MC mondeo headlight change...again

manchu · 08-05-2019, 01:27 PM

The front left headlight has gone on my MC mondeo. 2nd time in ~1yr.

The parking light has also gone, but that might have been out for a long time.

Wondering if it's just bad luck or whether there might be some other issue causing the failures?

I've had a couple of low battery warnings over recent months which I think was due to some interior lights being left on (damn kids). Would battery issues cause globe failure?

Also, I'd love to hear any tips for making the globe change easier. It's a real PITA from recollection.

**Mechan1k** · 08-05-2019, 01:45 PM

6 months is doing well out of a globe in most cases.

Have they been replaced with a "performance style" globe with a thinner filament? Or still using the factory spec long/life globes?

Also is using auto lights on ... and starting can cause premature globe failure (where the lights come-on prior to starting the car ... the feedback through the electrical system isn't the greatest for globes.

11ford11 · 08-05-2019, 01:57 PM

Make sure you use quality globe
What are the roads like where you live left side of vehicle gets shaken more on country roads
Is the globe holder and lamp mounting O.K.

manchu · 08-05-2019, 03:04 PM

I can't recall which globe. nothing too fancy but nothing too cheap either. Bought from autobarn.

Yes I use auto headlights.

Fairly sure I got the globe holder and lamp mounting correct when I changed last time. It took long enough so I sure hope so. Was careful not to touch the globe glass too.

Nothing bad about the roads I usually drive.

thanks

**Mechan1k** · 08-05-2019, 04:09 PM

I found when using auto headlights that cranking would be one of the killers of globes ... especially in Falcons ... so i stopped using it in the end.

bundybear75 · 08-05-2019, 04:55 PM

Second time in 6 months?

I replaced a globe Monday week ago on my way to work (at 4am, a "Repco" branded globe from the Shell servo when I fuelled up).

2 days later - Low beam fault warning and the same globe out GRRRR!!! A few minutes later, globe starts working again and all good.

Next morning, same again.

I am yet to replace it again, I don't think of it during the daylight, and haven't had the urge after dark. I do around 250km a day, at least half in the dark so I should probably do it before it fails completely....

prydey · 08-05-2019, 06:15 PM

I replaced the globes in my territory when I bought it, as one looked different to the other in colour. Turns out it wasn't the globes but that's another story. I replaced with Phillips long life h7 as i thought that was the oem brand. Turns out oem is osram. The Phillips lasted only a few months before both went. I changed to osram (available from supercheap) and so far so good.

I always recommend oem globes.

Mondaveo · 09-05-2019, 09:20 AM

I've always thought it was the switching on and off that causes (filament) bulbs to fail, as it stresses the filament... the bulbs will actually last longer left burning if it means you avoid a lot of switching. At least it seems that way anecdotally with household lights, that when they blow is invariably upon being switched (incandescent/halogen and also CFL - I'm happy my LED bulbs seem more robust).

If autolights is causing excessive switching on and off of the lights - particularly during cranking, say because you start the car in a garage - then that to my mind could be a contributor - not that I have hard proof.

I leave autolights off.

As for interior lights, I thought all Mondeos had a timer that turned them off (even if the switch position is on) after a short period? It does in mine (and the period seems much too short to me...).

cyclone1410 · 11-05-2019, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

As for interior lights, I thought all Mondeos had a timer that turned them off (even if the switch position is on) after a short period? It does in mine (and the period seems much too short to me...).

That is correct. Just did a test in mine and they turn off after around 15 minutes. Same goes for the light in the hatch area.

Also bulbs suffer their most stress during turn on and turn off. That is why most incandescent bulb house lights fail at those times.

My Mondeo has run auto lights since day 1 (almost 6 years ago) with no issue (touch wood).

manchu · 15-05-2019, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

As for interior lights, I thought all Mondeos had a timer that turned them off (even if the switch position is on) after a short period? It does in mine (and the period seems much too short to me...).

I've been wondering that too after I tried to start the mondeo yesterday and the battery was dead.

Kids play with the lights so I'm never sure what status the switch is left in, and I've got into the bad habit of not locking my car. I suspect interior lights might have stayed on if Switch On + unlocked. Car never sits for more than 2 days usually, but this time it was 4 days so maybe enough to drain the battery.

I know for sure that boot light stays on if boot is open. I had a bingle recently and boot wouldn't latch so light was stuck on.

anyway..time for another post about new battery

bundybear75 · 22-05-2019, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundybear75

Second time in 6 months?

I replaced a globe Monday week ago on my way to work (at 4am, a "Repco" branded globe from the Shell servo when I fuelled up).

2 days later - Low beam fault warning and the same globe out GRRRR!!! A few minutes later, globe starts working again and all good.

Next morning, same again.

I am yet to replace it again, I don't think of it during the daylight, and haven't had the urge after dark. I do around 250km a day, at least half in the dark so I should probably do it before it fails completely....

I finally got around to replacing the "faulty" headlight globe last weekend, only to find that I still have an issue with that side low beam intermittently not working. Plugs look OK so now I'm thinking dodgy relay.

Ford in their wisdom decided to NOT label the relays in either the fuse box or the owners manual. Fuses are listed, just not the relays. Makes this sort of trouble shooting hard.

Does anyone have a diagram that points to what relay is what? The Ford Wiki one doesn't show the light relays

NZ XR6 · 25-05-2019, 06:30 AM

I doubt it's the relay as it would affect both lights, unless there are separate relays. I'd put my money on the bulb socket - they seem a bit flimsy to me.

rondeo · 25-05-2019, 12:04 PM

Without having actually seen I'd say the BCM or GEM under the glovebox is where the headlamp current is switched. Not by relays but by solid state device (MOSFET?), not serviceable. The headlight switch module on the dash connects to the GEM via digital (LIN) bus, and is also a potetential failure point.

But I'd also put my money somewhere on the headlamp unit connections. When the fault is on maybe try thumping or wiggling stuff.

Pawn · 05-06-2019, 10:44 AM

For mine it was not paying attention when changing a globe and got one of the wires jammed in the cover without noticing. After a few months with the motorised headlights it broke the wire and would then only work intermittently (or when turing left!)

bundybear75 · 24-06-2019, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundybear75

I finally got around to replacing the "faulty" headlight globe last weekend, only to find that I still have an issue with that side low beam intermittently not working. Plugs look OK so now I'm thinking dodgy relay.

Ford in their wisdom decided to NOT label the relays in either the fuse box or the owners manual. Fuses are listed, just not the relays. Makes this sort of trouble shooting hard.

Does anyone have a diagram that points to what relay is what? The Ford Wiki one doesn't show the light relays

I serviced it on the weekend, and pulled the headlight out again to investigate.

All looked OK but I tightened the plug a bit by squeezing closed the contacts a little.

I also looked at the under glovebox fuse tray (GEM?) and wiggled and checked the plugs there as the problems started not long after changing the cabin filter last service.

So far, so good. Mind you, Low Beam Fault warning that same evening which turned out to be the opposite globe blown

.

Trap for young players though - when I tightened the contacts, I pushed the lamp tight into the plug then installed it into the headlight. I never noticed that it sat back a little from the mounting surface and the light pool was almost straight down. I discovered this at 10pm and -3 degrees before my 120km commute home from work. Out in the cold, removing the headlight again to fix before driving home.....