dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
Search similar:


uniqs
24674
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood

Member

[Help] Burning through tail light bulbs

Our 08 Chevy Malibu Classic LS(3.5L V6) keeps burning tail light bulbs for an unknown reason. It started at around 15k miles and both the left and right tail light bulbs have been changed at least 9 times in the past 2-3 years. A couple under warranty at the dealer and the rest by me. We even got Sylvania Long Life bulbs that did not do any better than regular. The battery in the car has been replaced with a new genuine GM battery(it needed it anyways) and that also has not done anything to help. My question is, would new sockets for both tail lights most likely solve the problem?

shdesigns
Powered By Infinite Improbabilty Drive
Premium Member
join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA
(Software) pfSense
ARRIS SB6121

shdesigns

Premium Member

Run lights, brake lights, turn lights?

Loose sockets might be an issue or corroded contacts.

The brake switch can also cause issues especially those that rest their foot on the pedal. It can switch on/off rapidly that is hard on the bulbs.

BK3
join:2001-04-10
Geneva, IL

BK3 to billydunwood

Member

to billydunwood
Check the output voltage of the alternator to see if it is in spec.

FuriousG
join:2002-08-21
Kenora, ON

FuriousG to billydunwood

Member

to billydunwood
Are the bulb filaments actually open? Those bulb connector terminals have a bad habit of melting, people replace the bulb and it makes contact long enough for you to drive away.

Pull the bulbs out and check inside. Sometimes it isn't extremely evident that it has burnt, the terminal inside may look twisted off to one side or melted into the socket base not allowing it to spring closed on the bulb.
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood to shdesigns

Member

to shdesigns
said by shdesigns:

Run lights, brake lights, turn lights?

Loose sockets might be an issue or corroded contacts.

The brake switch can also cause issues especially those that rest their foot on the pedal. It can switch on/off rapidly that is hard on the bulbs.

It is the turn lights. The sockets don't seem loose to me and I do not see any corroded contacts on the left one. I am going to check the right socket tomorrow
billydunwood

billydunwood to FuriousG

Member

to FuriousG
said by FuriousG:

Are the bulb filaments actually open? Those bulb connector terminals have a bad habit of melting, people replace the bulb and it makes contact long enough for you to drive away.

Pull the bulbs out and check inside. Sometimes it isn't extremely evident that it has burnt, the terminal inside may look twisted off to one side or melted into the socket base not allowing it to spring closed on the bulb.

The bulb itself has some black on the inside/outside and to me that indicates that it is burnt. Is that correct?
bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
dot.earth

bbear2 to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
If it's only the turn lights, is it only the rear ones?

Thinking it could be a defective flasher providing erratic voltage to the bulb. You might have to put it on an oscilloscope to know for sure or just replace the flasher and see.
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood

Member

said by bbear2:

If it's only the turn lights, is it only the rear ones?

Thinking it could be a defective flasher providing erratic voltage to the bulb. You might have to put it on an oscilloscope to know for sure or just replace the flasher and see.

Correct, only the rear turn light bulbs

shdesigns
Powered By Infinite Improbabilty Drive
Premium Member
join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA

shdesigns

Premium Member

said by billydunwood:

Correct, only the rear turn light bulbs

Are there separate brake light bulbs?

Babar
Premium Member
join:2001-05-09
Washington

Babar to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
Are you handling the bulbs with your bare fingers while installing?
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood to shdesigns

Member

to shdesigns
said by shdesigns:

said by billydunwood:

Correct, only the rear turn light bulbs

Are there separate brake light bulbs?

I can't say 100% sure but I believe it is a brake light and turn signal in one. Although we have the same 2 in 1 turn/brake light configuration on our Ford and Mercury and have never had to install a new light

aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA

2 recommendations

aurgathor to billydunwood

Member

to billydunwood
A scope would show what's happening, but most people don't have one. However, you should be able to hook up a voltmeter and you can try look at the voltage while the bulb is blinking -- the readings may not be good, but it's worth a try.

On the other hand, you should be able to measure the alternator's output.

Normally, bulbs burn out because:
a) high voltage
b) high inrush current
c) excessive number of on/off cycles

In an automotive system, you shouldn't have much more than about 14.5V, and a bulb designed for turn signal use shouldn't have much issue with b and c.

I would try to determine the peak voltage seen by the affected bulbs, and go from there.

It's not a true fix, but you can just install a series diode -- that should drop the voltage by about 0.7 - 1.0V, and decrease the inrush current somewhat.
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood to Babar

Member

to Babar
said by Babar:

Are you handling the bulbs with your bare fingers while installing?

