Okay, before the snow storm, noticed left headlight was out. Just the low beam, not its high beam. Thought, there are spares in the car. Simple Phillips Halogens for a 94 Plymouth Voyager. Not fun driving in the dark in a snowstorm. Really not funny. Where is the damn road?
Found it hard to take out in the cold and dark. But undid the clamp holding the socket to the bulb. Never could get back on the holding plastic nut knob on tight. It's a large plastic nut that holds the bulb in. So just sandwiched it in with a plastic shopping bag. So far so good until I can get some daylight to see better and look in the manual.
Within minutes, the new halogen's low also blew. Not its high. Just the low beams on othe new bulb, same as the old bulb.
Hmmm. Thought of the discussion here. Aha, the relay or the switch.
But the fellow at Pep Boys - dealer was closed and was in a part of the state where I did not see any other parts stores and was not familiar and was past 5-6 pm when most other stores are closed. Just wanted to discuss this.
The fellow suggested that touching the bulb could predispose it to burning out. I said, heh, I remember that from halogens, but usually they explode. And he said, it IS a halogen. Duh, me. But these don't explode, just ruins the bulb.
So clean it with a rag and some 70% isopropyl alcohol and use latex gloves? I think I used toilet paper and alcohol to install my floor lamp's halogen.
I guess it makes sense. Oil on the bulb would create, theoretically, a superheated hotspot which might cause the low light's filament to prematurely expire? I gather the low filament is closer to the outer edge? Just guessing. After I get some sleep, I'll inspect the bulb and all and try a new bulb.
I gather the relay or switch is a double-throw, so if it burned out, I would have both lows out? Not just one? Makes sense.
Relieved if this is true. Not a good time to take apart the dash, assuming one takes apart the dash for the relay or switch. Although that poster who suggested wiring one to the other. Hmmm, remembered that. Would need just the hot wire for the low? That's assuming the Ground and the other hot are good. Just guessing again. After I send this post I'll get out the Chrysler factory shop manual and see if this is discussed in detail. My little owner's manual does not mention replacing the headlamps. I guess it's too technical, but dash it, it's extremely important. I didn't realize it until there's a howling snowstorm and I am many miles from home with needing to use country roads, unfamiliar ones, in the dark. Nest time I keep the shop manual in the car as I used to.