Mondeo headlamp bulbs & fuses:Is this a wind-up?

Question

The O/S dipped headlamp halogen bulb failed on my P reg (96/97) Mondeo.

I bought an identical replacement H7 55w bulb from my local car spares shop and was told that I MUST replace the fuse as well as the bulb, even though it hadn't blown!

I asked the reason for this and he told me that it was a common fault on most Mondeos and some Vauxhall cars, that if you do not replace the fuse at the same time, there is a possibility of blowing every bulb on the lighting circuit.

Is this a wind-up or if it isn't, how can not changing the bulb blow all the lights? I would have thought that the fuse would be the first thing to fail.

However, at this moment in time, I have not replaced the fuse, just the bulb, and everything seems to be working OK at the moment.

Fingers crossed!

Any ideas or thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

Duncan Wood · Accepted Answer

It's either a wind up or cluelessness

Mr.Nice. · Answer

Twas Sun, 28 Dec 2003 18:22:59 +0000 when Peter Kay put finger to keyboard producing:

A wind-up.

-- Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.) ___________________________________________________________ "To know the character of a man, give him anonymity" - Mr.Nice.

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Tim (Remove NOSPAM. Registry corupted, reformated HD and l · Answer

Find another accessory shop!!!There are several cases when a bulb fails it will blow the fuse as well,especially in the home, rarer in automotive electrics though.Tim..

Neil Barker · Answer

*Cough* Bollocks *Cough*It's either a wind-up or cluelessness. I changed headlights bulbs twice on my previous 1998 Mondeo V6 Ghia-X and didn't have any problems whatsoever with 'fuses blowing'.Tell him to wipe his chin - he's dribbling bullshit....

Duncan Wood · Answer

Although as they have a relatively consistent life , batch to batch, if ones goen then the other'll probably go soon anyway.

JK · Answer

Ha HA

shazzbat · Answer

" Tim (Remove NOSPAM. Registry corupted, reformated HD and lost alot ofWhen a bulb fails the current decreases. This cannot cause  a fuse to fail.Steve

Dave Plowman · Answer

Domestic bulbs can short when they fail - probably due to the filamentsupports touching. And will often take the dimmer with them.

Duncan Wood · Answer

Normally it's a flashover arc, which is why decent bulbs have fuses built into the filament supports.

Tim (Remove NOSPAM. Registry corupted, reformated HD and l · Answer

Not quite- at the point where the filiment actually blows- you have an arc across the two broken bits of wire- which pull a *large* current for a brief instant. It is this surge that blows the fuse. Automotive fuses tend to be slow blow- they can sustain an overload for a short time, unlike household and electronic fuses which can come in various flavours;- "fast", quick" and "ultra quick" blow.

Tim..

shazzbat · Answer

Due to the filament supports touching what?

Mondeo headlamp bulbs & fuses:Is this a wind-up?

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