I have done them bare hands and also wearing gloves.

shdesigns
Powered By Infinite Improbabilty Drive
Premium Member
join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA

shdesigns to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
Have someone watch the lights and see if the come on cleanly when you press the brake. Move pedal real slow. You often find there is a point where they flicker.
bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
dot.earth

1 recommendation

bbear2 to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
How many filaments and how many contacts on the bottom? Post the bulb number and we can tell.
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood

Member

said by bbear2:

How many filaments and how many contacts on the bottom? Post the bulb number and we can tell.

Sylvanis 3057LL

Splain
Splain
join:2001-08-02
Las Vegas, NV

Splain to billydunwood

Member

to billydunwood
Check the ground there may be a common ground for the turn signals.
bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
dot.earth

bbear2 to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
This is one of those things, that unless you're looking at it makes it difficult to picture. That 3057 is a dual filament bulb. There are four contacts; 2 on each side. The socket has 3 wires coming from it, presumably 2 signal wires and 1 ground, which means that it ties two of the bulb ground contacts together internally.

What I don't get is whether or not the bulb connector is "keyed" to the socket; that is you cannot put it in the reverse way. Everything I can find does not speak to this. Also, if you could manage to put it in "backwards", things could still work for a while, but the weaker filament could be stressed more than it was meant to be and burn out prematurely. And best I can tell, it does not appear that both elements are equal.
bbear2

bbear2 to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
I found this page that has a description of the contacts, albeit for the 3157 but it appears that it is interchangeable with the 3057.

This is the best I've been able to find and it shows that there could be more than one way to wire this thing up. yeah I know it's for LED, but still worth a read.
»www.autolumination.com/3 ··· ing.html
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

billydunwood

Member

Thanks guys for the response and the detail in the answer. The alternator measured within specs. When we stepped on the brake pedal very slowly, we did not see any flicker whatsoever. What I am going to do is replace both sockets and will create an update in 4 or 5 months when the bulbs usually go out to tell you how everything worked.

shdesigns
Powered By Infinite Improbabilty Drive
Premium Member
join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA

1 recommendation

shdesigns to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
Another option is to switch to LED bulbs.

Grumpy4
Premium Member
join:2001-07-28
NW CT

Grumpy4 to billydunwood

Premium Member

to billydunwood
I've seen this happen due to transient voltage spikes in between the primary and secondary voltage stages that hit bulbs that are lit during engine start, although this situation usually causes bulbs to turn silver on the inside.

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

mackey to aurgathor

Premium Member

to aurgathor
said by aurgathor:

Normally, bulbs burn out because:
a) high voltage
b) high inrush current
c) excessive number of on/off cycles

You forgot d) excessive vibration / impact. With household bulbs at least, one solid whack while they're on usually takes them right out. I could see a wheel/suspension problem causing excessive vibrations which takes out the bulbs, but if it's that bad it should be noticeable to anyone in the car.

/M

Babar
Premium Member
join:2001-05-09
Washington

Babar

Premium Member

The oils from your fingers will significantly reduce the lifespan of the bulb.

»answers.yahoo.com/questi ··· 3AAWEApZ

Eddy Strong
join:2001-08-29
Naples, FL

Eddy Strong to bbear2

Member

to bbear2
said by bbear2:

I found this page that has a description of the contacts, albeit for the 3157 but it appears that it is interchangeable with the 3057.

This is the best I've been able to find and it shows that there could be more than one way to wire this thing up. yeah I know it's for LED, but still worth a read.
»www.autolumination.com/3 ··· ing.html

From what I understand the 3157 was designed to be used as a front bulb replacement for Daytime Running Lights / Turn Signal application. Since the bulb is sturdier and redesigned to withstand more heat. But yes it is interchangeable with 3057 bulbs.
I myself started using 3157LL on the tail lights with great success, but they still fail every now and then, just not as frequently!

There's a new replacemnt bulb for 3057 named 4111K and for 3157 named 4114K that it's supposed to be more durable, heat and vibration resistent but it's hard to find and also much more expensive at least the last time I checked several years ago.
Eddy Strong

Eddy Strong to shdesigns

Member

to shdesigns
said by shdesigns:

Another option is to switch to LED bulbs.

I've also considered switching to LED bulbs, but theres so many makers out there that claim they have the best bulb to make your head spin![

Jim Gurd
Premium Member
join:2000-07-08
Livonia, MI

2 recommendations

Jim Gurd to Babar

Premium Member

to Babar
said by Babar:

The oils from your fingers will significantly reduce the lifespan of the bulb.

»answers.yahoo.com/questi ··· 3AAWEApZ

These aren't halogen bulbs and don't get hot enough for this to be a problem. They're made from standard glass, not quartz like halogen bulbs are.