w202 headlight wire melted!

[abbos]

Hey everyone,

Bulb went recently and I managed to have a look last night. Basically the plastoc connector that pushes on to the back of the bulb seemed to have melted itself on. I huffed and puffed but couldn't get the bugger off. I ended up un crimping the wires from the push connector itself.

Does anyone know if I can simply buy the small metal/plastic push connector on it's own so that I can reattach the wires?

 

[1998K]

you should be able di dismount the h-lamp and rewire the cable and burned H3 or H1 or whatever you have, or, if you are able you may try to replace them without dismount the assembly.

It depend of your damage!

Do you utilize overwattage bulbs?

Hi

 

[abbos]

It's the plastic connector that pushes on to the back of the bulb that is damaged. I need to replace this.

 

[Pierre Levegh]

Halfords have them. Not sure if this is a UK wide store but we have one nearby.

The connector should not have melted, what wattage bulbs are you using?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

It was probably arcing due to contamination, it happens. Mains plugs sometimes do the same thing, fishy smell.....

 

[abbos]

I'll take a look in Halfords but didn't think they would stock something like this as I thought it was more specialised.

The bulbs I am using are:

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/product.php?productid=16137&cat=253&page=1

I use these in all the other cars and my family have and this is the first problem I have ever had with them.

Is the wattage too high or something?

 

[1998K]

as per the link you posted, wattage seems right (i.e. 55 W), to be better sure you may verify with a multimeter that el-current is abt. 4÷4.5 Ampere (NOT OVER) but please if you are not skilled ask to a car electrician!

 

[1998K]

It was probably arcing due to contamination, it happens. Mains plugs sometimes do the same thing, fishy smell.....

Please what do you means with "contamination" a sort of corrosion?

PS: I'm running on 100W bulbs (yes with suitable relays and cable) but cable and connectors inside of headlamp housing are still stock and work well!

I was wondering at that time to change also them but seems that H3/H4 plugs are the same for 55 or 100W, at least as I found (no differences).

...in any case 100W rally bulbs are produced .... and should be possible to utilize them somewhere

 

[Shude]

I will look up the part number for the plug, if it is available separately from the harness (you really don't want to buy the whole harness ). Should be under a pound from the parts counter.

 

[abbos]

Was waiting for you to pop in Shude

I would be grateful if you can find me a part number.

Many Thanks,

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Please what do you means with "contamination" a sort of corrosion?

Very possibly, moisture perhaps? Difficult to say really without seeing it, but plastic connectors don't usually melt for no reason, and if the current being drawn was too high for the circuit a fuse would surely have blown.

Arcing current can produce very localised high temperatures, but the arcs wouldn't last long enough to heat a fuse enough for it to blow.

 

[abbos]

Still need to resolve this and need a little help. I have managed to take a picture of the problematic bulb holder:

I need to replace this bulb holder and need a part number please? As you can see part of the bulb is still stuck/melted into it.

Thanks,

 

[Shude]

Still need to resolve this and need a little help. I have managed to take a picture of the problematic bulb holder:

I need to replace this bulb holder and need a part number please? As you can see part of the bulb is still stuck/melted into it.

Those plugs are not available separately

 

[Alps]

if you can wait till the weekend, i`ll see if I have one in my garage?

 

[Shude]

if you can wait till the weekend, i`ll see if I have one in my garage?

I just realised I now have two spare headlamps complete with wiring

The lenses are frosted with stone chips and are broken, the casing is cracked and damaged in parts but the wiring looks beautiful inside, perfectly preserved

Could be removed if required!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

The same thing happened to me last year, I ended up ripping the bulb off stattering it with the rest fused to the holder.

Took it to my independent gargage & it was fixed for under a tenner

 

[abbos]

Shude, Alps;

If you guys have one of these that you could chuck in the post for a few pounds I would be VERY grateful. PM me if so please.

Thanks,

 

[BilalSheikh]

Guys the same thing happened to me last night any ideas where to get this holder.

 

[Iain]

I understand what has happened here as it has happened to me.
If you look on the side of the metal casing of the bulb there are two apertures where you can see the wire connections from the filament. In a few cases which I would put down to inferior quality/poor quality control, these connections can be poor causing arcing of the joint. If this is the case, then the joint will be come very hot causing the plastic holder to melt and burn.

 

[BilalSheikh]

Thanks for that Ian but would you be kind enough to let me know where do i get this replacement holder as it has melted