Defective Headlight Bulb Warning

Ever had that?

Bulb still functions?

MOT looming?

Check the spring wires that hold the bulb in place and provide the earth connection.

The wire gets hot in use and weakens over time lessening the contact pressure and allowing minute arcing with road vibration and oxidation of the bulb base which will appear darkened.  You end up with a vicious circle where the arcing creates more localised heat and deposits form eventually triggering the dash warning or intermittent bulb output.

To remedy this remove the bulb and clean up the contact hot spots with a small scraper to show shiny metal, do the same to the spring wires, it should be obvious by feel where the rough burned bits are.

To finish, carefully bend the wires a bit such that they offer increased pressure to the bulb.

That'll probably keep them going for another few years.

Edited 5 November, 20205 yr by MicMac