Headlight Bulbs - WTF

I just changed the bulb on the driver's side and a couple weeks later the passenger side went, no big deal. A couple months later my driver's side bulb blew again. I was talking with another Taco owner who said the same thing happened to him and after the original bulbs went, he's had several that have blown and he has to keep changing them. Has anyone else experienced this and/or is this a known occurrence?

 

Are you replacing them with halogen bulbs?

 

Using clean latex gloves for the install?

 

This is where I was heading with it, any oil off your skin will cause the bulbs to overheat and burn out prematurely.

 

yea..dont touch the bulbs with bare fingers. that's the angel of death to a headlight bulb.

i just changed out my driver's side with a phillips..so far so good. it is a different hue as the OEM bulb on the other side. oh well.

 

How humiliating. ghetto taco.

 

I did wear them during the change, but probably not when I opened the package although I was careful not to touch the bulb. Pretty sure they were halogen.

 

If your bulb failed because you touched it, you will likely be able to spot the smudge after the oils burned. I believe the oils will cause the glass to weaken and crack allowing air in. Have a gander when you pull them out and that may help you figure out what's caused the problem.

 

I'd say change them again being sure you use gloves from the moment you crack the plastic. If they pop again check the harness(es). Especially if it's isolated to one side. I had a Cavalier years back that ate the driver's side taillight quarterly. Ended up being a short inside the plug that was melting the plastic on the bulbs and breaking the wires.

 

Not just grease from your fingers. Watch the grease from the engine compartment.