Both headlights stopped working at the same time

ionapaul

I noticed last night (after being flashed by almost every car I passed on Lesson St!) that both of my headlights have stopped working. All the other lights are perfect, spots, full lamps, side lights, it is just the headlights. A bulb had falled before Christmas and I replaced it myself, so I'm guessing both going at once now points to something other than both bulbs failing at the same time!

Any ideas on what I need to do? I'm not car savvy at all, but could it be a fuse and if so, where would it be located and how hard is it to replace? It's a '99 Hyundai Coupe by the way.

seamus

If your full beams are working then it's unlikely that a fuse has blown (afaik), rather it's just your dips that are dead.

Is it possible that one was out for a few days/weeks before the other one went? Both going together would indicate an electrical problem. Do you start the car with the lights on?

I'd check both bulbs, one could have blown a few days back the other yesterday. If they are both ok it probably isn't a fuse as both won't be on the same fuse. May be the switch, check both bulbs first though before doing anything else.

Rovi

Start with the easy stuff:

1. Check the fuses, they could both be blown.
2. Check the bulbs, they could both be blown.
3. Other.

Step 3. could be anything from loose connections to damaged wiring to failed switchgear to who knows what, but start with the easy stuff!

znv6i3h7kqf9ys

ionapaul wrote: »

I noticed last night (after being flashed by almost every car I passed on Lesson St!) that both of my headlights have stopped working. All the other lights are perfect, spots, full lamps, side lights, it is just the headlights. A bulb had falled before Christmas and I replaced it myself, so I'm guessing both going at once now points to something other than both bulbs failing at the same time!

Any ideas on what I need to do? I'm not car savvy at all, but could it be a fuse and if so, where would it be located and how hard is it to replace? It's a '99 Hyundai Coupe by the way.

Don't drive a Hyundai Coupe and pay your ESB bill

Gary ITR

Aurelia Unimportant Switch-hitter wrote: »

Don't drive a Hyundai Coupe and pay your ESB bill

Come on now, no more of this

ionapaul

Aurelia Unimportant Switch-hitter wrote: »

Don't drive a Hyundai Coupe and pay your ESB bill

I know it's English but it doesn't make any sense to me

Thanks for the advice folks - got some work in front of me obviously.

Colonel Sanders

Same thing happened to me before Xmas. Checked the fuses and they were fine. Simply turned out both bulbs were blown. Guy who changed em reckoned it was either a co incidence or a power surge blew the 2nd bulb after the first one blew

ionapaul

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Same thing happened to me before Xmas. Checked the fuses and they were fine. Simply turned out both bulbs were blown. Guy who changed em reckoned it was either a co incidence or a power surge blew the 2nd bulb after the first one blew

Cool - are the fuses for the front lights in the box just under the dash to the right of the pedals? Really don't want to be rooting around under the hood as I've little clue as to what I'm doing other than being able to replace the bulbs! Have never replaced a fuse in a car either but assume it is an in-and-out job.

jayotala

I've the same problem with the girlfriends car, keep blowing headlight bulbs, don't know what it is, fuses are good, wiring checks are all ok, not over charging. Ya think being in the motortrade and havin a workshop at my disposal, I'd be able to get this one sorted, but no. Sometimes the simple things are the hardest to get right.

Stoolbend

jayotala wrote: »

I've the same problem with the girlfriends car, keep blowing headlight bulbs, don't know what it is, fuses are good, wiring checks are all ok, not over charging. Ya think being in the motortrade and havin a workshop at my disposal, I'd be able to get this one sorted, but no. Sometimes the simple things are the hardest to get right.

What make bulbs are you fitting?

I've often seen cheap brand bulbs that just keep blowing!

@OP. I'd try new bulbs again. If you touched the glass part of the bulb you fitted at christmas that could explain why it didn't last. Even if it turns out their not the problem you'll have them for again anyway!

jayotala

I've used a few different types to check that side of things. Mainly use the ones we fit in all our cars, Hella, they don't give trouble. I'm not overly concerned at the min, when I get the time I'll pull the car apart again and start changing parts, its a long process eliminating the cause. Have the high beams set low and at a slightly off angle so she's not blinding everyone.