Headlights going out

Dan2754 wrote:
> It seems that the Elantra’s headlights need to be replaced too often.
> Does anyone else have this problem? It seems that I’m replacing one
> every year on both mine and my Mothers.
> Thanks.

Yeah, they tend to eat bulbs and annual replacement seems to be about
average. I've tried some higher-end bulbs (Silverstars, PIAA) and
although their output is higher and whiter, their life is no better than
the stock bulbs.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

Reply to message from hime (Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:
35:11) about "Re: Headlights going out":

h> One-year headlight bulbs is trhe norm, these days...it is not specific
h> to one brand of car. I can't find a set of headlight bulbs that lasts
h> more than a year in my 2003 Madza Protege either. It is the bulbs, not
h> the cars.

I suspect you are correct to a point. I have had good experience with my
previous 2002 Elantra GT and now my 2005 Tiburon GT. Both have had bulbs
that lasted longer than a year, and that brings me to my next point.

Bulb life can only be measured in hours of use and not in time installed. I
don't do a lot of night driving so for me the bulbs last a long time. That
may not be the case for someone else who drives more it night or with their
lights on.

Finally touching the glass of the bulb can also shorten the life of the
bulb. There are all variables that must be considered before suspecting the
car.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:32:47 -0600

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"hime" wrote in message

> On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:24:56 GMT, Dan2754 wrote:
>
>>It seems that the Elantra's headlights need to be replaced too often.
>>Does anyone else have this problem? It seems that I'm replacing one
>>every year on both mine and my Mothers.
>>Thanks.
>
> One-year headlight bulbs is trhe norm, these days...it is not specific
> to one brand of car. I can't find a set of headlight bulbs that lasts
> more than a year in my 2003 Madza Protege either. It is the bulbs,
> not the cars.

Interesting. In the past, I've had bulbs last for many years. One of my
Regal lights was 15 years, the other probably 10. My LeSabre is at 6 right
now and so far only one taillight was changed. These take different bulbs
than most of the newer cars though. Another key is the voltage output of
the alternator. that may be higher on these cars?

I also suspect bulb design. Getting high output shortens life. Getting
high output also sells more bulbs. What a co-incidence.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:14:13 -0600, Wayne Moses
wrote:

>Reply to message from hime (Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:
>35:11) about "Re: Headlights going out":
>
> h> One-year headlight bulbs is trhe norm, these days...it is not specific
> h> to one brand of car. I can't find a set of headlight bulbs that lasts
> h> more than a year in my 2003 Madza Protege either. It is the bulbs, not
> h> the cars.
>
>I suspect you are correct to a point. I have had good experience with my
>previous 2002 Elantra GT and now my 2005 Tiburon GT. Both have had bulbs
>that lasted longer than a year, and that brings me to my next point.
>
>Bulb life can only be measured in hours of use and not in time installed. I
>don't do a lot of night driving so for me the bulbs last a long time. That
>may not be the case for someone else who drives more it night or with their
>lights on.
>
>Finally touching the glass of the bulb can also shorten the life of the
>bulb. There are all variables that must be considered before suspecting the
>car.
>
>Best Regards
>Wayne Moses Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:32:47 -0600
>
>=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

Although I'm sure that bulb life is related to bulb use, I did not
have any experience with standard headlights lasting only a year until
I purchased my 2003 automobile, which is the first car I've owned that
uses the the small 55 watt headlight bulb design. At first I thought
that there was a problem with my car's electrical system, but after I
checked around I found that most all manufacturers of these types of
bulbs are only claiming a duty life of one year. My driving habits
have not really changed signicantly in the last twenty years, so I
can't blame the decreased bulb-life-length on more night driving, and
I'm also well aware that the glass on these little bulbs should not be
touched with the fingers.

Check out Slyvania's website (the most common manufacturer of standard
55 watt headlight bulbs) and you will notice that their warrantiy for
these types of bulbs is one year...exactly.

It is not a car-related problem.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

Reply to message from hime (Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:
36:56) about "Re: Headlights going out":

h> It is not a car-related problem.

You know I agreeing with you, right?

