On my 3rd set of fog light bulbs

[Sky_Pilot]

The first two blew. I sure dread taking it to the dealer, knowing they sit on it and then do the Ferris Bueller Ferrari joy ride with it... Is there some way I can test it for what might be causing the bulbs, both blew by the way, not just one side, to blow?

[redhotchillipepper]

Two questions. Are you changing the bulbs yourself? If so, are you making sure you dont leave fingerprint residue on the glass? If you dont clean your fingerprint residue/grease off of the bulbs, they will overheat and blow in a short amount of time. I have this problem all the time on the high intensity strobes on my airplanes.

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by redhotchillipepper

Two questions. Are you changing the bulbs yourself? If so, are you making sure you don't leave fingerprint residue on the glass? If you don't clean your fingerprint residue/grease off of the bulbs, they will overheat and blow in a short amount of time. I have this problem all the time on the high intensity strobes on my airplanes.

I did change them myself, but I don't recall touching the glass. Perhaps I did, bot both going out almost simultaneously?

[redhotchillipepper]

You got me there. It is unusual but can happen. Usually if a bulb is going to pop it either goes when it gets a surge of power, when you turn them on, or as I mentioned in my earlier post, when they heat up and there is a foreign substance on the lens. Also xenon bulbs have a high rate of failure for some reason beyond my scope of knowledge.

[Rob the Elder]

try handling them with cotton gloves or rags so you dont touch the glass. If you put fingerprints on the glass, it concentrates the heat and they will burn out. If they are manufactured to the same tolerances and you made the same mistake with both of them, having them burn out at close to the same time is not that odd.

Another killer of bulbs is an electrical over voltage or over current. that is a lot less likely.

Third is vibration. If you are seeing a lot of vibration that will kill a bulb quickly. On bikes they mount the turn signal bulbs packed in grease to dampen the vibration. it works.

[Sky_Pilot]

I ordered another set, can they be cleaned with anything before I install them? Even if I don't touch them, there no guarantee that they weren't touched at the point of manufacture or packaging.

On a humorous note, when I opened this thread just now, at the bottom of the screen was an add for Lamps R Us....

[fershy]

two words.
Methyl Hydrate.
fershy

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by fershy

two words.
Methyl Hydrate.
fershy

At first I thought something was a little fershy here, but I googled your two words and if I can locate it locally, I'll try it, so two more words... "thank you"...

[todaresqSL2]

Originally Posted by fershy

two words.
Methyl Hydrate.
fershy

I like, as we call chemicals in the fire service... Methyl Ethyl Bad Stuff...

In anycase... have you done any changes to the electrical system??? That includes stereo, lighting, WindRestrictors, etc... any change in current if it is inline with the fuse for them... or even on a different fuse, may affect them.

[MidniteBlues]

One more thing I would like to add, bulbs are also covered under warranty for the 3 years, 36k miles.. They will be replaced for free.. That is not a so called "wear" item, it's electrical..

[Sky_Pilot]

Originally Posted by todaresqSL2

I like, as we call chemicals in the fire service... Methyl Ethyl Bad Stuff...

In anycase... have you done any changes to the electrical system??? That includes stereo, lighting, WindRestrictors, etc... any change in current if it is inline with the fuse for them... or even on a different fuse, may affect them.

Nope, one at all, well, except for replacing the bulbs.

[NukeUm]

I've worked in the electrical distribution industry for over 30 years. (sold lots of light bulbs, callled 'lamps' in our industry).
1. Most xenon or quartz lamps are rated for an average life of only 250-500 hours. The average is obtained by the manufacturer by burning 100 lamps; when number 50 burns out, that's your published rated life. Some may burn out in 100 hours, some 800 hours. Run the foglights only when you need them.
2. Check your socket and lamp base. If either is not clean, heat will build up and diminish the life of the bulb, the same as the fingerprint issue.
3. The fuse, as mentioned above, could be the issue. DONT put a larger fuse in the circuit! Fuses are designed to protect the wiring of the circuit as well as the item it's feeding. Generally if a device is sucking up too much juice, the fuse will blow to protect the device and the wiring. Since lamps (bulbs) are designed as a direct short between the poles, they themselves will generally blow before the fuse does.

Bite the bullet and take the car in. It may be a small problem, but it's worth having a professional check it out.
Nuke

[redhotchillipepper]

I smoked my heated seats in my beamer when I was 19 years old by putting a 35 amp fuse instead of a 15. There was a short in my seat heating element, and it caught fire.