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Passat Headlight Burnout Rate - READ ONLY

27 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2003 at 11:12 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Passat, Electrical, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 3

#18 of 27 Headlight on VW New Beetle too! by dieselbreath

Mar 10, 2003 (12:37 am)

I have a '98 New Beetle TDI with almost 150,000 kilometers on it.
The driver's side headlight bulb has been replaced 4 time for the low-beam burning out, and the wiring harness replaced once (because the "dead bulb" was still good).
The passenger side still has the original bulb!
I'm wondering if its a vibration problem?
Other than that, this car has been driven hard, over 115 MPH to see what it would do, driven on logging roads, and driven through lots of snow and rain and its been trouble free!

#19 of 27 No DRL Excuse for Passat Headlights by nigel11

Mar 10, 2003 (11:34 am)

I own a 2001.5 Passat V6 .. by 15K, both headlights (DRL's) needed to be replaced (one at 12K, the other at 15K). I had an Acura 3.0CL before the VW that didn't have DRL's. However, for 30,000 miles, I drove around with the regular headlights on all the time (I'm live in downtown Chicago kids, not some nice little suburb...you need all the collision avoidance you can get here...and let me not ever MENTION the potholes and gridlock). The Acura lights never burned out. Before this, I drove a Nissan Altima the same way...crap car, but headlights remained strong for 48K. Driving habits haven't changed one bit.
    As with all automobile companies, this is just cost-cutting on VW's part with its suppliers. Pity they couldn't cost cut the quality ofsomething a little less valuable like the floor mats...oh wait a minute, they did,,,
     With that in mind, anyone have any experience "heavy-duty" aftermarket DRL bulbs?? Replacing them every 6 months is getting old fast.

#20 of 27 Headlight bulbs by rrwms

Mar 10, 2003 (4:06 pm)

Gosh, I just started reading this column and I'm beginning to think I bought the only good Passat ever built. My'99 1.8T GLS had the left bulb burn out after approx. 90,000 miles - oh yeah I replaced a brake light (RR) somewhere around 65,000. I found these things to be normal considering that the headlights, at least, are on all the time. A new HL bulb is only around $8 at the car parts store......kind of a tight fit for the hands but rather easily replaced.

#21 of 27 by 8u6hfd

Mar 12, 2003 (10:10 am)

A standard headlight bulb will have a life of around 500 hours.
 
The "Long-Life" bulbs roughly double the life. It costs about $1-2 more per bulb

#22 of 27 Replacing light bulb by passatsj

Mar 13, 2003 (10:20 am)

After reading all the posts on headlights burning out, it finally happened to me. I used to own a Honda and the bulb was easy to replace. I took a look under the hood and cannot figure out how to replace the left front headlight. I was able to locate the fog light casing and wiring but can't seem to locate the headlight bulb and wiring.
 
Can someone post some instructions on how to replace the left front headlight and which bulb they would recommend?

#23 of 27 I've joined the club by ihvapst

Mar 14, 2003 (8:55 am)

Just replaced my drivers-side low-beam lamp. I have a 2k1 Passat (Bought in 7/00) with 46k miles.
 
Replacing is a piece of cake - Pop the hood and remove the gray rubber seal over the light assembly. The lamp is locked in, in a twist-lock fashion. Very easy. Took me 5 minutes! I bought the lamp at Napa I believe. ~$20.
 
Prior to this I used to notice a lot of VWs with lamps out. I'm sure the lamp manufacturer could tell you how many of those he's sold!

#24 of 27 both headlights gone by hatemyvw

Mar 14, 2003 (8:08 pm)

2002 passat, had left front headlight go out, about a week later had right front go out while night driving. Had to use high beams to get home, flashed an officer with my highbeams and he gave me a ticket. Read cant get warranty work done on passat discusions. that my car.

#25 of 27 DRL's Run at Partial Power by altair4

Mar 26, 2003 (10:46 am)

Some have speculated that the reduced power used by the headlights when in DRL mode is the reason they burn out, i.e., the bulb is designed to be powered by 12 v, and is getting like 10.2 v in DRL mode. Don't know if it's true, but I throw it out there for discussion purposes.
 
Do other cars with DRL's run them at reduced voltage?

#26 of 27 by bodble2

Mar 26, 2003 (5:01 pm)

As far as I know, all cars in Canada runs DRL on reduced power. They use the high beam though (at least for Japanese cars).
 
Exceptions that I have observed are: Chrysler minivans which use the parking lights, and Audis which use the fog/driving lights.

#27 of 27 wiper problem as well by nanny5

Apr 18, 2003 (11:12 am)

I have 2 passats a 2000 and a 2002 the 2002 had the headlite burn out at 9 months the 2000 bulb burned out at 36 months I replaced the 2000 myself but the dealer replaced the 2002's bulb both bulbs happened to be the driver side low beam. Any one had problem with the new areo-type wiper blades found on the new models ie 2002 and beyond? 36 dollars a piece to get new wipers at the dealer not sold at auto stores I had a probelm with clattering and excessive squeaking as soon as i bought the car but never reported it to the dealer, now with more than 12k on the car they won't replace them I call a large auto parts retailer(online) who stated the "word on the street" was that VW made the blade manufacturer change the rubber on the blades since the early 2002 models were having problems with wiper performance I would be interested to know if anyone had a silmilar experience. VW will not honor the warranty since it is past 12K and I did not report my problem sooner I just figured I had loud clattery wipers

Messages Page 3 of 3

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