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H7 Headlamp Bulbs - Keep Blowing Out

6K views 2 replies 1 participant last post by  PowerslavePA 
#1 ·
My passenger side low beam bulb keeps blowing out,
I will be putting in the THIRD one today. I am
getting them warrantied at Advance Auto, but sooner
or later they're going to stop giving me replacements.

Other people I work with also have the same problem,
they keep losing one headlamp bulb every 10,000 miles
or so.

Passenger side light has not gone out once, just the driver
side.

If there is no fix, then it's LEDs or HIDs...
 
#2 ·
I will get LEDs, the driver can handle 12-24V, and won't
pass any surges to the LEDs. I found a nice set for $60
bucks, offered $55, we'll see what happens.

I have been putting the LED retrofit kits into a lot of cars when
I was working at the shop, and they all looked great. They have
warranties, as do the BULBS I bought, but, if a voltage surge is all
that is outing the bulb, the ballast (HID) or driver (LED) will handle it.

There is a TSB on this issue, harness related, and I found a thread
here in the forums about it.
 
#3 ·
Installed the HIDs in the high-beam reflector, what a process that was...
Good thing the harness inside the capsule comes apart, you can remove
the piece you grab to twist in, to leave just the two-prong socket for
tucking in! I did not know I only got a 35watt kit, not happy, so got to
get a 55watt kit...

It's not easy to install either. You need to take the bulb out, then the
metal clip under it. Slide (force) the HID H7 wires through the clip, and glue the bulb base
on to the metal clip. I used 5-min epoxy, then light it on fire to cure it fast.
Worked like a charm, everything is in, and working, but the hi-beams are
not as bright as I wanted, but are comparable to the 55-watt halogen, even
with the 35-watt kit.

The epoxy will break apart if you want it to, but I used enough to fasten it
together. It is also harder to twist in the bulb with just the metal clip,
because the plastic base on the HID is thicker than the metal base of the
OE bulbs, but it's a much tighter and firmer clamp down when twisted
in right.

The ballast plugs into the two pronged plug that is left after removing the
wing-nut like base to it, it's like a cap on top of the plug, pretty neat.

I will try and do the LEDs tomorrow, if not to cold out... I bring it all inside
to retrofit and epoxy, then plug it all in when done. I will need to round out
the clip to fit the LED shaft into it. The LED has the same metal base as
the OE bulb, so it won't be as tight twisting in, but will still need epoxied.
The drivers for the LEDs are twice as small as he slim ballasts, so they can
go inside the capsule.

If you do not epoxy the bases on to those metal clips, it's nearly impossible to
get them to twist in, because the HID or LED will just flop around on
you. Adhering it will keep it all together for a nice fit. I used a dab at
180 degrees apart, and it will pull apart if needed. Burning it just makes
it cure and harden faster...
 
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