So last night I turned the headlights on in my 1998 VDP. They were on then BLAM! the right flashed then very quickly both were out. It was just like when you turn on a lamp and the bulb burns out.

I checked the fuses and both seemed intact. That is the extent of my knowledge of cars.

But as I read, I see issues with relays...

Is this indicative of anything specific? I think I trust my mechanic, but if it is just headlamp bulbs then might I be able to do that more cheaply? Or should I just do the deed and take it to him to diagnose and fix?

thanks all!

Juile

 

Try replacing both bulbs first & see if that helps. You'll have to pay for a new pair anyway so you may as well get them yourself to rule it out.

They are H7 Bulbs and you must be careful when installing them not to touch the glass as natural grease on human hands affects the bulbs and causes them to fail early.

Hope this sheds some light on the matter! :P
S.

 

Before you spend $50 on bulbs you might want to check the battery voltage with the engine running. Better yet you might want to have someone help check the voltage while you stand ready to turn the engine off. Sounds like your voltage regulator has failed and you are supplying far more than the 14.4v normal max. If you run the engine with that level of voltage you stand a chance of blowing some very expensive electronics.

 

Get a voltmeter and see if you have 12v or so at the wire that goes on the headlight. One should be hot, the other is ground. I have seen both headlights be out at the same time on customers cars(Dodge Ram comes to mind). I have seen NUMEROUS comebacks on cars that use H7 bulbs, Hyundais specifically. Like test point said, you wont know anything until you break out the test light or multimeter.

 

Well, it looks like my headlamps simply blew the bulbs! The mechanic at a local Shell statiion said that one blew and the other had a very thin filament that simply didn't/couldn't light up. I have to trust that he knew what he was doing...

But equally sweet, he charged me for the bulbs only. No labor, no smooth talking or expensive repairs...

I might have found me a new indie mechanic!

Thanks for your ideas...

Julie