Regularly Replacing Lights/Lamps

[Boaring1961]

It seems like I am having to regularly replace lights and lamps in my truck. It's not every week, but every couple of months another lamp goes out and I have to replace it. Always seems to be a headlight, fog light and especially the rear tail lamps. Anyone have thoughts on why this happens. It's a pain to replace them so often. My previous Ram 2500 probably had 2-3 lights/lamps go out in 140,000 miles!

 

[MLee]

Sometimes bad grounds will cause this, and cause over heating of the element. Start simple.

 

[Boaring1961]

Thanks for the info. Is there a list or diagram of all/most of the grounds on the truck?

 

[mwilson]

High system voltage will shorten bulb life as well.

Voltmeter running where it always has??? Perhaps a battery is getting bad??

Fun Fact....back before LEDS and such it was known that light bulbs on trucks and semi trailers lasted longer if they were in use all of the time. The filament is stronger when the light is on and withstands the road shock / vibrations far better. Don't get me wrong, there is still an hourly life when they will burn out.

I always run with my lights on no matter what I happen to be driving and rarely have a blown bulb to this day.

Mike.

 

[RDeFayette]

Common problem on the newer Dodges/Rams is the new bulb style with the wire contacts on the bulb base.
VERY little contact area and not much spring tension on the bulb socket/"circuit board".
Look for melted plastic near the "wire" contacts on the bulb base. Also look for hot spots/blueing on the bulb sockets/"circuit boards".
IF that is the case replace BOTH the bulbs and the sockets?"circuit boards".
When reinstalling apply die-electric silicone to the bulb base. IF you try and "cheap out" (replaceing one or the other) it'll blow the bulbs again.
This especially problematic (as you found) with the rear/tail lights.
The tail light circuit boards are about 15.00 each depending on where you go.

 

[jelag]

I have daytime running lights turned on, on my jeep, dodge car and my pickup... each has over 100K miles with most of the factory lamps.... I agree that either a bad ground or over voltage... my pickup has a brake controller with a digital volt meter built into the circuits... I'd check the voltage for sure... and a agree to leaving the lights....

 

[rbattelle]

High system voltage will shorten bulb life as well.

Agreed. My house voltage is up around 130v and I am constantly replacing light bulbs. It's really annoying.

-Ryan

 

[Ozymandias]

Headlight Circuits are voltage regulated to 12.8V, whatever your Voltmeter will show you.

 

[jelag]

Ryan.... if you are seeing 130 VAC at your home... you need to call your power company and have them put a graph on your meterhead.... your above the acceptable standard... and it will shorten small appliance life, and large appliance life with that voltage... they can put a graph at the meter and monitor it for 24-48 hours and will correct that ...

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Agreed. My house voltage is up around 130v and I am constantly replacing light bulbs. It's really annoying.
-Ryan

Jetlag is correct. Call your power company and let them know. 130 is too high. Normally we don't even graph it. All we do is check voltage at your weather head. If it's too high, we just change out your transformer. Takes about a half hour.

 

[Boaring1961]

I went through and backed out all the ground terminals I could find and threw some di-electric grease onto the threads and washers for better contact. We'll see what happens.