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We've had our 2002 Honda Civic 4-door for over six years with no problems. In the last year we've replaced the headlights (both) over a dozen times. Left will burn out then the right. Always alternates. One side never burns out twice in a row. Bulbs have been changed by repair shops and myself. I'm always careful not to touch the bulb. The fuses are fine. We've also tried bulbs from different makers with no results. I just changed the left side last week. Now the right side has burned out. I checked the bright lights and no brights on either side. What the f**k is going on? Anyone else have this happening?

The plugs are not loose either and the bulbs ARE burning out. The fuses are the correct ones and are good. Voltage regulator problem?

HELP!!!

 
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sounds like an electrical problem. could be a bad alternator, try testing your alt and ask gearbox, he should know.

 
Rep Power: 812

well next time you can try a long life bulb, supposed to last double what a normal bulb should. but something is wrong. have you checked voltage at the bulb connector with the car running?

 
Rep Power: 274

If the bulbs look like silver misshapen Christmas ornaments, some contamination such as oil or acids from fingers is getting on them and causing them to blow up and burn out.

If they look like regular burned bulbs with a broken filament, it is probably an overvoltage especially if the headlights look really bright. Do the hi beams burn out too?

Overvoltage can be caused by a number of things, most commonly a fried / failing relay which fails the wrong way, or an alternator going bad.

As suggested before, get a voltmeter and shop manual and test voltage with the car running and under load in both engine cold and engine warm conditions under load.

 
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The bulbs are not mis-shapen and not being touched. And the brights go before the dims on the last change.

My next question is ... if the voltage regulator or alternator are the problem why don't the headlight fuses blow before the lights fail? The fuses are the correct 15A and are good. What good are fuses if they don't do what they're supposed to do?

 
Rep Power: 812

your alternator may be pushing higher voltage like 15v+ but not enough to blow fuses. if the wiring is able to move that much power, it will without a fuse blowing. this can damage many components in the car so i would get the alternator checked asap. you can even measure it yourself with a voltmeter on the battery while car is running. it should be around 14.2v max.

 
Rep Power: 308

For certain I would check the voltage output, make sure it is not staying high.

Also make sure the bulbs are not being shaken/jolted or somehow moving when in use, that would shorten their life.

I remember working on an older car once over-charging, it affected the smaller bulbs.
Have any of your smaller lamps failed while these headlights are going ?

 
Rep Power: 308

For certain I would check the voltage output, make sure it is not staying high.

Also make sure the bulbs are not being shaken/jolted or somehow moving when in use, that would shorten their life.

I remember working on an older car once over-charging, I recall it affected the smaller bulbs
Have any of your smaller lamps failed in the time that the headlight issue has been occuring

 
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Like I said, we've owned this car for over 6 years and only this last year has been the problem. So "shaking" isn't the problem. Will get the alternator (and regulator?) checked. Thanks.

 
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You guys are GOOD!! It WAS the alternator putting out too much and is costing me $580 to fix. But problem solved. I wanted to make sure others with this problem saw the fix. Thanks!!

 
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thanks for posting back an update.

 
Rep Power: 254

What are you paying $580 for? A new alternator? Your getting ripped off..

 
Rep Power: 291

even a HO alt is cheaper than that

 
Rep Power: 812

i "paid" around $500 for my napa alternator installed, but i had extended warranty those are a pain to install on the newer civics and im glad i didnt have to do it.