Lights Out

[Steven2016]

Morning fellow Skoda drivers

I changed my drivers side headlight last week (main) and it's already blown. This is the second time in less than a month. Any advice?

[moley]

Check all of the connections are good, avoid touching the bulb glass directly. What make of bulbs are you using?

[giandougl]

As above, avoidance of touching glass is a must.

Cheap E-Bay high powered bulbs have zero light-life, first hand experience there, use a brand name with correct wattage.. 

[@Lee]

what they said ^^^ don't touch the bulb glass with your bare hands. If you do, clean it with meths or isopropyl alcohol (IPA).

 

I usually use Osram Nightbreaker Plus or Phillips Extreme Vision but Halfords had these on offer.

 

Pretty impressed with them TBH

[Steven2016]

Don't know the brand as it was my local garage that put the second 1 in and the first came from the dealer. I'll take it back tomorrow and get them to check the connections and buy some decent bulbs, should I use gloves when fitting them?

[giandougl]

Cotton gloves would be good.

If your fingers do touch the bulb glass, clean glass with white spirit, dry throughly..

Perhaps a bit of toilet paper, and just try to hold metal base only to avoid touching any of the bulb glass straight from package.

 

Member below more knowledgeable so I quote his entry..

Edited 25 July, 2016 by giandougl

[@Lee]

Cotton gloves would be good.

If your fingers do touch the bulb glass, clean glass with white spirit, dry throughly..

Perhaps a bit of toilet paper, and just try to hold metal base only to avoid touching any of the bulb glass.

don't use white spirit, it's oil based and this is what causes the bulb to blow, much like the grease on your finger.

As I said, only use meths or IPA to clean a bulb.

[Steven2016]

New bulb was fitted today, mechanic said could be a dodgy circuit. If it blows again then get it checked out