22 Jul
2015
22 Jul
'15
7:43 a.m.
On Wed, 22 Jul 2015, tony duell wrote:
On Wed, 22 Jul 2015, ANDY HOLT wrote:
I can't say I've previously heard of that being done with automotive
bulbs, but I do know that some pinball guys who do this. After a couple of
lamps go out, they will replace them all at the same time because it
usually isn't easy to change them, and once the lamps reach a certain
number of power on hours, they start failing more and more frequently.
> Do you seriously replace both headlight bulbs
when one fails? I know of
> nobody who does that. Generally you carry a spare bulb kit and a screwdriver
> and if a bulb fails, pull over and change it.
and - like the capacitor replacement question
this is an "it depends".
For some cars - including the Mercedes A-class (at least earlier
models) - it is almost impossible to change the headlight bulb when the
car is at ground level because it is accessed through a hatch in the
wheel arch, whereas if the car
ARGH!!!
But presumably you carry a jack and tools to change a wheel. Can you not
just remove the wheel on the correct side to reach the hatch (not that I
want to work on a car not supported on proper axle stands...)
Having had a number of bulbs that failed shortly (but not very shortly)
after installation (nothing to do with headlamps, and not quartz-halogen
bulbs so it was not contamination of the envelope that was the problem)
I wonder if necessarily changing a good bulb is a good idea...