Problems with headlights on Mazda3

[raptor_se]

Hi there

This is my first post here, and i will try to do my best with my english skills.

i have a 2004 Mazda 3 and the problem is headlights (55w) braking all the time. I can replace stock from Mazda dealer or get them elsewhere and of any brand...doesen't matter...they brake afther a short while.....left or right (never experienced both at the same time)
What can cause this?....the Mazda dealer is not very helpful here in Norway

 

[Pondo]

if by "brake" you mean that your lights bulbs are expiring, you probably have some sort of short circuit.

 

[icspots]

Well stock lamp wattage (at least in the US) is 35w, not 55w. I would check to see if that's the correct wattage bulb before putting more in. Next off do you have halogen or HID headlights in Norway? Are you replacing the bulbs or is your dealer?

 

[raptor_se]

Hi

The last thing first....both the Mazda dealer and my self have replaced the bulbs with the exact same result. The lamps are halogen and with H4 socket. The wattage in Norway is 55 watt

 

[icspots]

Hi

The last thing first....both the Mazda dealer and my self have replaced the bulbs with the exact same result. The lamps are halogen and with H4 socket. The wattage in Norway is 55 watt

Oh well that's different too then. All 3's (that I know of) which don't have HIDs use H7 lamps as the low beams. Are you sure that no one is touching the glass portion of the lamp while replacing it?

 

[Pondo]

maybe they are manipulating the bulbs with bare hands, who knows.

 

[Jeff130]

Problem with Headlights

I have a 2005 Mazda 3 Hatchback. I have replaced my headlights 6 times. The filament keeps breaking. Left side first the right (about a month later). What is the proper wattage for these headlights? Any ideas why this keeps happening? This is only on my low beams, the high beams are originals.

 

[Rotus8]

This can be caused by faulty charge voltage regulation. Start the car and rev to about 3000 while measuring the voltage on your battery. If it goes above about 14.3 you may have a regulation problem. The headlights are the first thing to go, then your battery.

 

[flopsweat]

This can be caused by faulty charge voltage regulation. Start the car and rev to about 3000 while measuring the voltage on your battery. If it goes above about 14.3 you may have a regulation problem. The headlights are the first thing to go, then your battery.

I have a 2004 Mazda 3s, and I have experienced the same problem. I've probably replaced a headlight at least 6 times, but really I lost count. If anyone still sees this, use the gel insulator you can get up at the counter at an auto store, they come in little foil packs for a dollar or so and they just get gooped as much as possible on and around the lamp terminals. My problem pretty much stopped- until both low beams went out at the same time this past weekend. My battery failed the volt test at the repairshop, and the above explanation sounds perfectly right because the fuses are not popped. Hmm, pay the $35 I can afford for two new lamps, or the $90 I can't afford for a new battery? Decisions decisions...