Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tonycooper on 20 April 2007, 12:16:01
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dont know if it is me working perm nights but i keep on blowing headlight bulbs i go through about 3 a mth is this a common problem or somthing wrong with my car
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sounds like something wrong to go thru that many
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Have you checked the connections aren't hard and brittle? This can cause a short and blow bulbs quickly. Same thing happened when I owned a Mondeo went through about ten bulbs in a space of two weeks then noticed the bulb connector was hard and brittle taped it up and it was fine then decided to renew the connector hey presto no more blowing bulbs. Give that a look and try to see if that works for you. BTW make sure the connector you use is suitable for the voltage.
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Had something similar on my previous Omega, kept blowing bulbs all around (not just headlamp bulbs), I suspected faulty voltage regulator but Vx said it was not possible and refused to even check it (the car was under warranty), I eventually sold it without resolving the problem and to this date I don't know for sure what it was. Check the voltage when the engine is idling...
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Had a faulty battery on a Granada once, this caused the alternator to over volt to try to compensate, all dash bulbs blown, would have thought it was the regulator on the pcb on the clocks... BUT several other bulbs popped too... new battery and all OK
DC
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This could well be a problem with the voltage regulator and it should be investigated as it may cause damage to the battery and other systems.
The check is best done after a drive when you know the battery is fully charged. Turn off all electrical accessories, pop the bonnet and measure across the battery terminals with a multimeter set to volts.
Raise the engine speed to 2,000 RPM or so and wait for the voltage to stabilise. If it's over about 14.5 volts you may have a problem.
The regulator is contained within the alternator. It may be available as a spare part in itself, but failing that the whole alternator may need replacement.
Have you had any fault lights? I think the engine management will generate a fault code over a certain voltage.
Kevin
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Sounds like over-voltage from the Altenator
had similar problem years ago when Capri went into body-shop & they spot-welded a new panel on with battery still connected that took out the regulator in the Altenator
It was giving nearly 18 volts & as well as destroying bulbs, burning a set of points out daily (remember them?)
IW