Accidentally bumped (several times lol) a new Philips 9006 headlamp bulb into a reservoir under the hood while trying to install the bulb. I know there's a big to do about keeping the glass portion of a bulb clean due to concern over heat buildup. I bumped the tip only and the tip seems to be colored or coated a carbon color. Do I need to worry about the tip ? Or is this just an issue for the transparent lower portion of the bulb ?
Philips 9006 Bulb Tips
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Take some alcohol with clean white rag and wipe it off. I've done it many times.
There are two risks. One is that you caused a little chip or crack in the glass (not just the coating), and then there is nothing you can do but replace it. The other risk is enough deposits of water, oil, grease, whatever, that the glass heats at a dissimilar rate where the deposit is, also causing cracking.
If there is something to clean off, like fingerprint oil, even a wipe with a dry paper towel will work (unless it's dried on *goop*), but if it is already chipped, it will break anyway as stated above.
The tip does not matter as much as the rest as far as a deposit on it, but do clean it off to take no chances.
Cramped space? Take the bulb out and clean it. Put it back in, wearing gloves so no fingerprint oil gets on. I like thin, nitrile gloves.
However, if there is a chance that it chipped or cracked, then I would plug it into the power connector and turn it on for ~10 seconds as a test before reinstalling it into the headlight housing (obviously, letting it cool down again first), because if it is going to crack apart, it is then a real pain to get pieces of glass out of a headlight housing.
If there is something to clean off, like fingerprint oil, even a wipe with a dry paper towel will work (unless it's dried on *goop*), but if it is already chipped, it will break anyway as stated above.
The tip does not matter as much as the rest as far as a deposit on it, but do clean it off to take no chances.
Cramped space? Take the bulb out and clean it. Put it back in, wearing gloves so no fingerprint oil gets on. I like thin, nitrile gloves.
However, if there is a chance that it chipped or cracked, then I would plug it into the power connector and turn it on for ~10 seconds as a test before reinstalling it into the headlight housing (obviously, letting it cool down again first), because if it is going to crack apart, it is then a real pain to get pieces of glass out of a headlight housing.
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Yes, cramped space. Very difficult to get large hands in there. On one side there's a reservoir and the other side looks even tighter because the battery is very close by.
Btw, I did already turn the lights on. What's the worse case ? A blowout ? In any case, I'll clean it with alcohol before I turn on the lights again.
Btw, I did already turn the lights on. What's the worse case ? A blowout ? In any case, I'll clean it with alcohol before I turn on the lights again.
Got the bulb pic with the carbon top from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-9006...8&psc=1&mcid=e51a1f9c94723164b6bbb760ae0e1d3b
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-9006...8&psc=1&mcid=e51a1f9c94723164b6bbb760ae0e1d3b
This might be double-dipping but here's the backstory on the new bulbs. A teen in a U-Haul last year took out one of the headlamps on my 04 Camry. So I installed a brand new set called "Eagle Eye" from Rock Auto. I was happy as a clam because night driving was so much easier after replacing cloudy 20 year old lenses. That is, until my friend borrowed my car last week and the first thing she said was "...Geez your headlights are dim". So I thought I'd try upgrading the Eagle Eye bulbs. I installed one Philips VisionPlus bulb in on the right side and tried to do a comparison with the Eagle Eye bulb on the left side while night driving last night. I couldn't tell the difference. Is there an easier way to tell which bulb is better and brighter ?
As long as there are no visible signs of damage, they should be fine.
Philips uses spiffier plastic clamshell packaging, in addition to blister packs, on their European bulbs. The former has a reputation for allowing the bulbs to break free from their mounts, and rattle around loose inside the plastic container.
I have a pair shipped all that way from Old Blighty in that state, never showed any ill effects, and are still in use today.
Philips uses spiffier plastic clamshell packaging, in addition to blister packs, on their European bulbs. The former has a reputation for allowing the bulbs to break free from their mounts, and rattle around loose inside the plastic container.
I have a pair shipped all that way from Old Blighty in that state, never showed any ill effects, and are still in use today.
The best tip for a 9006 bulb IMO is to perform the 9012 mod (if it's a projector/glare cap lens)
As for your scenario, clean cloth and rubbing alcohol, give it a minute to fully dry, and you'll be fine
As for your scenario, clean cloth and rubbing alcohol, give it a minute to fully dry, and you'll be fine
