I started up my car and noticed that 1 of my headlights burned out. (I'll never buy Phillips Silverstar ultra again; it was only 4 months old.) I was 200 miles from home and needed to urinate badly; I stopped at a rest area then came back to the car and started her up.. now the other headlight burned out.. great, now I only have fog lights. When I turned the fog lights on, the air bag light came on. I stopped and started the car again to see what will happen. The airbag light flashed and stayed on.

Do you think it could be from lose wiring? I came back home and found 1 spare headlight (it's 11 years old and dim). I'm wondering if the electrical system burned both out or it was because of the crappy Silverstars everyone is talking about.

My car is nearing very close to 200,000 miles and this is its 2nd electrical casualty. The first one was the CPS failure and I was stuck in NYC(Not Good). It seems like problems only happen when my car is far from home 02.gif

 

Most accidents happen close to home . . . would you rather have a bad healight or a bad wreck? (joke)

Have a good look at the wiring, in the engine bay & under the dash. Might have a gremlin, or it might just be a nasty coincidence.

 

Wow, I found this on another website.

" 1997 Hyundai Elantra 1.8 ODC, mileage: 62,000. I was driving and pulled out in traffic, so I had to gun it some. When the engine revved up, all of a sudden the fan on the air conditioner got faster, BOTH headlights blew out, and the air bag light came on. The culprit was the alternator voltage regulator. I had the alternator replaced and replaced the headlights myself. The airbag light is still on. Everything else works fine. HERE IS MY QUESTION. How do I get the airbag light to reset? Is it a switch that you just reset or do you think it fried something in the circuit? If so, what and can I replace it myself? The car repair place wants $45 just to hook it to a computer to see what’s wrong. Please help and save me some money if you can.

Answer: The air bag malfunction indicator is illuminated because the main controller has detected a malfunction. Scan Air Bag system to determine the cause."

I wonder if I need a new alternator. It's the original alternator.

 

I had the airbag light come on when my alternator was going out. If you get low voltage it will trip an airbag code. If your headlights went out at the same time they are either as you say very low quality(but consistent lol), or the alternator is throwing out too much/too little current.

 

I'm on alternator #6. Get your checked out ASAP. IF the regulator fails the wrong way, it can take ALL the other electronics with it.

 

it's pretty possible that the altenator caused your headlights to blow,when i had my civic my altenator went out completely out of no where. i was driving along it was raining a little my wipers were at one,then all of a sudden they started going crazy fast,and my dash lights lit up like jesus was decending upon me,and my headlights went way brighter then any hid kit could ever go.then...stalled right in the middle of an intersection.

all this because of a surge from the altenator before it quit.

 

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

Well, it's been 4 days and my head lights burned out again. Now everything electrical is very low/weak. I passed 4 cops and they didn't even pull me over.

The good news is that I see my mechanic tomorrow afternoon. I told him to test my alternator and voltage regulator. In addition, I found this: http://www.civicforums.com/forums/191-hond...urning-out.html

This Honda civic owner has the same problem. You guys are most likely right about the alternator.

Edit: I find it weird that my battery light didn't go on. I thought it went on if there's a change of voltage.

 

Idiot lights come on just before you are totally screwed. My battery light came on AFTER my alternator completely stopped putting out juice. If your oil light comes on you're lucky to save the engine block, etc.

 

^^ Seems like idiots made the idiot-lights.

BTW: WHO'S THE LUCKIEST PERSON AT THIS MOMENT????..............I AM!

I drove 50 miles do some business in another city.. then 50 miles back home. Everything electrical were getting extremely weak. The wipers could barely wipe; the stereo was weak and the heater fan was weak. I was getting nervous so I shut everything off except the lights. I felt like the astronauts from the movie "Apollo 13". I could feel my car getting weaker and I told her to ride me a little longer. At this point, I could feel that cars really do have souls....get this.... right as I enter the Mechanic's garage, I lifted the e-brake, but the car in neutral and my engine stalled. Everything stopped working. The only thing I could see was the very faint door ajar light as I opened the door. I made it just in time. It was, indeed, a bad alternator and I bought a reman Korea Mando alternator with a lifetime warranty. The bill came out to be $250. $190 for reman alternator and $60 labor.

I just want to say Thanks to everyone who replied, especially Stocker. Stocker, you're the man.

HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The alternator is mighty powerful. Everything is friggin' bright and cold starts in 20 degree weather, the engine only cranks once and starts up instantaneously.

 

It's good you have a warranty on that alternator. Now have them check out your battery. If a conventional lead/acid battery is discharged much below 10V it is in serious danger of failure but SOON.