Melting Headlights
 

I went to do the bumper mod today and I happened to look at the headlight right in my face. The driver-side headlight is actually melting up-and-to-the-right of the bulb. I bought these headlights from vertex racing and put their bulbs in them. I did do the fog-light mod so could that be the problem? I'm kind of nervous to run my headlights now. I can run just fogs until i find out what the problem is. It's a 2005 Edge.

I would quick find someone with stock bulbs(or your old ones) and put them back in, and take it to the dealer for some free lights...

i wouldn't just run fogs... it's illegal.

Are the bulbs higher wattage than stock? That might be a cause. Put your stock bulbs in and buy some normal wattage bulbs instead.

EDIT:
word to your mother :006:

the headlights on my fourwheeler did that, to mutch voltage going to the headlights and thay melted

I went looking for my old headlights and I can't find them. Is there any possibility it could be getting any more power from doing the fog-mod? If not, whats the stock wattage? I do know running just fogs is illegal, but coming home from work at 11 pm, it's a five minute drive in the most rural part of town, and no cops. Just temporary.

you probably melted doing the headlight mod, switch to some silverstars or stock bulbs. or leave it and check it again in a few days to see if its more melted or the same.

He bought aftermarket headlamp cases and bulbs.

The fog light mod wouldn't have anything to do with this. Odds are those bulbs are too high a voltage or the headlamp cases are cheap.

Would doing the Foglight-mod void any warranty at the dealer? It's due for an oil change and I think I may just take it to the dealer to get the oil changed and see what they say about the headlights.

lol, they won't pull the relay. 99 out of 100 Ford techs wouldn't know the difference anyway.

Well, all I have to do now is find my stock bulbs and I should be due for some new headlights maybe. I feel better, I looked at that melted spot and thought instantly about your truck. But since yours was caused by an e-fan and mine's just a bulb to powerful for its own good, that's a relief.

You do have aftermarket headlamp cases right? If so you'll have to swap out the stock cases and bulbs to get it replaced free under warranty.

Yeah, they're aftermarket. So basically I'm stuck with a melted headlight or stock (which I can't find). I guess I'll just have to go buy some new bulbs.

Brighter aftermarket bulbs have melted a LOT of Ranger headlight connectors and what not. They are a bad idea -- our trucks simply don't tolerate them well.

Two ways to get brighter/whiter light: higher wattage and higher filament temperatures or both.

Generally, bulbs which are brighter with the same wattage use a fine filament that "burns" at a higher temperature for the same wattage. Silverstars are an example.

Other lights with higher wattage produce correspondingly more heat. Also, our headlight wiring is thin and the connectors cheap. Not a good combination for high wattage lighting.

You can get "whiter" light with a blue tint, but it reduces the overall brightness some if it's too much. A hotter filament and faint blue tint is what Silverstars have.

Good luck with your repairs.

I didn't buy the bulbs trying to get brighter. They just came with the headlights I bought. They didn't seem any brighter than stock yet the after-market housing melted. Stock bulbs are fine for me.

Just wondering what headlights you bought, any pics?

I bought them from Vertex Racing. I don't have any pictures but they look exactly like every other black housing headlight, nothing special about them. I just noticed the melting today so I don't have any pictures of them actually melted.

Okay, I misinterpreted your post, sorry. It's just been a recurring issue for folks in the past.

Might just be a bad run of plastic or something.

I bought these lights too. Wish I would have joined on here before I did would have been fine with the headlight mod... hopefullly mine dont melt...