headlight ponderings

[curtis]

I realized something last night when pulling out some parts from under the bench. I have 4 93 headlights besides mine and another set I need to put projectors in for someone.

So one passenger and 3 drivers. The one passenger is fine with minor peeling of the chrome but the 3 drivers all have serious peeling problems and one even got so hot it melted the bulb plastic to the thermoset resin of the backplate and distorted that. I really think its something in the wiring that causes to much heat to that one bulb because over the years its usually the driver side that is peeled more than the passenger side.

That is all.... just found it strange, I just don't see it being the plating process on one side failing, I'm sure they get the same treatment on the left and right side lights.

 

[prove_it]

interesting.

The lights are wired in parallel, so load should stay the same. I wonder if there is maybe a bit more resistance in the body wiring in the drivers side.

 

[DR1665]

Well, since the driver side is always in use when the car is running, it's only fitting that headlight would be used more and subject to wear issues such as these before the passenger side.


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hsugh.gif

 

[cheekychimp]

Could it just be the bulbs? I remember putting bulbs in my 8G once that ran too hot and melted all the connectors. Strange that it would only happen on one side rather than the other because I doubt someone would swap in a mismatched bulb, but just throwing it out there since this was an issue I had on another Mitsu car.

 

[curtis]

Driggy step away from the bottle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rofl.gif


Toybreaker just sent me a PM and after thought I think he's on to something. The coolant overflow tank is on that side. He told me once about and audi (I think) he troubleshooted that kept getting coolant in the cabin/trunk... what was happening the coolant sensor in the tank would allow coolant to pressurize and go into the wire and then would travel in the system. Ours doesn't have a sensor but maybe vapor in the close proximity is causing some problem with the wiring and creating problems. That or me and him both have had to many late night beverages. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[toybreaker]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif





/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rofl.gif




gentlemen,

I think the issue is waaay simpler than you're making it out to be.

The air intake for the airbox is on the passenger side, (that means it's ~approximately~ ambient temperature in that area)


The coolant overflow tank is located on the passenger side, and during most phases of engine operation, there will be some pretty substantial additional heat added to the area as the coolant warms up/expands and is pushed out to the overflow bottle.

This heat will work on the plastic of the headlight housing, shortening the service life of the reflective coating compared to the cooler passenger's side



... in addition, heat increases the resistance in an electrical system considerably, ... which creates more heat, ... which creates more resistance.

This often factors in to statistical anomolies such as vehicles that need three left headlight bulbs replaced for every righty, and why only one side of the system melts it's electrical connectors/wiring.

Something as simple as placing a small amount of heat reflecting wrap on the harness in areas where it';s subject to high engine compartmemnt temps will go along way towards mitigating these circumstances




duhs that mayk sehnse neow, Curtis?

 

[cheekychimp]

Or get a RHD car and then you no longer have issues with the Driver's side light ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rofl.gif

Yeah yeah I know ... lay off the Bailey's already!!!

 

[curtis]

duhs that mayk sehnse neow, Curtis?

Yea It does now but no beer in my system but also haven't had crap for sleep so talk slower and do it again ***. And no wasn't drinking Coors, when you told me and Chris you lived above the headwaters of the brewery I get this sick image of you pissing off your porch in your fuzzy house shoes aiming towards Coors everytime I see a Coors commercial or see it in a store.

Budweiser = horsepiss
Coors = Hall family DNA spreading throughout the world. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/uhh.gif


This is yet another silver bullet I never want anything to do with.