Best Regards
Wayne Moses Sun, 14 Jan 2007 18:57:35 -0600

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 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:09:21 -0600, Wayne Moses
wrote:

>Reply to message from hime (Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:
>36:56) about "Re: Headlights going out":
>
> h> It is not a car-related problem.
>
>You know I agreeing with you, right?
>
>Best Regards
>Wayne Moses Sun, 14 Jan 2007 18:57:35 -0600
>
>=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

I'm not taking exception to your comments at all...they are completely
valid. I just wanted to make it known to the guy that started this
thread that I didn't come by my own conclusions off the cuff. They are
based of my own personal experience and research. Not trying to pass
myself off as a headlight expert, here...he just happened to hit on a
subject that I had visited not too long ago, myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:35:11 -0600, hime wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:24:56 GMT, Dan2754 wrote:
>
>>It seems that the Elantra’s headlights need to be replaced too often.
>>Does anyone else have this problem? It seems that I’m replacing one
>>every year on both mine and my Mothers.
>>Thanks.
>
>One-year headlight bulbs is trhe norm, these days...it is not specific
>to one brand of car. I can't find a set of headlight bulbs that lasts
>more than a year in my 2003 Madza Protege either. It is the bulbs,
>not the cars.

Just my 2-cents: I drive a '98 Camry and keep the headlights on all the
time for safety. The last headlight replacement I did was in 2002,
November 2nd to be exact, with a standard Sylvania Bulb. The other bulb
has never been changed by me - I purchased the car 'used' in September
of 2002.

More information: I've been driving for 33 years without a single
traffic accident - the past 26 or so with my headlights turned on all
the time. My two kids have been driving for a combined 16 years, without
a single accident and they both use their headlights all the time. My
wife has been driving for 31 years, has had four major (totaled vehicle)
accidents and at least three or four minor ones and refuses (or forgets)
to drive with her headlights on. Something to think about?

HJS
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:23:58 -0500, Homer S.
wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:35:11 -0600, hime wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:24:56 GMT, Dan2754 wrote:
>>
>>>It seems that the Elantra’s headlights need to be replaced too often.
>>>Does anyone else have this problem? It seems that I’m replacing one
>>>every year on both mine and my Mothers.
>>>Thanks.
>>
>>One-year headlight bulbs is trhe norm, these days...it is not specific
>>to one brand of car. I can't find a set of headlight bulbs that lasts
>>more than a year in my 2003 Madza Protege either. It is the bulbs,
>>not the cars.
>
>Just my 2-cents: I drive a '98 Camry and keep the headlights on all the
>time for safety. The last headlight replacement I did was in 2002,
>November 2nd to be exact, with a standard Sylvania Bulb. The other bulb
>has never been changed by me - I purchased the car 'used' in September
>of 2002.
>
>More information: I've been driving for 33 years without a single
>traffic accident - the past 26 or so with my headlights turned on all
>the time. My two kids have been driving for a combined 16 years, without
>a single accident and they both use their headlights all the time. My
>wife has been driving for 31 years, has had four major (totaled vehicle)
>accidents and at least three or four minor ones and refuses (or forgets)
>to drive with her headlights on. Something to think about?
>
>HJS

And I have a 92 Isuzu pickup truck that I've owned since 94 that I've
never had to put a headlight in. It still has the same headlights that
were in it when I bought it, and they still work fine. I believe they
are also Sylvania...the old sealed-beam design.

That was then, and this is now. The one-year headlight phenomenon is
a very recent occurence, involving only recently manufactured
headlight bulbs, and rtelatively recent model cars. Furthermore, it
may even be only a factor for certain headlight designs a.k.a. small
55-watt non-sealed beam bulbs.. The older sealed-beam headlight
design may in fact still be manufactured to last much longer.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:34:08 -0600, hime wrote:

