Head Light keeps blowing out

[Stevechie]

I have a 1996 Suzuki Sidekick sport 1.8l std 4x4. I love it. It is slightly modified to go off road. Custom made bumber with hidden winch, Hella driving lights, alarm, power windows, after markt stereo. Here is my problem. One head light keep blowing out. It is either high or low beam. Sometime its the drivers side next time passenger. When i pulled on the high beam a couple of times the high beam light blew. In addition one of my Hella lamps does not work. MY suzuki dealer has spent hours trying to figure out the problem. They change the fuel pump because of a short. Still had the same issue. Another mechanic tried to figure it out but the problem came back after 6 months. I tried sylvania blue lights for their longevity they also blew. I checked the ground and all connections seem fine.
What could it be? the alarm, winch, Hella lights, stereo...

Any suggestions?? Where do I start?

[jtgh]

id check HL voltage when the are on.

are you running a stock alternator?

only thing that can hurt lamp life is too high voltage or bouncing. (collisions excepted)
that be it.

id the battery cable black neg. connected to the top mount bolt of starter where it belongs., is the gound behind the battery good.
is the alternator and its brackets clean where the touch block ,
Alternator uses the darn bracket for its ground.

if you get a tiny resistance from the battery charge wire to the battery or the ground path , it can over charage ,
if this resistances rises too far the regulator will shut down the alternator and battery starts discharging.

id be all over alter nator out put voltages, HL on.

14.2. to 14.8v is spec output of alternator , charging.

cheers.

those off road lamps, what is their primary feed. Im sure you have a relay but what power source did you pick.
and what is the total draw in amps from them.

[Stevechie]

Thanks for getting back to me and thank you for directing me to the alternator etc. No one has looked at that. I will keep you posted with the results. Yes, I am using a stock alternator. I will look at this and let you know.

Stevechie

[jtgh]

how many lights did you add to the car.
how many amps do each draw?

but , checking battery voltage while running , no more than 14.8v charging.
a simple voltmeter
run head lights for 5min key off
start car
check battery voltage .

easy as pie.

[Thiazolium]

Originally Posted by Stevechie

I tried sylvania blue lights for their longevity they also blew...

I'm assuming you're using Sylvania Cool Blue lights. They do, unfortunately, have the shortest longevity out of the bulbs available.


Sylvania Standard Halogen: 650 hrs, Colour Temperature: 3,100K
Sylvania Xtravision: 350 hrs, Colour Temperature: 3,200K
Sylvania CoolBlue: 250hrs, Colour Temperature: 3,500K
Sylvania Silver Star:250 hrs, Colour Temperature: 4,000K
Sylvania Ultra:250 hrs, Colour Temperature: 4,100K

Long life bulbs run b/w 1,000-1,500hrs of life.

[jtgh]

250 hr, is junk, what the heck ?

thanks for data sheet spec!!!!

the whole purpose of Halogen bolbs was to extend the life of the tungsten.
it keeps the Tungsent from boiling off. and keeps the filament strongest to handle bumps, too.

typ,. over 700 life (base) to natural tungsten.

and did you know that HUMANS see better and further with yellow natural light.

funny how the marketing weenies avoid that fact.

but kick drivers aren't human, ahahahahahahahahah


btw , the life is set by brightness.
they plot brightness at 14.5v and then life over that.
when see the curves , they pick a point of best bright, and strong life.
Cross point.
this is typ. 700 hours. on natural Tungston. (no gasses)

and if you drop the voltage just a tad, the bulbs almost last forever.
We did that in the Military with huge systems and 300 bulbs for status displays.

when you buy a long life bulb , (all things same) the diff is you are getting a
Higher voltage lamp. EG. 16v bulb.

my GE Lamp engineering book explains all this, and is hard to find it today.

thanks for the spec on these fancy pants bulbs.
glad i avoid them.

Love my yellow Halogens.

cheers

6 month bulbs , what a pain.

[Stevechie]

Alternator is charging at 14.6 on average. Ground wires are good. Found lose wire for the Hella lights reconnected them and they are operational. Yes they are Sylvannia Cool Blue which apprantely do not have a long life but they work great for off road/night driving. I have two hella lights mounted on a custom made off road bumber. Guess I'll just bring a spare setof bulbs with me.

[jtgh]

YOur voltage is perfect.

crappy lamps 250 hours aint squat and 10 steps backwards in engineering ,IMHO.

try long life Halogen bulbs

you can not tell me they dont work. they actually work better.
do you need the proof, I have it . try it.?

be honest, people can see better with stock lamps.

its all about the human eyes.
DOT study, SAE, many. all conclusive.

[Stevechie]

True. I think my eyes have gotten used to the same old thing. When I tried the other lights I seemed to pay more attention to greater detail. I will give the Halogens a try. Thanks for all your input. Much appreciated.