Battery & Headlights - Related issues?

[wingman7000]

I did a quick search on these and didn't seem to find the answer I needed, but I have an issue with my battery and headlights on my '03 GT and would like to see it anyone else here has run into them.

1. Battery = I just replaced the battery for the second time in about 4 years. That's not normal. I always get a lot of acid build-up on the positive terminal and try and don't know why. The guy at Advanced Auto Parts that tested my battery said that it is probably because something is draining the battery or there is a short somewhere. Is this true? How do I find it? Has anyone else experienced this with their vibe?

2. Headlights - I don't know if this is related to the battery issues, but I go through headlights like there's no tomorrow. I have to replace them at least once a year. It seems like it is every 6-9 months. Its been that way since I bought it in '06. Why am I going through them so quickly? I have always thought it was from the DRL, but now I'm not sure. I wonder if the two issues are related.

Any input or advise on these issues would be appreciated. Thanks!

[beemerphile1]

What is the voltage across the battery terminals when the engine is running? There is a remote chance it could be overcharging. How much are you filling the battery? Upper water level should be the bottom of the slot.

Are you using stock replacement lamps? Are you using aftermarket lamps? The high performance aftermarket type lamps have short lives.

Short lamp life could also be a result of high voltage, but it would be all lamps, not just headlamps.

[wingman7000]

What is the voltage across the battery terminals when the engine is running? There is a remote chance it could be overcharging.

I'm not sure what the voltage is when its running. I would have to take it back to have it tested again, but overcharging could make sense.

How much are you filling the battery? Upper water level should be the bottom of the slot.

Filling the battery? I've never filled the battery. I didn't even know I could or should do that.

Are you using stock replacement lamps? Are you using aftermarket lamps? The high performance aftermarket type lamps have short lives.

I usually buy the slightly brighter lamps for better visibility. My headlights are pretty badly hazed over and the brighter lamps help. I tried using the 3M headlight restoration kit, but its labor intensive and I haven't had the time to do it. Plus i went through one kit on just half of a headlight about a year and a half ago.

[joatmon]

Don't know about the battery, other than putting some grease on the terminals to slow the crud build up, but for the headlights I have found that all Sylvania brand bulbs have terrible life. They burn out too quickly, even the non-blind-oncoming-drivers bulbs I used to buy Sylvanias (which are the only brand Autozone and AdvanceAutoParts sell) but now I get at least double the life of Sylvanias using whatever non-Sylvania brand NAPA sells

[wingman7000]

Don't know about the battery, other than putting some grease on the terminals to slow the crud build up, but for the headlights I have found that all Sylvania brand bulbs have terrible life. They burn out too quickly, even the non-blind-oncoming-drivers bulbs I used to buy Sylvanias (which are the only brand Autozone and AdvanceAutoParts sell) but now I get at least double the life of Sylvanias using whatever non-Sylvania brand NAPA sells

The last one I put in were Philips and they didn't last long either. Thanks for the tip. I'll try that the next time they go out.