Mozambiquer
Vendor , w/Business number
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2015
- Location
- Versailles Missouri
- TDI
- 2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
Have you checked your alternator? I've seen several trucks come through the shop that kept blowing headlight bulbs and they all had high ripple current from the alternator. Though, it could be possible for all of them to blow at once (random often comes in groups) but I'd probably recommend checking for ripple (stray AC voltage being put out by the alternator, caused by failing diodes) you can get it checked at an auto parts store, or best would be to have someone with a oscilloscope check it, since that's even more accurate. (Oscilloscope is my preferred method, but I'll often use a handheld alternator tester on the car for speed sake.)I evidently chased non-existent electrical gremlins for a half-hour:
Leaving work, my headlights wouldn't come on. It was getting dark fast and figured I needed something to light my way: flipped to high-beams. They blipped on and went dark. ***! Figured I had some screwed up electrical problem. Had a co-worker lead me home, driving with flashers.
Pulled into the garage and started digging into fuses, switches, etc., finding nothing wrong. Checked voltage at the bulbs (Something I should have done to begin with) and measured battery voltage. Checked bulb resistance.... open-circuit. On Every Single Bulb!!
Through some mystical act of Volkswagen, all four headlight bulbs popped at the same time!
To add to the frustration, I drove past 4 different auto parts stores on my way home without thinking that I would need a bulb... Let alone FOUR!
Got a ride to the nearest Autozone, swapped the bulbs, and everything works again...
Easily the most frustrating/annoying/dumb-founding "repair" I have ever done.