Bulb Faliure

Hey People,

I know this has been asked before - but what exactly dues the bulb light out actually mean? I knwo it doesn't cover head lights from my 440, but it did come on for the 440 tail lights. I've just discovered one of the 4 bulbs has blown on my V40 and..... no warning light.

Do they just cover the brake lights on V40's?

Stu

Stu

I'm pretty sure it checks the brake lights only seeing as it goes out on the dash when you press the brake pedal first time.

Something to do with resistance in the circuit - if there is not enough it assumes that a bulb has gone and stays lit on the dash.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that you should change the brake bulbs as a pair to overcome differences between a new and old bulb.


Mike

I guess I just have to keep an eye out for broken bulbs then :(

Oh well...

Stu

[Dan F]

Hi Guys, the bulb blown indicator DOES work on the headlamps for x40s AND as well on 440s. or at least it should do.
It works on Voltage drop, so it only works correctly if all bulbs on both sides of the car are the same rating. So it may say, for example, that a bulb has gone when one hasn't just because you have a 10w bulb in the tail light on one side and a 5w one on the other. Also it can say a bulb has gone when even the full beam filament is gone but the light isn't on, so you need to check all lights before finding out which it may be. Also a filament might be broken, but the filament can fuse back together again when you go over a bump and the light will come back on. A thump on the light with your fist sometimes does the same thing. :)
Could be a reverse light or indicator too, although the latter would show up by the winkers going faster than normal as well.

One of the dipped beam headlamps went on my C70 this morning too, as it happens, and the little warning light duly came on.

Cheers,
Dan.

[GorgeousGeorge]

evenin

headlamp gave up the ghost on my V40 the other day and no warning light came on !! sitting behind a bus and just saw it go off.

oh, and before you waste your money on lazer blue light bulbs dont bother, they dont look that much different, should have gone with the osram ones they got a good rating in autoexpress the other week.

http://www.powerbulbs.com

seem to offer some good stuff

cheers

scott

The bulb in question had actually gone before and the 'Onslo' method did bring it back to life for a few weeks...

Stu

[Dan F]

The bulb failure circuit is notoriusly unreliable on early cars (notably on the 400 series). It SHOULD work on all bulbs, but often doesn't. :-(
In an ideal world the bulbs would all be the same make and rating on each side of the car, but in reality they never are.

Will be checking out different bulb types shortly, as the headlamp is now gone on my car.

Dan.