headlamp low-beams blew after 7ish months

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03-01-2009, 05:09 PM

agmetal

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headlamp low-beams blew after 7ish months

I just replaced my headlamps in july or august, and discovered on thursday that my driver's side headlight was out, but that if i switched to the high beams, it would come on. i left it until this afternoon, and then discovered that suddenly both headlights had this problem. what could cause this to happen in so little time?

i have Sylvania lamps...i think the SilverStar or XtraVision, can't remember for sure. do i need to use just the plain 9004, or are the 9004 ST or 9004 XV ok?

03-01-2009, 05:16 PM

wirelessdude04

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ok so they both went out with hi/lo? Im guessing there is a short somewhere check the fuses, wiring harness?

03-01-2009, 05:31 PM

agmetal

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wirelessdude04

ok so they both went out with hi/lo? Im guessing there is a short somewhere check the fuses, wiring harness?

low-beams are out in both. high-beams work fine.

03-01-2009, 05:32 PM

tigersharkdude

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IMHO silverstars are GARBAGE!! They blew at random in my old max and I didnt even waste my $ on my new max

03-01-2009, 05:38 PM

agmetal

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tigersharkdude

IMHO silverstars are GARBAGE!! They blew at random in my old max and I didnt even waste my $ on my new max

what would you recommend instead? i need cheap, reliable, and a nice long, bright throw.

03-01-2009, 07:42 PM

Leo_Koneval

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The same thing happened to me! I replaced the bulbs and the low beams worked normally. I have no clue why the low beams would go out while the high beams on the same side would still work.

03-01-2009, 08:31 PM

nitromax

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_Koneval

I have no clue why the low beams would go out while the high beams on the same side would still work.

pretty simple if you think about it.....you burn the low beam more normally than the hi beam. more use = shorter life!! but then that's just me being logical.

03-01-2009, 08:34 PM

agmetal

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nitromax

pretty simple if you think about it.....you burn the low beam more normally than the hi beam. more use = shorter life!! but then that's just me being logical.

true, but the previous lamps lasted for nearly a year while i owned the car, and had already been in for a while beforehand, and i used them exactly the same way

03-01-2009, 08:43 PM

nitromax

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Quote:

Originally Posted by agmetal

true, but the previous lamps lasted for nearly a year while i owned the car, and had already been in for a while beforehand, and i used them exactly the same way

time can play tricks on the memory, especially when you deal with longer times like a year and no exact dates,brands, times used are recorded. then again so much stuff is "made in china" now, that quality can suffer.

03-01-2009, 08:54 PM

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agmetal

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well, in any case....anyone have suggestions for some decent but inexpensive lamps that i can get easily, pref. locally? i do a lot of night driving in both urban environments, and narrow, wooded rural roads.

03-01-2009, 09:35 PM

#11

made in china

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nitromax

then again so much stuff is "made in china" now, that quality can suffer.

hey now!

03-02-2009, 06:28 AM

#12

tigersharkdude

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i am running the cheapo bulbs. they are fine with me

03-02-2009, 08:06 AM

#13

nitromax

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Quote:

Originally Posted by made in china

hey now!

not you....the other stuff!!! j/k
xtra vision work great for me

03-02-2009, 08:13 AM

#14

xenomax

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i think 6 months is the life of silverstars. same thing happened 6 months after i installed them in my wifes car one went out and the very next day the other died.

03-02-2009, 08:25 AM

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njmaxseltd

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PIAA - 6 years and still going strong.

YGWYP4 - True story....

03-02-2009, 08:33 AM

#16

gatsugansu

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I bought a set of Xtravision, used from an org member, almost a year now. They work fine, just as bright as the day I got'em. I do moderate amount of night driving.

03-02-2009, 02:47 PM

#17

agmetal

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Quote:

Originally Posted by njmaxseltd

PIAA - 6 years and still going strong.

YGWYP4 - True story....

Interesting...worth $52 for the HB1-9004 Style Xtreme White Plus 65/45W=195/120-Watt Bulb - Twin Pack from Amazon? I need to order soon to be able to get them before the next time I'll need to drive with properly-working headlights, and I don't see them on the websites for the stores that are around here.

03-02-2009, 07:26 PM

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Leo_Koneval

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nitromax

pretty simple if you think about it.....you burn the low beam more normally than the hi beam. more use = shorter life!! but then that's just me being logical.

But wait a minute, 4th gens have a single bulb, meaning low-beams and high-beams go through the same bulb. What I don't get it why the same bulb would work on high beam when it is supposedly burned out.

Unless there are two filaments in there, one for low beams and one for high beams. but not even the guys at Schucks could explain it so I guess.....its........ the aliens.

03-02-2009, 07:58 PM

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nalc

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_Koneval

Unless there are two filaments in there, one for low beams and one for high beams.

This is true.

I have heard excellent reviews of Osram Nightbreaker bulbs.

Phillips Xtremepower is probably one of the best rated halogen bulbs, but I don't think they come in 9004.

Stay away from blue coated bulbs. Those PIAAs seem iffy. A blue bulb will give you whiter light, but reduce output and lifespan. That's why the Silverstars burn out so quickly.