Headlight Bulbs

[coastline taxis]

why oh why do c5s go through so many headlight bulbs is there a wiring/earth problem. Its every c5 i know that has the same bulb problen. Got a citroen relay and get a couple of years out of them h/light bulbs c5 you get 2 to 3 months, could the bulb be getting to hot

[Randombloke]

why oh why do c5s go through so many headlight bulbs is there a wiring/earth problem. Its every c5 i know that has the same bulb problen.

 

I will be honest about being a possible BS merchant here, but the headlights on a C5 are subject to voltage surges with the flickering caused by the new electric style hydraulic pump. That and random on-off messages from the auto lights on can't help.

 

My money is on the pump causing the problem. Same bulbs in a non electric pump car will last forever, is my guess.

[mlkey]

I will be honest about being a possible BS merchant here, but the headlights on a C5 are subject to voltage surges with the flickering caused by the new electric style hydraulic pump. That and random on-off messages from the auto lights on can't help.

 

My money is on the pump causing the problem. Same bulbs in a non electric pump car will last forever, is my guess.

 

I would agree on the voltage fluctuations. The other thing that can cause them to go prematurely is hard suspension, which obviously, the C5 does not have.

 

I also tried running some Halfrauds Extreme Brilliance bulbs. I replaced one of the standard bulbs with the aforementioned when it blew, only to have the replacement blow within 3 months. The other standard bulb is still going strong. So, while you can get the better performing bulbs, I personally believe their service life is seriously compromised due to the hotter (brighter) burn.

[crapday]

I had a wiring fault with my C5. Cost £120 to fix. Had to replace another bulb just after (or was it before) Christmas.

[coastline taxis]

ok just mulling ideas around and probally barking up the wrong tree as im no auto electrician just looking for a solution to what is a pain in the backside

if it is power surges that cause them to blow............. would putting a lower rated fuse in say a 10 instead of a 15 amp and there was a surge then the fuse would blow and not the bulb as its easier and cheaper to replace the fuse or would the smaller amp fuse just blow as soon as the headlights are turned on.

[mlkey]

ok just mulling ideas around and probally barking up the wrong tree as im no auto electrician just looking for a solution to what is a pain in the backside

if it is power surges that cause them to blow............. would putting a lower rated fuse in say a 10 instead of a 15 amp and there was a surge then the fuse would blow and not the bulb as its easier and cheaper to replace the fuse or would the smaller amp fuse just blow as soon as the headlights are turned on.

 

10 amps would be too close to the constant pull of 9 amps on dip, and would not allow for any initial spike when you switch them on, by all means try, but I think the fuse would pop. What bulbs are you fitting? Some do seem to last longer than others.. I travel mainly early morning and late evening, so the headlights are mostly on every day for at least two hours, the passenger side one has not blown in the time I had the car, but I have replaced the driver side twice..

[paul.h]

Rather than a surge it may be a power dip to the lights when the pump runs so the lights go dim. This may suggest the wiring it not thick enough to handle the extra current for the pump and results in a voltage drop across the wiring as the pump runs. I have not looked at a wiring diagram but may be the pump should have its own feed from the battery. A volt meter at the battery and the lights may give some useful info. when the pump runs.

[myglaren]

I have had my C5 for two years (in a weeks time). It is used every day, mixtures of very long and very short trips, day and night driving.

I have auto headlights enabled and the headlights are lit 90% of the time - Other cars I have had without Auto headlights I always drive with the lights on anyway.

 

In the two years, I have had a grand total of three headlight bulbs and then only because I dropped one into the headlight unit and couldn't get it out - it is still there, 18 months on :rolleyes:.

 

They aren't special bulbs but when they blow I was tempted to get the 100W variants.

 

As for the suspension pump being the cause, I am very sceptical about this.

I have noticed that while doing Citroebics at traffic lights in the dusk, the lights don't appear to flicker.

To confirm this, I went out and sat in the car last night and did a long series of Citroebics, with the lights on of course. They never flickered once.

My conclusion is that the suspension pump is therefore NOT the cause of the lights blanking out occasionally - mine do, but not often.

I find that it happens most noticably when ascending an up-ramp/sliproad onto an elevated motorway, as the car levels off the lights blink out for an instant.

I don't have a theory for that.

