ZoomZoomBlue

I know we've talked about this in the past, but i haven't found any results in my searches. Has anyone else had problems with the bulbs blowing out rather quickly? I've gone through three different bulbs in my drivers side light. 1 Stock, 1 Eurolite and 1 Sylvania Cool Blue. Anyone else experiencing the 6 month lifespan of a drivers side bulb?

Redfyre

Aftermarket bulbs will tend to blowout quickly. Xenon filled bulbs will burn hotter so don't expect much life out of them.

Expect only about 8 months out of the Eurolites. I don't know about the Sylvania though but I"d imagine they will last about the same.

ZoomZoomBlue

I can understand the bulbs blowin out, but i'm a lil perplexed that the stock bulbs blew out in about 6 months, and all my blowouts have occurred on the driver's side.

90210brandon

I have had a problem with 3 bulbs also, all on the same side of the car. When I went to the dealer to get the bulbs replaced(because it is still under warrenty), he told me that he has had a lot of custumer rides in lately. He said that he had not heard of a Mazda problem and he attributed it to just a faulty light bulb batch. BTW, all OEM bulbs are sylvanias. Now, I have had the same bulbs in for 2 months and counting *knocking on wood* and no problem.

zmzmp5

Simply put - fact: The drivers side draws more volt/amp than the passenger. I have had a many different bulbs that blow out (including stock) between 1-6month period of time. I now stick with Sylvania Cool Blues as these are the less of all problems (even over stock). I have since upgraded (not by choice) by H7 sockets as well and seem to have better luck with Auto-Zone type after-market wire/harness ($3/side).

- Brian

goldstar

How can you say this is a fact? Both bulbs are identical. They each draw the same amount of current at the same voltage and therefore they each draw the same amount of power in watts.

zmzmp5

Okay, on this board, and the "other" board, I have put detailed analysis/technical detail to prove there is the drivers side problem. Furthermore, most dealership service departments acknowledge this as well as Mazda corporate. I ended up having to replace my headlights due to this problem (out of my own pocket). Please do a SEARCH and you will find the detail. If I had more time now I would put the links for you, I apologize that I don't have the time currently.

- Brian

Redfyre

Yeah, wtf? How is it one side draws more power than the other when it's a circuit? It's probably some obsure space-time continium thing that your one side blows out more. As for the stock bulbs blowing so soon, this is very uncommon. Just shitty luck I think.

skyhawk174

Wow, and I thought I was the only one with driver's side bulb problems. I've changed my bulbs 3 times already and it has always been on the driver's side.

The last time I changed I made sure I was using 55W blubs so I know it is not because of the extra wattage.

Okay I'll go do search now for that technical stuff about the driver's side drawing more which I think is weird if you ask me.

LooseCannon

i have replaced 2 on one side and 1 on the other. (sorry can't remember which side was 2)
1st @ 30k kms
2nd (other side) @ 45k kms
3rd (1st one again) @ 60k kms
i'm at 72k kms now so i'm expecting to do one again soon.
seems fairly normal to me and i also had my car slammed on GC coilovers for 2 summers which is rough on bulbs, and live in a climate that has extreme highs and lows.

just my 2 cents

bazooka joe

i have replaced the drivers side lamp 7 times in 2-1/2 yrs. i thought it was the crappy lamps i was buying. i just repalce my drivers side sylvania cool blue. what gives?

ZoomZoomBlue

Unfortunately i won't know until next saturday what the real deal is.. Its goin into the techies at the dealership then, and i should get an answer.

LooseCannon

you guys do know that you can't touch the bulb, right?

just checking.

Omron

As LooseCannon mentioned, if you happen to touch the bulb with your bare hands, you are destorying the bulb yourself.

The oil on your hands can cause hot spots on the bulb, due to the intense heat. I have also heard that these can be seen on a burnt out bulb.

Cause if your replacing your bulb 7 times in 3 years , there is a serious problem with your car lamp, or your touching the bulb glass while installing, which is a commonthing to do when your changing lighting in your home, or for a flashlight, but the car headlights are a no no.

bazooka joe

yes. i know not to touch the lamp. the first few lamps i had were junk. i thought the sylvanias would last a lot longer...i got maybe 5 months out of it... and again it's on the drivers side only. if we were all touching the lamp, wouldn't both sides burn out???