Vehicle safety inspections

[EightFingers]

Driving west on Kaloli this afternoon, I noticed a truck with two brake lights out (the left rear lower and the upper "third eye" light). Inspection sticker was for 09 16. That means the vehicle was inspected just a few weeks ago.
So what's the chance TWO brake lights would go out in that length of time?

[birdmove]

Maybe if it was an old beater, as they can have lots of light problems due to bad or intermittent grounds. You, know, like when you tap them, they come on again.

But, I hear the ticket for a light out is pretty steep here.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[leilanidude]

Generally, when one goes out, the other is very soon to follow due to the increased resistance on that circuit. Always replace those lights in pairs.

[EightFingers]

It was a pretty nice truck, a 2012 or later. Don't want to say any more, as I don't want to "out" anyone.

[mac nut]

Always amazed how often I see a car at night with only one headlight!

[b_a]

Generally the reason the other light is soon to follow is that they have been burning for an equal amount of time. There would actually be decreased resistance in the circuit, as a light bulb is a resistor.

...we are everywhere...

[EightFingers]

I've been driving for over 40 years and I've never had that experience with light bulbs. I just change them as they go out.
As to bulbs burning out quicker when other bulbs burn out...are you all saying the voltage/amperage increases in the remaining bulb? If that's the case wouldn't the remaining bulb actually be somewhat brighter? Maybe that explains why cars with one front headlight seem to be a lot brighter. I thought it was the driver putting their lights on bright to compensate for the burned out bulb.

[shockwave rider]

If all the bulbs are supposed to have more or less the same number of working hours before they burn out, and they all go in the vehicle at the same time on the assembly line, the thing I always wondered was why they DON'T burn out at the same time more often. It isn't as if you drive with only one light on a regular basis, or choose to use only one brake light.

I have noticed that all vehicle electrical stuff doesn't last as long here, when we lived right on the water it was even worse, we got about half the life out of certain bulbs and fuses on one of our cars that was parked with the greatest exposure to salt air.

[islandlvng]

Pauls repair in Pahoa just recently passed a Sprinter cargo van that is driven by my bosses wife. She does plant deliveries to Kona weekly. Full load.

A week after inspection took place and was passed, she asked if I could take a look at the van due to shaking when reaching a certain speed. I first checked the tires and my jaw hit the ground and broke. Both front tires of this huge cargo van where worn inside almost showing wire. The rotors were toast and pads so worn that they were digging channels into the rotors on both sides. Rear tires needed replacing also. She was doing a delivery the next day and I would not let her. If they had not stopped me, I was going down to ol Pauls and having a little get together with the asshole who did inspection.

We are talking about neglect on the highest of levels. Lives could have been easily lost on saddle with those tires and brakes in that condition. I will say that my boss and his wife should have been doing checks themselves on the vehicle but both of them are clueless when it comes to vehicles unfortunately. This was a problem that went on for far too long but should have been caught at the safety inspector.

Should have................. F**K Pauls repair.

[TomK]

"I have noticed that all vehicle electrical stuff doesn't last as long here, when we lived right on the water it was even worse, we got about half the life out of certain bulbs and fuses on one of our cars that was parked with the greatest exposure to salt air."

Oddly enough, my experience is the complete opposite. I live near the ocean but not right on the water (I'm about 400 yards back). My current car is 13 years old, and only replaced both headlights about a year ago. Two years ago I replaced both the brake lights after one failed, but other than that all the lights bulbs came with the car. Guess I've been lucky! I have a bunch of spare bulbs as I thought I'd be changing them regularly given the climate and that I often drive at night, but haven't needed most.