Parking light bulbs

[dave_mcmillan]

OK...I can not seem to keep these things working, I replace them then about a week or 2 later they are blown. I have been buying standard O'reilys, autozone replacements bulbs not a big expense at $2.00 but still I would think they should last a little while. Nothing seems to make sense its not a specific side etc..just seems to blow out.

So I am wondering what bulbs are you guys using for your parking lights and where did you get them?

Is this just happening to me?

 

[brian2sun]

I've replaced mine about 3 times in 10 years with O'Reilly's and Autozones, so I think you have an issue. I'm wondering if your problem is corroded connectors. Take em out, inspect all the wiring you can see, clean the connectors, and put a little dielectric grease in there. I've seen bulbs go out prematurely when there's corrosion.

If that doesn't help, it may be shorting out somewhere and blowing the bulb like a fuse. Possibly water is getting inside?

 

[dave_mcmillan]

Perfect...will do....thanks for the quick response. I was really careful when I changed the bulbs last time trying to not touch the bulbs with my hands (used clean shop rag) in case that was what caused them to blow last time.

not the worst thing to change but still I literelly changed them on Friday 4-8-2011 and noticed the driver side was out last Saturday 4-23-2011. I pulled a "fonze" and palmed the light and it came back on for a few days then it finally gave up the ghost.

My thought is maybe the bulb came loose <-:shrug: and then when purseuaded reconnected but it did not last long after doing that. I will try the grease and look for water as well as inspect the connections...any tips on cleaning the connections if they are caroaded?

 

[brian2sun]

Perfect...will do....thanks for the quick response. I was really careful when I changed the bulbs last time trying to not touch the bulbs with my hands (used clean shop rag) in case that was what caused them to blow last time.

not the worst thing to change but still I literelly changed them on Friday 4-8-2011 and noticed the driver side was out last Saturday 4-23-2011. I pulled a "fonze" and palmed the light and it came back on for a few days then it finally gave up the ghost.

My thought is maybe the bulb came loose <-:shrug: and then when purseuaded reconnected but it did not last long after doing that. I will try the grease and look for water as well as inspect the connections...any tips on cleaning the connections if they are caroaded?

If it was off, you "fonzed" it and then it came back on, you either have the same special powers that only the select few like The Fonze have or it's a connection issue, not a bulb. And actually, Coke cleans electrical terminals pretty darn good. I just hit it up with water after and blow it out really good with compressed air.

 

[YotaZach85]

If it was off, you "fonzed" it and then it came back on, you either have the same special powers that only the select few like The Fonze have or it's a connection issue, not a bulb. And actually, Coke cleans electrical terminals pretty darn good. I just hit it up with water after and blow it out really good with compressed air.

It's quite common to be able to smack a light and it come back on, basically your vibrating the two broke pieces of filiament to a point that they touch again and the current keeps them connected until a bump or something else disconnects the already weak connection and at that point there isnt enough filament left to reconnect by smacking it.

 

[ryhi]

you can do what i did and just leave them out. i took out the bulb and plugged the socket back in so it doesnt fog up. personally i dont like the look of the parking lights.

 

[dave_mcmillan]

Thanks guys or:

 

[TheDurk]

If you still have any of the 'dead' bulbs around, I would try just using two wires to connect them to 12V DC to see if they are really dead. If they light up, you know you have a connection problem. I keep an old 12v burglar alarm battery in my shop for this. You can also take a wire attached to ground of your car and hold it to one contact. Then carefully touch the other contact to the battery positive terminal. Don't let the the ground circuit (the other contact, the wire, and any part of you) touch the positive or you will get a nasty shock.