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Head Lights Burn Out

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Old Jul 31, 2008 | 06:38 PM
  #1  
lightskindwonder's Avatar
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Head Lights Burn Out

My head lights keep on burning out...it seems like one will just burn out about every 12-18 months. Anyone else have this problem? When I replace them, I use Sylvannia OEM style ones from local auto parts stores (like $30 a piece). I've never had that problem with my hi beams because I rarely (if ever) use them. Is that fairly normal for these replacement lights, and/or should I try getting directly from a GM dealer? I would assume it wouldn't matter, but who knows.
Old Jul 31, 2008 | 10:33 PM
  #2  
lilchrisgangsta's Avatar
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 54
From: Detroit, Michigan
My guess is its something with the wiring.
A short somewhere maybe.
Camaros are just horribly wired together.
For instance why the windows always mess up.
They slowly move up and down sometimes.
I would just re wire it all. My lights go out like that too. But im getting my whole front end re done, so.
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 02:19 AM
  #3  
SS RRR's Avatar
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Posts: 3,144
From: Jackstandican
Originally Posted by lilchrisgangsta
My guess is its something with the wiring.
A short somewhere maybe.
Camaros are just horribly wired together.
For instance why the windows always mess up.
They slowly move up and down sometimes.
I would just re wire it all. My lights go out like that too. But im getting my whole front end re done, so.
The wiring is not to blame for slow window motors. It is the actual motor and this issue has been addressed on this site a billion times.
And maybe it's your Camaro that's "horribly wired together" because both of the ones I've owned in the last 21 years have never had wiring problems.
Now Pontiac f-bodys on the other hand....
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 05:34 AM
  #4  
Guest47904's Avatar
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Intermittent contact is what kills light bulbs

A Dead short will never kill light bulbs. It can't. What kills bulbs is intermittent contact. Bulbs always burn out when first turned on. An intermittent contact is constantly turning the bulb on and off. The problem is going to be finding the place it is occurring.

My first inclination is the socket itself. You could tighten up the contacts and try adding some dielectric grease to the socket.

In a 94 the power goes from the fusible link on a red wire, through the giant 48 pin connector connector by the LH kick panel up to the head light switch. Then back through the 48 pin connector on a yellow wire and out to the headlights. Any connection point has the potential to be intermittent but less likely than the socket itself.

Don't forget to check the grounds for both headlights as they too could be intermittent but again unlikely since there are separate grounds for each bulb. They are located on the top LH and RH side of the radiator.
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 09:39 AM
  #5  
Severous01's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,367
From: Burlington, NJ
check the terminals where it connects to the light. if you're changing them taht often you could easily have molested the terminals. bend the tang outward and make sure there's no corrosion. or, you can upgrade to another light. i cut the pigtails off and soldered a high quality aftermarket connector on there and switched over to hella ff75 drifing lights. never had a problem and ran the same bulbs for over 4 years.

on the other hand...i now have hella 90mm kit and i'd suggest that if you dont mind the round lights. much higher output projector lenses keep the other half of the light on the road, not in the trees.
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 10:17 AM
  #6  
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Ive owned by 95 for almost 7 yrs. (got it at 17) I have replaced my driver side headlight 6 times. Ive gone over the wiring, had one of the bodytech guys look at it too when i was working at a decent bodyshop. Everthing is fine, they just die.

As for the window motors, Ive done the passenger side motor 3 times and will be putting in my 4th tomorrow. The driver side has only gone out once, but i needed a everthing, not just the motor. What a bitch.

These are fine examples of american engineering.
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 05:19 PM
  #7  
Injuneer's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 71,098
From: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
"LT1 Based Engine Tech" is only for engine related questions. I'll move this to "General.... Tech" for you.

14 years and no wiring problems, and only one headlight replacement on my 94 Formula. I have seen no evidence of is being "horribly wired".
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