Hi all
Can someone please tell me what the answer is withregard to the Cibie lights, I'm fed up with the damn things not working. I don't seem to have a problem with bulbs blowing, it seeme to be a bulb holder/bulb thing, sometimes they work, and then a minute later they don't. I then take the light off, and then when its in my hand it works and I haven't done anything to it.
What I want to know is, Is there a way of getting them to work all the time! Reliably!
Your comments please.
Ron

 

Have you checked the white plug between the light and the loom.

When i fitted mine i had problems because who ever had fitted the plugs onto the wiring had not done a very good job. One wire just fell out of the plug.

I had to taken them off and fit some new connectors to make them work correctly.

Worth a check, because when they are working they are great.

Andy H

 

Try checking the bulb holder and the metal base of the bulb for heat oxidation (bluish metallic tinge). I have problem with this on/off thing once before, and after putting a sandpaper to the metal, apparently got it fixed.

 

Which bulb??
If H2, it's a chronic design fault and totally uncurable. I've had no end of Cibies over the years using these bulbs, Cibie have modified the bulb holders but they still fail.

It is worse if you use bulbs over 55w. The bulb overheats, the bulbholder springs heat up, lose their spring temper, arcing occurs, the surface contaminates and the electrical contact is lost. As mentioned above cleaning them helps but once you do this it is a signal that the holders are scrap.

You can get new bulb holders (Demon Tweeks and others) and if your lamps are over a year or two old, particularly if using over 55w bulbs, the holders need changing and this will cure it until the whole sorry tale starts over again. Be warned, the holders are different between Cibie lamps even though they take the same 55w bulb so specify the exact lamp unit.

Alternatively, buy PIAA lamps, proper bulbs (H3), no problems.

 

Dave,
I took your last option. After a full year with the cibies, and I think 16 replacement bulbs, I dumped them. Changed to PIAA's last Winter, and haven't had a single problem with them.
DavieR

 

No problem with mine.
I have now had 2 sets. Two different cars.

The wiring loom and hence connectors that came with my second set was quite frankly a Friday afternoon job.
I had little confidence in it.

Bought some decent cable and connectors and made my own.
Solder and crimp the connectors and then cover with heatshrink.
No problems whatsoveer, having said that I had no problems to start with, just didn't like the look of the original loom so didn't fit it.

No problems with the loom that was supplied with the original set.

Cost probably less than a tenner.

Cheers

 

Thanks for your comments guy's,
unfortunately the car has gone into the bodyshop today for a week, (thats another story!) so I won't have the car in order to fiddle with them.
Looks like I might be splashing out for some new lights then.
Ta
Ron.

 

Ron

I had the same problem as you until i used 100w h2 in the Cibies, and they were only £4 each from a local motor spares shop, no problems yet....fingers crossed.

Jase

 

Thanks Your Lord-ship,
I might have to go the 100w route.
Ron

 

and believe you and me, Dave has had a LOT of years!

 

yeah but unlike you fatso I don't show it