Headlight problems

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Yeah I'm not a fan of the silverstars. I just use bulbs I find in the drawers in my garage, and I seem to buy a new car before they burn out again

If something is making the car eat bulbs, I would suspect something in the line to the bulb. Too much juice, did they seem particularly bright before? Check the relays, wiring, what's the volt readout on your X50? Normal?

Could always try throwing the bulb you took out of the car in the first place and see if it dies quickly too.

[Arashi666]

Yeah I'm not a fan of the silverstars. I just use bulbs I find in the drawers in my garage, and I seem to buy a new car before they burn out again

If something is making the car eat bulbs, I would suspect something in the line to the bulb. Too much juice, did they seem particularly bright before? Check the relays, wiring, what's the volt readout on your X50? Normal?

Could always try throwing the bulb you took out of the car in the first place and see if it dies quickly too.

looked fine to me, X50 reads out at a stable 13.5 to 14V with alternator running and lights on................ they didnt look too bright, just normal, mainly because the Veil was already chipping and I decided to take it off and put it to rest

[TSi+WRX]

If something is making the car eat bulbs, I would suspect something in the line to the bulb. Too much juice, did they seem particularly bright before? Check the relays, wiring, what's the volt readout on your X50? Normal?

Agreed - if the voltage from the cig. lighter/hardline reads fine, then it's probably more than likely something along that particular lamp's wiring that's causing the problem.

It certainly could also be a small enough "issue" that the burn-out problem only arises with the seemingly somewhat "more sensitive" and Q/C "variable" US-Market Sylvania SilverStars - but is effectively hidden if more durable/consitent bulbs are used.

[Arashi666]

well my HIDs come in in a week, so I just hope to god that those dont go out............ hopefuly i'd have fixed the problem by then though........ because now i'm down to 1 bulb (of 4 in there, only one is still functioning)

[TSi+WRX]

Hey bro,

I'd *_honestly_* recommend that you trace down the problem that you're having before you install your HIDs.

If it's a wiring problem, and you're using your stock wiring to energize a "plug-and-play" (bulb, ballast, ignitor) kit, then you could potentially also damage the HIDs (or worse, incur an electrical failure).

Use some el-cheapo bulbs (or your OEM ones, if you still have them laying around) to see if you can't trace it down - make sure it's not the wiring.

[Arashi666]

Hey bro,

I'd *_honestly_* recommend that you trace down the problem that you're having before you install your HIDs.

If it's a wiring problem, and you're using your stock wiring to energize a "plug-and-play" (bulb, ballast, ignitor) kit, then you could potentially also damage the HIDs (or worse, incur an electrical failure).

Use some el-cheapo bulbs (or your OEM ones, if you still have them laying around) to see if you can't trace it down - make sure it's not the wiring.

sounds good, i'll stop by Autozone and pick up a bulb later, thankfully I can get one for like 5 bucks

[V1 Dave]

I don't find them to be much brighter than "standard" alternatives - it's just that I prefer their slightly-whiter color-rendition, which I've found to be even more pleasing that that of many OEM-HID systems (mainly as the yellower color of these standard incandescents helps me somewhat with edge-delineation and depth-perception in less-than-ideal weather). Just a personal preference, that's all.

Opening an old thread......Had these silver star ultras on since Jan, pretty nice I like them much better, whiter, yellow gone. Got to agree with everything that TSX said, not brighter but whiter.
I know $50 is a lot but CSK always has these on the rebate sheet for $10 off.

[ELVATO]

I've been wondering about the Ultras. I wonder just how much better they are from the Silverstars I have now.

Late last year, I got the "normal" Silverstars for my headlights (80 bucks since I need hi and lo beams :? )

Just recently, went and got the Silverstar foglights, to match. Here are some pictures for comparison. What is important to note from the pictures is the color shift from the stock fogs to the Silverstars. These pictures are not that good for comparing "brightness" because of the nature of the Auto setting on the camera (bigger or smaller aperture depending on ambient brightness.)

Stock


Silverstars


Better look


I have seen that some F150 owners, instead of using the Silverstar fog (9145?) light for their fogs, use a 9005 Silverstar. I do know that some of them complain that this "upgrade" melts their fog light cover. Here are some stats of each:

9005 Silverstar (high beam): 1700 +/- 15% lumens 65 watts
9145 Silverstar fogs: 800 +/- 15% lumens 42 watts

How much damage could be done to the electrical system from putting in higher wattage bulbs? Right now, don't have the money for changing them..though maybe I could return them? Must find the recipt :P

[NooB1FieD]

I put a set of silver stars in my mazda, they both were fine for about 10 months, then the left burned out, then 2 months later right burned out. 50 bucks is too much for a bulb that lasts less than a year. Stock bulbs from now on. although, I did do a light war with a friend in his civic. Maybe that shortened their life. (cars face head on, and you flash brights as fast as you can, dont ask me why.) :roll:

[ELVATO]

I put a set of silver stars in my mazda, they both were fine for about 10 months, then the left burned out, then 2 months later right burned out. 50 bucks is too much for a bulb that lasts less than a year. Stock bulbs from now on. although, I did do a light war with a friend in his civic. Maybe that shortened their life. (cars face head on, and you flash brights as fast as you can, dont ask me why.) :roll:

LOL....who won?