C3 Headlamp Lamps Blowing

[Guest smudger]

anybody else had this trouble.original bulbs lasted nearly three years,first one blew,2nd two months later.since then one blows about every three months,it's getting ridiculous.i have tried cheap bulbs,expensive bulbs,different makes and none of them last.i have measured the battery voltage with engine running and regulates at 14.6 volts so thats ok,besides which i have not blown any other bulbs at all.i am very carefull not to touch the bulbs when fitting so any ideas from others would be great,cheers

[Minchroadster]

anybody else had this trouble.original bulbs lasted nearly three years,first one blew,2nd two months later.since then one blows about every three months,it's getting ridiculous.i have tried cheap bulbs,expensive bulbs,different makes and none of them last.i have measured the battery voltage with engine running and regulates at 14.6 volts so thats ok,besides which i have not blown any other bulbs at all.i am very carefull not to touch the bulbs when fitting so any ideas from others would be great,cheers

 

Ditto on my 1.4 Smudger and what a b*gg*r they are to replace, unless some one can tell me how you access the in-accessible headlamps!

 

There must be an easy way to remove/release the headlamps for access?

 

Minchroadster

[fishears]

Ditto on my 1.4 Smudger and what a b*gg*r they are to replace, unless some one can tell me how you access the in-accessible headlamps!

 

There must be an easy way to remove/release the headlamps for access?

 

Minchroadster

 

i had the same thing after changing my bulbs once. The likely cause is that some significant amount of moisture got into the headlamp unit either while you changed the bulbs or due to a poorly fitted cover after you changed the bulbs. If you get moisture (or ice at this time of year) on the bulbs when you switch them on they're likely to blow. Check the cover is fitted correctly - its a b*gg*r on the nearside. Look for any signs of moisture in the headlamp unit. If there is any then pick a dry day to drive around with the cover off and your bulbs on to dry it out.

[mirandac81]

i had the same thing after changing my bulbs once. The likely cause is that some significant amount of moisture got into the headlamp unit either while you changed the bulbs or due to a poorly fitted cover after you changed the bulbs. If you get moisture (or ice at this time of year) on the bulbs when you switch them on they're likely to blow. Check the cover is fitted correctly - its a b*gg*r on the nearside. Look for any signs of moisture in the headlamp unit. If there is any then pick a dry day to drive around with the cover off and your bulbs on to dry it out.

 

The first time one of my bulbs went I had to take it back to Citroen and they said they use a special tool to fit the headlight bulbs, they also charge a stupid price for fiting it for you!

Since then I've got through 2 more bulbs in a year. I had Halfords fit one and got charged a more reasonable £4.99, although it did take them nearly an hour. I decided I wasn't gonna pay anyone else to do it when the bulb blew again and managed to do it myself. But after asking Citroen to check the headlight that I had changed (because after Halfords changed the one before condensation appeared in the casing) as part of my recent service and mot, I got told that I had broken the whole unit by fitting it myself as moisture had got in and rusted the automatic aim of the bulb. I failed my mot on the incorrect aim of the bulb, even though i asked them to check it all before and my car was kept for a further day. The next day was when I actually got told I would need a new headlight unit for £172. I went ahead with all the work, but it wasn't until the next day that I noticed that the headlight I and halfords had changed was still there and it was actually the one without the condensation, the one Citroen had changed the blown bulb on, that had been replaced. I am now taking this further as since getting my car back my centre locking isn't working properly either. :(

[BarbsC1]

i had the same thing after changing my bulbs once. The likely cause is that some significant amount of moisture got into the headlamp unit either while you changed the bulbs or due to a poorly fitted cover after you changed the bulbs. If you get moisture (or ice at this time of year) on the bulbs when you switch them on they're likely to blow. Check the cover is fitted correctly - its a b*gg*r on the nearside. Look for any signs of moisture in the headlamp unit. If there is any then pick a dry day to drive around with the cover off and your bulbs on to dry it out.

This is a known C3 fault, the permanent cure is you get an additional loom basically a long piece of wire I think it is a resistive wire that you put into the dipped beam circuit, had mine done at a Citroen dealership 3 years ago after going through 5 new bulbs in about 3 months, never replaced one since, was told it needed it because the circuit gets a voltage surge The halogen bulbed C8's also suffer with this

[BarbsC1]

This is a known C3 fault, the permanent cure is you get an additional loom basically a long piece of wire I think it is a resistive wire that you put into the dipped beam circuit, had mine done at a Citroen dealership 3 years ago after going through 5 new bulbs in about 3 months, never replaced one since, was told it needed it because the circuit gets a voltage surge which occurs because of a static build up via the alternator belt, the garage said a non genuine belt might cure the problem but the loom definately would