Replacing headlight bulbs revisited I & II

**Reply #120: February 28, 2012, 13:48:59**

Quote from: 847563 on February 28, 2012, 11:59:22

Here's a thought I've been pondering on.

Most people would accept that electronic devices are sensitive instruments with circuit connections finer than a human hair. Why is it that there are no reports of voltage spike damage to these devices but a robust high temperature wire filament is failing on a regular basis in some cars

I think the answer to this is simply that the current required for the electronics is so relatively little that filtering and regulating their supply is simple. No voltage spikes should ever reach them.

Bright filaments on the other hand are surprisingly fragile. It doesn't help that they have a much lower resistance when cold and the in-rush current when first powered will be many times that when hot. It would be my belief that they pop when turned on and probably more so if that coincides with cranking the engine which I suspect produces spikes from the starter motor.

The general advice to start the engine with the lights off is good advice I think.

druggist · **Reply #121: February 28, 2012, 23:02:05**

Just emphasising that my problem with headlight blowouts in a CRDi occurs even though I don't leave my headlights in the ON position all the time, and so they are OFF when car is started.

If you have a CRDi there is a known issue that Hyundai can fix.

4 months with no headlights blown after 10 in 9 months, TOUCH WOOD.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #122: February 29, 2012, 06:09:50**

drugginst

How did Hy fix the problem, did they explain to you at all

druggist · **Reply #123: February 29, 2012, 07:14:54**

Search for headlight blown or posts by me on the forum and you will see an explanation. The problem was fixed in November 2011 and posts were put up around that time.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #124: February 29, 2012, 07:24:47**

Found it, thanks

baroudeur · **Reply #125: March 01, 2012, 14:19:44**

Quote from: 847563 on February 29, 2012, 07:24:47

Found it, thanks

You might have linked. Now I've got to search!

With over 55 years driving I have never ever changed a headlamp bulb and only changed two or three other bulbs.

I noticed the fog lamp bulbs in the i30 were Phillips Germany when I fitted the leds.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #126: March 02, 2012, 08:48:13**

Searching is good for you, however, to cut a long story short, HY said it was due to high resistance in the earth side of the circuit. So power is ok but the connection of the housing to the chassis is poor (somewhere). On that basis, If my car was blowing bulbs frequently, I would put my own earth wire in to fix the problem.

**Reply #127: March 02, 2012, 10:44:22**

Quote from: 847563 on March 02, 2012, 08:48:13

Searching is good for you, however, to cut a long story short, HY said it was due to high resistance in the earth side of the circuit. So power is ok but the connection of the housing to the chassis is poor (somewhere). On that basis, If my car was blowing bulbs frequently, I would put my own earth wire in to fix the problem.

I'm having trouble accepting their explanation.

While it's not clear exactly where the high resistance from the poor earth is inserted, any extra resistance into the head lamp circuit can only reduce the current. For the light to blow it must have an increased current whether that be continuous, momentarily or transiently it must by definition raise the temperature to the point where the filament fuses.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #128: March 02, 2012, 10:49:36**

I'm just echoing the explanation from Hy. Apparently, after resolving the high resistance, the blown light problem ceased.

**Reply #129: March 02, 2012, 11:01:24**

I'm not doubting what you were told... just whether it was the truth and if it was, how it fixed it.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #130: March 02, 2012, 11:04:03**

You need to ask Druggist, as he was the original recipient of this information.

**Reply #131: March 02, 2012, 11:08:24**

Oops, I should have searched for the original thread.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #132: March 02, 2012, 11:12:30**

That's ok, Could it be that the high resistance is intermittent and when the resistance goes "low" that blows the bulb.

**Reply #133: March 02, 2012, 11:20:33**

Quote from: 847563 on March 02, 2012, 11:12:30

That's ok, Could it be that the high resistance is intermittent and when the resistance goes "low" that blows the bulb.

No. The resistance can't go too low. That's why I queried the explanation given. It sounds like technobabble to me.

Lorian · **Reply #134: March 24, 2012, 21:36:18**

Quote from: Lorian on February 24, 2012, 20:41:39

My pluses have been in over a year too, working fine.

Didn't last much over a year though, as one blew yesterday (dipped beam). I therefore wouldn't recommend nightbreakers any longer.

