaged, voltage surges occur. This is not the case in cars with diesel engines.
This is easy to diagnose - put the car in reverse and see how much the headlights have dimmed. If it is strong, then there is a danger of lamps burning out.
The problem is solved by installing a special stabilizer, it consists of:
- Diode;
- Relay;
- fuse;
- Capacitor 5000 uF 25V.
But for many this will be problematic. If you have your own solution to the problem, write in the comments.
