OK so the problem is not with my vRS but hhhmmm with the mondeo, but does anyone have any ideas why it keeps on blowing the same headlight bulb over and over again. I have gone through 3 in as many weeks, they really blow. when you take the old one out its as black as coal. So any ideas chaps and chapettes.

I found this on a Volvo forum. Any help?

"Headlamps Burn Out Frequently.

[Query:] The halogen headlamps burn out on my ' 93 Volvo every 3 or 4 months. Does anyone else have this problem? The dealer assured me that there is not a short in my car. As a matter of fact, the dealership went as far as to blame it on moisture.

[Response 1:] When you install the light bulb if it is touched at all by your hands or anything oily or if it is scratched it has a very high potential of burning out or even exploding. Also, water vapor inside the headlamp due to a hole or badly sealed headlight will cause bulb failure. You might want to check all seals in the headlight area. The bulbs will go out rather fast once the seal has been breached or there is a crack in the glass.

[Response 2:] I have had the same problems with two Volvos we bought and found that the voltage regulator had an intermittent fault. One day I noticed that suddenly the lights were very bright for a few seconds and then back to normal, bulbs don't like that. I replaced the voltage regulator on the alternator. This solved the problem. These screw-on voltage regulators are not expensive (US$25) and are available from your Bosch agent."

The problem only affects one side, The bulb on the drivers side has been in now for 18 months. but the passenger side needs a new one every couple of weeks. Would an earth fault cause this, extra resistance causing the bulb to fail?

I had the same in my old Skoda, but not as bad as that. The driver's side light would blow a dipped beam bulb every 5 months or so, with the passenger side still fine.

:confused:

Thankfully it seems the new one is good at the moment, but I think the various uprated headlight bulbs are helping reliability - hoping they're all built a bit better than philips boggo standard bulbs.

Are they all the same make of bulb?

Manny, As it's a Ford, I'd have a close look at the earthing on the headlamp. Ford seem to have lots of earth problems on the lighting side -witness the number of Fiestas and things which have the old "press the brake and the indicators flash" type problems.

If the earth's duff, then it'll cause the bulb supply to vary, and halogen lamps hate unstable supplies.

Phil

Stick a Skoda badge on it & it will be fine !!