VW Polo2012 - Headlights

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Wed 3 Apr 2019 12:48
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - kiss (keep it simple)

Just had a scary moment with our Polo 2012 model. Both headlights failed simultaneously. Luckily we were only a few yards out of the drive, but as it was dark we left the car safely parked and fetched the other one. All sorts of expensive thoughts went through my mind ( alternator regulation?) and some cheaper ones (fuse?) but when I checked it turns out that both bulbs had failed. I did a bit of research and it seems that this has happened to others. So I have 2 questions,

1. Why would the alternator, presumably, surge in voltage if a bulb fails?

2. Isn't this a bad design failing, especially if one were driving in a rural area at night?

Another interesting point is that the car runs the headlights during daytime and the service record repeatedly shows headlamp changes.

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Wed 3 Apr 2019 15:00
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - dieselnut

" service record repeatedly shows headlamp changes. "

It would be worth checking your battery voltage when the engine is running.

Could be your alternator isn't regulating properly.

Voltage should be around 14.4v.

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Wed 3 Apr 2019 16:25
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - elekie&a/c doctor
Bad design on VWs part. There are no dedicated drls on these ,so they run the dipped beam while the engine is running. This shortens the life of the bulbs . I would suggest you use quality bulbs , Philips or Osram makes. On the plus side , the bulbs are easy to replace . 2 screws and the headlight pops out.
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Thu 4 Apr 2019 00:47
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - SLO76
I’ve only had to replace one dipped headlight bulb on my 2012 Polo in three and a half years but the boot lock was an ongoing pain in the posterior until I did what I preach and took it to a decent auto electrician. In your case it could be duff cheapo bulbs. I always fit the best I can get.
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Thu 4 Apr 2019 05:24
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - dan86

I need to find out what bulbs our Suzuki has in as they're coming up for 10 years old now. I've only replaced one break light bulb out of all the lights on the car an I think that was a Bosch bulb. Like SLO76 says good quality bulbs are always worth that bit extra

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Thu 4 Apr 2019 08:52
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - Falkirk Bairn

Be wary of buying "the best" light bulbs.

I had a Mazda Xedos for 15 years - only replaced 1 side light & 1 reversing light in roughly 10 years.

I decided to buy "the latest & quite expensive" new headlamp bulbs promising 50% more light - they were a lot brighter but the extra heat played havoc with the reflectors - on it's last MoT in my possession I was warned that it might not pass in the future.

With a popular car there are always going to be light clusters available from manufacturers/ after market / scrappy but with the Xedos,, which sold in penny numbers ,it would be a problem.

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Thu 4 Apr 2019 10:29
VW Polo2012 - Headlights - kiss (keep it simple)

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't had a chance to check the alternator so far. I have invested in a pair of Osram long life bulbs, but at the moment it has a pair of Ring replacements which we had to get in a hurry from the local motor factors. They've been OK for a couple of weeks now.

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