could this be an alternator problem?

[richy]

Help.

Several of my bulbs have blown recently (including the expensive main beam).  I'm not sure whether its just cos my car's 5 years old and they're all just going at once, or whether the alternator is causing surges in current which is blowing them?

How can I tell?

Cheers,
Rich

[richandhazel]

Not heard of that happening before but my first thought is that maybe the voltage regulator has packed up. You can usually replace the voltage regulator and brushes as one unit, probably for less than a tenner.

Have you got a multimeter? You could try checking the voltage at the lights......if it increases to more than 14 to 14.5V when you rev the car then it could be that regulator.

[richy]

Cheers for the advice,

Dipped beam bulb went last night.  Easy enough to replace but cost a tenner, so finally got around to checking the voltage.  Even when I rev it hard, doesn't go up to more than 14.4volts, so probbo isn't the voltage regulator.  

I reckon its probably just that all the bulbs are going at once, or can you think of anything else it might be?

Rich

Not heard of that happening before but my first thought is that maybe the voltage regulator has packed up. You can usually replace the voltage regulator and brushes as one unit, probably for less than a tenner.

Have you got a multimeter? You could try checking the voltage at the lights......if it increases to more than 14 to 14.5V when you rev the car then it could be that regulator.

[mk1]

If you have to replace 5yr old bulbs, fair enough, if you have to replace the new bulbs i would look for a problem.
Steve.

[richy]

I've not had to replace any of the bulbs I've put in, but then I only bought it in December '03.  Obviously, not sure how long the bulbs had been in when I bought it.

[modulater]

As you've said its common for bulbs to start blowing around the same time as they have probably been on the car for new.