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Author Topic: Headlamp bulbs  (Read 37706 times)

mr singh

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #15 on: February 23, 2019, 02:18:22 PM »


If you think changing headlamp bulb is hard, try extracting a sidelight bulb that’s lost in the headlamp unit ;)


iv been there and bought the t-shirt. bought some cheap LED bulbs and 1 melted and when I tried to get it out it fell out of the holder. I ended up using a flexible grabbing tool to get in and going through the main beam bulb hole to get it out.
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Coverman

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #16 on: February 23, 2019, 05:56:51 PM »

All modern cars are designed to only be serviced on a 2 post lift, so for the man in the street they are a nightmare.
I do remember though spending four and a half hours changing a heater hose on a Scimitar GT V6. Remove o/s/f wheel, hold torch in teeth(no headtorches in those days) poke 1 hand and screwdriver through slot in wheelarch, kindly provided by Reliant,to undo one end. Lie horizontal on aircleaner again with torch in teeth and reach forward under scuttle to undo other end of hose. Try and extricate oneself prior to repeat the exercise to fit new hose. I had the aircleaner bolt head marks in my chest for days afterwards. My previous car was a GT6 that one could repair most things on by sitting on a front wheel, and indeed could do an oil change on the diff, gearbox(once an access hole had been drilled through the cardboard gearbox tunnel and a Morris Minor brake master cylinder grommet fitted) or engine without even jacking the car up.Did spend a lot of time balancing the triple Webers on mine-(not standard, but then neither was the tuned TR6 engine)but sitting in comfort on the front tyre.
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snookey

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2019, 09:33:51 AM »

The only car I ever regretted buying was the one Ford I've owned, a Mondeo, but two things about it I do miss.  One, the heated windscreen - why the hell aren't they standard fitment on all cars by now?  Two, to change the headlight (or sidelight) bulbs one would pull the cable block off the back of the light unit, lift two spring-loaded levers, slide the whole unit out then take it and sit in the car with it on one's lap to change the bulb.  A great idea which seemed like utter genius when the bulb had blown on a snowy and windy night. 
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Problemchild

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #18 on: February 24, 2019, 09:54:10 AM »

Heated front screen technology is patented by ford

So you will only really see it in ford and Volvo at the moment

JJ

CrazyG

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #19 on: February 24, 2019, 01:02:16 PM »

Sorry to butt in and hi-jack/sideline this thread FURTHER...but just
a quick quessie...
How on earth did Ford manage to patent that when it had already
been in use and fitted to passenger aircraft since the late 60's/early 70's ?

Does anyone know the answer ?
« Last Edit: February 24, 2019, 07:10:33 PM by CrazyG »
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mr singh

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #20 on: February 24, 2019, 05:56:34 PM »

Heated front screen technology is patented by ford

So you will only really see it in ford and Volvo at the moment

JJ


not just Ford and Volvo... any manufacture that was owned by the blue oval... aston martin, jaguar, Lincoln spring to mind
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Fortwo MK3 (2007-2010) Top speed 85 MPH. maxed* 98 MPH
Forfour 1.1 (2010-2015) Top speed 103 MPH. maxed* 110 MPH
Forfour 1.5 SB3 (2015>) Top speed 118 MPH. maxed* 122 MPH
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (11/21-06/22) never to be maxed
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (07/22>) Top speed 155MPH

*maxed in Germany

Problemchild

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #21 on: February 24, 2019, 06:11:13 PM »

ah - didn't know the new Jags had them.... thought it was only the jags while under ford that had them (my dad's x-type (mondeo) did

JJ

snookey

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #22 on: February 24, 2019, 06:41:29 PM »

Are there no Mercs with it fitted? Thought I'd seen it listed on a couple of full spec ones on Autotrader.  Could there be aftermarket versions?  On the Mondeo I had it was no different to rear screen heaters, just closer together.
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mr singh

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #23 on: February 25, 2019, 07:11:04 PM »

Mercedes have fitted heated front screens but because ford patented the design (for cars) other manufactures either pay for the right to use them or do without.
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Fortwo MK3 (2007-2010) Top speed 85 MPH. maxed* 98 MPH
Forfour 1.1 (2010-2015) Top speed 103 MPH. maxed* 110 MPH
Forfour 1.5 SB3 (2015>) Top speed 118 MPH. maxed* 122 MPH
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (11/21-06/22) never to be maxed
Jaguar XF S 3.0TDV6 (07/22>) Top speed 155MPH

*maxed in Germany

Problemchild

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #24 on: February 25, 2019, 10:27:14 PM »

Sorry to butt in and hi-jack/sideline this thread FURTHER...but just
a quick quessie...
How on earth did Ford manage to patent that when it had already
been in use and fitted to passenger aircraft since the late 60's/early 70's ?

Does anyone know the answer ?

nope - but its a trademarked ford thing

having dealt with IPR lawyers lots - its actually really easy to make a slightly different design and patent. Thats why a really good patent is v expensive.

JJ

snookey

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #25 on: February 26, 2019, 06:14:56 AM »

I wonder what made heated windscreens different, compared to all the gadgets which are found on many makes of car, like electric windows, xenon lights, climate control, or airbags, which must have either not been patented or manufacturers chose to pay for the licences.
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Problemchild

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #26 on: February 26, 2019, 07:20:50 AM »

Filing a glass chamber with gas and charging it is almost impossible to patent as you need to patent the design.

Ford could have patented the manufacturing process or how you transfer the power to the screen

Ford would have a very big IPR legal team to make sure they have it wrapped up

Look at how many patents are in an iPhone

JJ

snookey

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #27 on: February 27, 2019, 10:14:12 PM »

Do manufacturers generally consider it a no-no then, to pay another maker for rights to something?  I would have thought not, since all cars have more or less the same range of equipment, but if it's the case for heated screens, it seems likely to be likewise for other stuff.
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Coverman

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #28 on: February 27, 2019, 10:42:49 PM »

There are many cross company royalty payments, and much more joint product co- operation than most people  realise
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jnoun

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Re: Headlamp bulbs
« Reply #29 on: February 28, 2019, 02:15:36 AM »


If you think changing headlamp bulb is hard, try extracting a sidelight bulb that’s lost in the headlamp unit ;)


iv been there and bought the t-shirt. bought some cheap LED bulbs and 1 melted and when I tried to get it out it fell out of the holder. I ended up using a flexible grabbing tool to get in and going through the main beam bulb hole to get it out.

I’ve been there too this Saturday, also put some cheap LED sidelights and the LEDs died or started blinking one by one, as the MOT is due soon I decided to change them. Luckily for me though it did not fall in the headlamp unit and stayed in the hole, I was able to recover the bulb using a magnet.
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