can't find the bulb!

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Uncle Vinnie, Jun 6, 2010.

  1. Uncle Vinnie

    Uncle Vinnie Guest

    2000 C70...

    Re: Directional...
    Fast blink, passenger side...normal blink driver side..
    Comparing passenger to driver, all bulbs seem to be blinking...

    One in rear, side marker, one in front by headlight, and dash indicator...

    Am I missing something??
     
    Uncle Vinnie, Jun 6, 2010
    #1
  2. Uncle Vinnie

    Roger Mills Guest

    Fast blink usually occurs when a bulb has failed, but might possibly
    happen if one or more bulbs on the side in question have gone high
    impedance (bad contact) and are taking less current than usual.

    Switch on the hazard lights on a dark night, and see whether the two
    sides flash with equal intensity. Or try cleaning the contacts on all of
    the bulbs on the 'fast' side - and make sure that any earth wires make
    proper contact with the bodywork (although a poor earth would also
    affect other bulbs - tail/stop etc. - in the same cluster).

    [As far as I'm aware, the bulb failure unit doesn't monitor the
    operation of the direction indicators.]
    --
    Cheers,
    Roger
    ____________
    Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
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    Roger Mills, Jun 6, 2010
    #2
  3. Uncle Vinnie

    Uncle Vinnie Guest

    Thanks Roger, I'll check.. it's a good start!

     
    Uncle Vinnie, Jun 7, 2010
    #3
  4. Uncle Vinnie

    Gary Heston Guest

    [ ... ]

    Don't some Volvos have fast-blink or bulb-failure indications when there
    are mismatched bulbs, like when one has been replaced with a non-exact
    replacement?

    Might be worth checking to verify that the bulbs match.


    Gary
     
    Gary Heston, Jun 8, 2010
    #4
  5. Uncle Vinnie

    James Sweet Guest


    The bulb failure sensor is a bit too sensitive and will turn on the
    indicator with mismatched bulbs. The fast blink is separate, it's done
    by the flasher itself. Old ones were electromechanical and blinked
    faster with less load because there was less current to heat the bimetal
    strip so the cycle was faster. Modern (as in the last 30 years or so)
    flashers are electronic and may be excessively sensitive.
     
    James Sweet, Jun 8, 2010
    #5
  6. Uncle Vinnie

    Uncle Vinnie Guest

    Thanks all, solved..
    the front directional bulb contains 2 filaments.. the larger one, I guess,
    is for directionals..once it fails, I guess the system resorts to the
    smaller filament.. which is why I saw it 'blinking'... bulbed replaced, all
    is happy!

     
    Uncle Vinnie, Jun 9, 2010
    #6
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