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Low beam Burn Out

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tacoma-roma-aloha, Dec 7, 2015.

  1. Dec 7, 2015 at 3:48 AM
    #1
    tacoma-roma-aloha

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    tacoma-roma-aloha [OP] Member

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    new tires!... 60$ each! broke both front shock, replaced! rear suspension is saggy!! LOW RIDER!! , went down brushy trail... speed streaks!!! oooooOOOO
    Does anyone else have any issues with their Low Beam Headlights burning out every ~ 2 months.

    Is there a regulator for them that does not affect the high beams?
     
    tacoma-roma-aloha, Dec 7, 2015
    #1
  2. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:06 AM
    #2
    dwny500

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    dwny500 Well-Known Member

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    They're dual element bulbs, wear gloves when you replace the bulbs. Halogen bulbs burn hot so any dirt on them kills them.
     
    dwny500, Dec 7, 2015
    #2
  3. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:16 AM
    #3
    Ruggybuggy

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    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    Also buy a quality bulb. Some of the cheaper bulbs won't last as long. Performance bulbs also have a shorter life.
     
    Ruggybuggy, Dec 7, 2015
    #3
  4. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:17 AM
    #4
    Gearheadesw

    #4
    Gearheadesw must modify

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    Should last for years and years.
     
    Gearheadesw, Dec 7, 2015
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  5. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:30 AM
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    tacoma-roma-aloha

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    tacoma-roma-aloha [OP] Member

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    new tires!... 60$ each! broke both front shock, replaced! rear suspension is saggy!! LOW RIDER!! , went down brushy trail... speed streaks!!! oooooOOOO
    ya, i don't touch them at all. i'm buying the best bulbs with a warranty so i don't need to pay each time now ( scam i know).


    Any other theories?
     
    tacoma-roma-aloha, Dec 7, 2015
    #5
  6. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:33 AM
    #6
    prodeer

    #6
    prodeer Don't know what normal is anymore

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    What is the brand ypu are buying. I had piaa in my truck for a almost 4 years and never had a problem with them
     
    prodeer, Dec 7, 2015
    #6
  7. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:36 AM
    #7
    tacoma-roma-aloha

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    tacoma-roma-aloha [OP] Member

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    new tires!... 60$ each! broke both front shock, replaced! rear suspension is saggy!! LOW RIDER!! , went down brushy trail... speed streaks!!! oooooOOOO
    I've tried at least three brands. this is the fourth time in 8 months that they burn. I know i ski-doos there is a regulator that burns bulbs when the regulator is malfunctioning... i hate electrical work!
     
    tacoma-roma-aloha, Dec 7, 2015
    #7
  8. Dec 7, 2015 at 4:43 AM
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    Ruggybuggy

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    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    No regulator for bulb alone. Your going to have to have your electrical system diagnosed. If the charging system is running too high a voltage it would shorten bulb life.
     
    Ruggybuggy, Dec 7, 2015
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  9. Dec 7, 2015 at 5:00 AM
    #9
    NicNac

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    NicNac Well-Known Member

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    Which bulbs are you using??? I had the Sylvania golds and they would only last about 6 months even thou they had a 1 yr warranty.
     
    NicNac, Dec 7, 2015
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  10. Dec 7, 2015 at 5:02 AM
    #10
    NicNac

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    NicNac Well-Known Member

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    @prodeer, how much are the PIAA's could you provide a link to where you got them?
     
    NicNac, Dec 7, 2015
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  11. Dec 7, 2015 at 5:39 AM
    #11
    127.0.0.1

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    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    if they are decent bulbs with no fingerprints and your electrical system is clean

    make sure they are off when starting vehicle

    vehicle startup pulses can be hard on the filament life

    but ordinarily, the stock bulbs should last 6 friggin years or more
     
    127.0.0.1, Dec 7, 2015
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  12. Dec 7, 2015 at 5:44 AM
    #12
    prodeer

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    prodeer Don't know what normal is anymore

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    prodeer, Dec 7, 2015
    #12
  13. Dec 7, 2015 at 5:45 AM
    #13
    NAAC3TACO

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    NAAC3TACO Middle aged member

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    You may want to look at the connector and see if there is any corrosion. This is a problem on the Chevy Trailblazer. We have customers (I work at a Chevy dealer) that come in complaining about their headlight bulbs burning out on a regular basis and a new connector solves the problem. Something to look at.
     
    NAAC3TACO, Dec 7, 2015
    #13
  14. Dec 7, 2015 at 6:14 AM
    #14
    boogie3478

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    boogie3478 Well-Known Member

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    Even cheap headlight bulbs should last longer than 2 months. Maybe some kind of electrical issue.
     
    boogie3478, Dec 7, 2015
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  15. Dec 7, 2015 at 6:49 AM
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    tacoma-roma-aloha

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    tacoma-roma-aloha [OP] Member

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    new tires!... 60$ each! broke both front shock, replaced! rear suspension is saggy!! LOW RIDER!! , went down brushy trail... speed streaks!!! oooooOOOO
    Where can i check the charging voltage? across the alternator terminals?
     
    tacoma-roma-aloha, Dec 7, 2015
    #15
  16. Dec 7, 2015 at 8:40 AM
    #16
    127.0.0.1

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    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    yes across terminals will show the volts of battery, then start vehicle and if
    the alternator charges more than the battery volts, you are now looking at charging volts

    you will get whatever is the highest value across terminals,

    so I'd expect 11.x or something, then 13-14 when running
     
    127.0.0.1, Dec 7, 2015
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  17. Dec 7, 2015 at 7:30 PM
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    Ruggybuggy

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    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    A fully charged battery will read 12.5 to 12.7 Volts. Take your readings at the battery terminals. When the vehicle is running with no loads on (headlights, heater fan defroster) max battery voltage will be around 14.5V. If you get higher than that time to visit a repair shop if your not confident in proceeding.
     
    Ruggybuggy, Dec 7, 2015
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  18. Dec 8, 2015 at 5:59 AM
    #18
    tgear.shead

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    tgear.shead Well-Known Member

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    Oil contaminated surface won't cause the filament to burn out, since the glass is still there to protect it. Oil contamination can cause the glass bulb to explode. This would impact both of the filaments (high and low) and not just the low.

    OP: There is a regulator built into your alternator. If it is fried, it could have more serious repercussions than just burning your low beam. Get a volt meter and track the output voltage while the vehicle is being driven. If it ever reaches 15 volts or higher, you have a regulator problem. The correct voltage will be 13.8-14.4 volts.
     
    tgear.shead, Dec 8, 2015
    #18
  19. Dec 8, 2015 at 6:47 AM
    #19
    127.0.0.1

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    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    yeah oil might cause bulb to rupture but that is not the real problem

    any dirt at all, contamination, or oil on surface creates a temperature gradient...and some of the vaporized tungsten
    (which is what floats around inside the glass when the filament is hot) will tend to deposit on the inside surface
    of the glass where the temperature gradient is, rather than back to the filament where it belongs when the filament
    cools. with no contamination the best possible percentage of tungsten will redeposit, with contamination you
    reduce the life of the filament by a large factor. bulb can stay intact, but life is shortened with each speck of dirt
     
    127.0.0.1, Dec 8, 2015
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    Ruggybuggy likes this.
  20. Dec 8, 2015 at 5:30 PM
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    NicNac

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    NicNac Well-Known Member

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    NicNac, Dec 8, 2015
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Piaa 15224 H4 (9003 / HB2) Xtreme White Plus High Performance Halogen Bulb, (Pack of 2)
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