>snip<
>>Just my 2-cents: I drive a '98 Camry and keep the headlights on all the
>>time for safety. The last headlight replacement I did was in 2002,
>>November 2nd to be exact, with a standard Sylvania Bulb. The other bulb
>>has never been changed by me - I purchased the car 'used' in September
>>of 2002.
>>
>>More information: I've been driving for 33 years without a single
>>traffic accident - the past 26 or so with my headlights turned on all
>>the time. My two kids have been driving for a combined 16 years, without
>>a single accident and they both use their headlights all the time. My
>>wife has been driving for 31 years, has had four major (totaled vehicle)
>>accidents and at least three or four minor ones and refuses (or forgets)
>>to drive with her headlights on. Something to think about?
>>
>>HJS
>
>And I have a 92 Isuzu pickup truck that I've owned since 94 that I've
>never had to put a headlight in. It still has the same headlights that
>were in it when I bought it, and they still work fine. I believe they
>are also Sylvania...the old sealed-beam design.
>
>That was then, and this is now. The one-year headlight phenomenon is
>a very recent occurence, involving only recently manufactured
>headlight bulbs, and rtelatively recent model cars. Furthermore, it
>may even be only a factor for certain headlight designs a.k.a. small
>55-watt non-sealed beam bulbs.. The older sealed-beam headlight
>design may in fact still be manufactured to last much longer.

My daughter bought a 2001 Elantra in August and I've already had to
replace both headlights - although one was replaced because it appeared
dimmer than the other. Strange... I guess I can look forward to seeing
her at least twice a year though - a good thing.

My wife's '00 Accord has never had any bulbs of any kind changed since
we purchased the car new in November of '99 - although, she doesn't keep
her lights on all the time.

At least bulbs are easily changed - although I had to remove the battery
to replace the headlight in my daughter's Elantra... Not so bad.

HJS
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

Reply to message from Homer S. (Mon, 15 Jan 2007
14:23:5 about "Re: Headlights going out":

HS> My wife has
HS> been driving for 31 years, has had four major (totaled vehicle)
HS> accidents and at least three or four minor ones and refuses (or
HS> forgets) to drive with her headlights on. Something to think about?

Next car she gets should have automatic daytime running lights so she can
drive for another 31 years.

In the meanwhile there are DRL modules you can retrofit on her car so that
she is automatically protected.

Back home in Canada it became law in 1990 that all new cars from that MY
onwards would have DRL in recognition of this safety fact.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:30:18 -0600

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"Wayne Moses" wrote in message
> In the meanwhile there are DRL modules you can retrofit on her car so that
> she is automatically protected.

> Back home in Canada it became law in 1990 that all new cars from that MY
> onwards would have DRL in recognition of this safety fact.


I'm surprised that more cars don't have them. I've had them on my last two
and you always had them on especially in marginal weather. My Buick turns
the headlights on when you turn the wipers on too.

The "auto on" feature of my Sonata is too sensitive at times. In the early
morning, they will go off and on a dozen times on one tree lined road. My
GM cars never did.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

That auto on feature having the lights turn on multi times on a tree
lined street must be very hard on light bulbs. I rarely drive at
night and the bulbs in my 2000 Accent still work. They are also lower
wattage DRL.

On Jan 15, 6:34 pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> "Wayne Moses" wrote in message
> > In the meanwhile there are DRL modules you can retrofit on her car so that
> > she is automatically protected.
> > Back home in Canada it became law in 1990 that all new cars from that MY
> > onwards would have DRL in recognition of this safety fact.I'm surprised that more cars don't have them. I've had them on my last two
> and you always had them on especially in marginal weather. My Buick turns
> the headlights on when you turn the wipers on too.
>
> The "auto on" feature of my Sonata is too sensitive at times. In the early
> morning, they will go off and on a dozen times on one tree lined road. My
> GM cars never did.
 >> Stay informed about: Headlights going out 

Reply to message from "Edwin Pawlowski" (Mon, 15 Jan 2007
20:34:12) about "Re: Headlights going out":

EP> The "auto on" feature of my Sonata is too sensitive at times. In the
EP> early morning, they will go off and on a dozen times on one tree lined
EP> road. My GM cars never did.

That would irritate me I am sure. I think the regular auto-on is better
even if it means more worn out bulbs. I rather be seen than worry about
bulbs.

One thing some manufacturers do is have reduced intensity DRLs. These look
kind of foolish but bulbs last longer.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:03:51 -0600

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