# Drivers Side Headlight Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, elantra\ **Created:** [August 30, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138 "2013-08-30T20:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wpollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wpollock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wpollock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/1 "2013-08-30T20:07:39Z")
I own a 2008 Hyundai Elantra and have had to replace the drivers side headlight twice in the past 8 months. This is not the result of anything hitting the light and breaking it. The latest replacement, made by EIKO, stopped illuminating in three days. Any suggestions are appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/2 "2013-08-30T20:10:43Z")
Are you replacing the bulb yourself? Are you making sure that the glass on the bulb is not touched at all? Any fingerprints on the bulb will cause it to burn out prematurely. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/3 "2013-08-30T20:11:40Z")
You’re not touching the bulb with your bare fingers? If you are, skin oil left on the bulb will create hots spots on the bulb causing it burn out. Tester ---
**Author:** ![wpollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wpollock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wpollock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/4 "2013-08-30T20:14:47Z")
Replaced myself and very aware of the problem with touching the bulb with bare skin and did not do so. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/5 "2013-08-30T20:26:03Z")
Have you made sure that the bulb is actually burned out and that the issue isn’t with the connector or wiring? Does anything in that area seem to be vibrating more than normal? That could kill a bulb quickly. ---
**Author:** ![wpollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wpollock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wpollock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/6 "2013-08-30T21:35:09Z")
My model has the bulb base with two blades: turn left to remove/turn right to install the bulb into the bulb assembly. Everything fits snug with no excessive movement or vibration of any part of the entire headlight assembly. The car only has a little over 35k miles and I can’t believe this should be happening. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/7 "2013-08-30T22:25:01Z")
I would try Sylvania bulbs ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/8 "2013-08-30T23:34:50Z")
Take a close look at the wiring harness for the lamp, look at the female connectors the bulb contacts plug in to. Any sign of heat or discoloration and you’ve found your problem. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/9 "2013-08-31T03:28:45Z")
Sometimes you can get bad luck with bulbs, one after another fails. Agree with db4690, try a Sylvania bulb next time. And buy it at a different parts store. Also use a DVM to measure the filament resistance to verify the bulb that doesn’t work is actually burned out. Confirm the problem is the bulb and not something else. ---
**Author:** ![wpollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wpollock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wpollock)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/10 "2013-08-31T03:34:10Z")
GeorgeSanJose, how do I read resistance using the direct current setting on my volt meter? thanks ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/11 "2013-09-01T02:12:31Z")
You need a DVM with a resistance mode. To measure ohms. You don’t use the DC current mode for this. Get out the owner’s manual of your meter, it will explain. You test the filament resistance by removing the bulb from the car, and probing each of the three pairs of terminals on the bulb. There are two filaments in headlight bulbs, andif you probe all three pairs you are guranteed to check each filament. If both filaments are good, each of the three terminal pairs should measure less than 10 ohms. ---
**Author:** ![wpollock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3be4f8/32.png) [@wpollock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wpollock)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/12 "2013-09-01T09:30:49Z")
as a follow up to my original post, in every instance of the bulbs failing it is the low beam that burns out. ---
**Author:** ![nyrhtakwilson42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ed655f/32.png) [@nyrhtakwilson42](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nyrhtakwilson42)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drivers-side-headlight-problem/81138/13 "2013-09-02T21:39:10Z")
I’ve been having the same problem with my 2004 Hyundai Elantra ever since I bought it 7 years ago. Sometimes the bulb lasts a year and sometimes 2-3 months. It’s random. I’ve tried the highest quality bulbs and lower quality bulbs…didn’t make a difference. Never touched the bulb during installation. During one installation something was broken and I had to replace the entire headlamp. Now that bulb has lasted a very long time, but the other side needs replacing just as often as before. I think the headlamp itself must have a leak in it that is causing the bulbs to burn out prematurely. Any comments?