Only good thing is now I can change bulbls with no tools and without really looking, only took 3 minutes, a big difference to when I first tried when the car was new.

hyundai_on_thames · **Reply #135: December 01, 2012, 18:41:29**

Quote from: trev012 on November 20, 2010, 19:22:38

Shambles,

You! will! not! damage! your! paintwork! removing! the! headlamp! units!

YOU SOUND ANGRY MATE

Maybe not, but You! Will! Damage! Your! headlight! Glass! by scratching it, if you are not forensically careful. Because there's a sharp piece of metal pointing downwards which catches the headlight glass housing on the outer top corner, this is designed to scratch your glass (which seems to be soft - does metal normally easily scratch glass?)

I know 'cos I read the quoted post and even being aware & careful, my attention was on the opposite corner of the HL before I noticed the scratch.

I changed both sides' bulbs today as we are having a very rare non-rainy day here in the UK.
The RH (as seen from drivers seat) side is really easy as the washer bottle comes off in 2 mins. But the LH side is a bitch and even were the battery out, access seems more cramped than the other side.

baroudeur · **Reply #136: December 01, 2012, 20:46:30**

Quote from: hyundai_on_thames on December 01, 2012, 18:41:29

Maybe not, but You! Will! Damage! Your! headlight! Glass! by scratching it, if you are not forensically careful. Because there's a sharp piece of metal pointing downwards which catches the headlight glass housing on the outer top corner, this is designed to scratch your glass (which seems to be soft - does metal normally easily scratch glass?)

The lamps are plastic not glass and, yes, will be scratched quite easily.

rustynutz · **Reply #137: December 02, 2012, 03:43:55**

I've ripped my headlights out a squillion times and never had an issue with scratching them....and I'm certainly not "forensically careful"....

Shambles · **Reply #138: December 02, 2012, 09:16:38**

though my count of headlamp extractions is somewhat less than a squillion

rustynutz · **Reply #139: December 02, 2012, 10:48:16**

I may have exaggerated just a whisker....

Doggie 1 · **Reply #140: December 02, 2012, 10:50:18**

Like my mum used to say, "If I've told you once I've told you a million times - DON'T EXAGGERATE!"

alc2 · **Reply #141: January 03, 2013, 17:07:14**

Te 2-nd time i remove my headlights i did scratch in the same sharp metal piece ....

coolbzk · **Reply #142: July 05, 2013, 05:51:14**

2 days ago I just replaced the headlight bulb for my 2009 diesel Wagon.

what I did was :

unscrew the 3 screws (2 on the top , 1 inside )
detach the power cable for headlight module.

then I unmounted the whole headlight module out of my car easily~

after replaced the bulb, remount it , connect the power cable and 3 screws

Ugly Mongrel · **Reply #143: July 05, 2013, 08:56:26**

As coolbzk says, it really is a simple job to remove and replace the headlight assembly.

Well done, coolbzk

rustynutz · **Reply #144: July 06, 2013, 00:17:49**

Ogi · **Reply #145: February 09, 2014, 23:27:42**

I am so frustrated with bulbs, i cant do it myself and going to a service becouse of this takes too many time and especially money!

Dazzler · **Reply #146: February 11, 2014, 10:48:58**

Keith · **Reply #147: February 11, 2014, 16:35:01**

Quote from: Ogi on February 09, 2014, 23:27:42

I am so frustrated with bulbs, i cant do it myself and going to a service becouse of this takes too many time and especially money!

Ogi the bulbs are totally do-able, after the first time I was able to change all my bulbs in about 15 - 20 minutes.
What stops you being able to change yours?

Ogi · **Reply #148: February 17, 2014, 19:21:51**

Do-able my ass.

I can't imagine harder way for changing bulbs than on i30, i need to like dismount half of the car for changing a bulb !???
I tried to pull the headlight out but i coudn't do it becouse it was stuck, it wouldnt get out... i need to go to a Hyundai mechanic to change a bulb, how stupid is that !?
What if a bulb dies somewhere on the road in the middle of nowhere, in the night !???

Phil №❶ · **Reply #149: February 17, 2014, 20:33:31**

Time for a pictorial on changing light bulbs, both sides, I think.