Passat Headlight Burnout Rate
tess2go
Member Posts: 1
I've experienced four burned out headlamps on my 2001 Passat in eighteen months. Called VW customer care - claimed this is a disposable item and that they have no record of other complaints. Called my dealership service manager to ask about mean time between failure rates, known electrical problems, headlamp assembly problems, quality control issues, got no answers. I think this is a serious safety issue. I drive for a living and have been left in the dark each time!!! Suggestions?? Experiences??
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but for me, with 9000-series bulbs for my ford running under ten bucks, screw it, carry a spare and put it in when I have to.
if you've something like HIDs and they don't last, you have a good reason to ask questions, because these are not only supposed to outlast everything else, but they are darned near pricey as transmissions.
An easier way to disable the DRL is as follows:
1. The headlight switch on "off" position.
2. Push that knob in and turn right
3. Remove the switch
4. Remove the wiring connector
5. Locate the "TFL" pin
6. Cover the "TFL" pin with electrical tape
7. Reinstall
Sometimes pulling the relay, many people find that the brake idiot light (for the parking brake)will not light up.
The "taping over the pin" method isn't always TFL. With the 2001.5 models onward, it's 56D that needs to be taped over. With the pre-2001.5 models, it's TFL.
-Craig
What are some good replacement recommendations (brand of bulb/model, etc.)?
a few months ago, my first right-side low beam buld seemed to have burned out. I took it out but instead of just replacing it, I fiddled with contacts, wires and such. I bet you're on to me now: I put it back in just for the hey and it worked! In fact, it's still working months later now.
Could this be the common thread?
I thought is was crazy, too, for this to occur but when my mechanic replaced each bulb with one that he described as "heavy duty". Seems that these are lasing fine. Maybe the VW parts are just cheap!
with a headlight out. Been thinking
about buying a passat. Still
waiting for nissan to buy back
my suv under the lemon law.
If you want long life by way of calendar days, disable your DRLs
The driver's side headlight bulb has been replaced 4 time for the low-beam burning out, and the wiring harness replaced once (because the "dead bulb" was still good).
The passenger side still has the original bulb!
I'm wondering if its a vibration problem?
Other than that, this car has been driven hard, over 115 MPH to see what it would do, driven on logging roads, and driven through lots of snow and rain and its been trouble free!
As with all automobile companies, this is just cost-cutting on VW's part with its suppliers. Pity they couldn't cost cut the quality ofsomething a little less valuable like the floor mats...oh wait a minute, they did,,,;-)
With that in mind, anyone have any experience "heavy-duty" aftermarket DRL bulbs?? Replacing them every 6 months is getting old fast.
The "Long-Life" bulbs roughly double the life. It costs about $1-2 more per bulb
Can someone post some instructions on how to replace the left front headlight and which bulb they would recommend?
Replacing is a piece of cake - Pop the hood and remove the gray rubber seal over the light assembly. The lamp is locked in, in a twist-lock fashion. Very easy. Took me 5 minutes! I bought the lamp at Napa I believe. ~$20.
Prior to this I used to notice a lot of VWs with lamps out. I'm sure the lamp manufacturer could tell you how many of those he's sold!
Do other cars with DRL's run them at reduced voltage?
Exceptions that I have observed are: Chrysler minivans which use the parking lights, and Audis which use the fog/driving lights.