[seefive]

why oh why do c5s go through so many headlight bulbs is there a wiring/earth problem. Its every c5 i know that has the same bulb problen. Got a citroen relay and get a couple of years out of them h/light bulbs c5 you get 2 to 3 months, could the bulb be getting to hot

 

I only had problems when I had after-market bulbs fitted (lasted less than a year). Had an OE bulb fitted by Citroen garage in autumn 2007 and no problems so far (tempting fate I know).

 

On the one occasion I tried to do the job myself I couldn't shift the connector, and was afraid of breaking it. I think the pins get hot and weld themselves to the connector.

 

So I grit my teeth and pay £30 to the dealer now - probably cheaper in the long run.

[ando7p]

Had mine since last July and have had to change 2 bulbs; 1 either side. Don't forget that its still cold out there and with no burn in (fade start) you are taking a cold element to white hot in a millisecond which is always going to be a risk to its integrity.

 

I have noticed my lights dip momentarily a lot. Pattern seems to be just after setting off when the suspension 'does its thing', so maybe there is a relationship. If you are that interested then a simple capacitor across the wires will help to reduce the surge, but might be a bit awkward to fit on the standard loom given the access restrictions.

[seefive]

Another possible reason I don't go through so many bulbs could be that I have H3+ suspension ( with the sport button I never use) I believe this gives you an extra sphere, and may be less fidgety than H3. I certainly don't relate to talk of "Citroebics" when I get in the car.

 

The main dealer mentioned if I upgrade to Xenon, the bulbs are guaranteed for life (inc fitting) - might be worth considering

[Randombloke]

I have H3+ suspension ( with the sport button I never use)

 

Use it! It makes a big difference on twisty roads.

[coastline taxis]

Well tried the 10 amp and its no good went thru fuses every time you go from high to dipped ha ha .

anybody got a 12 and 3/4 amp fuse ?.

[bigdavie]

Well tried the 10 amp and its no good went thru fuses every time you go from high to dipped ha ha .

anybody got a 12 and 3/4 amp fuse ?.

in nearly 5 years ive went through two sets of headlight bulbs ! not bad at all in my book !

[myglaren]

Well tried the 10 amp and its no good went thru fuses every time you go from high to dipped ha ha .

anybody got a 12 and 3/4 amp fuse ?.

 

For a lot of electronics applications it is possible to source 'slow-blow' fuses that don't fail with a transient inrush current. Perhaps there is an automotive variant?

Perhaps RS on Team Valley have them, if you are over that way (Dukesway Court IIRC), or Aitken Brothers on High Bridge.

[fatgut]

why oh why do c5s go through so many headlight bulbs is there a wiring/earth problem. Its every c5 i know that has the same bulb problen. Got a citroen relay and get a couple of years out of them h/light bulbs c5 you get 2 to 3 months, could the bulb be getting to hot

Here's my experience with headlight bulbs in the 5 years we've had a C5 hDi LX from new:

Only dipped beam ones seem to ever fail.

Cheaper non-E marked bulbs go very quickly, so I always now buy the longer-life type that have that e mark too.

The more night driving you do the quicker they go. (Obvious, but easily overlooked fact by people reporting bulb life, made a great difference when our car usage pattern changed.)

As for the 'suspension effect', no idea if is a factor, but on our 03 car when outside house, beam shining on house wall, engine running,with both dipped and full beam, if push button to raise car, there's a brief delay, then a headlight flicker when the car raises from normal height to mid position, and then from mid to highest. Going down causes no flicker. In the handbook it states that the car lowers itself automatically at high speed, so presumably is doing the reverse as it slows down again, so presumably that explains the flicker that we've always noticed with headlights right from new when driving mainly on A roads on main beam. Must be going too quick on motorways for suspension to be re-adjusting itself and speed is more constant.

[Randombloke]

As for the 'suspension effect', no idea if is a factor, but on our 03 car when outside house, beam shining on house wall, engine running,with both dipped and full beam, if push button to raise car, there's a brief delay, then a headlight flicker when the car raises from normal height to mid position, and then from mid to highest. Going down causes no flicker.

 

Yes, because it's only when the car is raised that the pump needs to run, on lowering the car pressure is simply dumped by a valve. The headlights flicker because the pump has a very big switch on surge current, like all big motors. When raising the car the pump needs to place more fluid in the hydraulic system.

 

In the handbook it states that the car lowers itself automatically at high speed, so presumably is doing the reverse as it slows down again, so presumably that explains the flicker that we've always noticed with headlights right from new when driving mainly on A roads on main beam.

 

IIRC this only happens if you car has H3+, not H3.