Aftermarket Headlight Bulbs Blowing Out
January-14th-2003, 12:03 AM
#1
Reflector Collector
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Irvington, NJ
Posts: 207
Aftermarket Headlight Bulbs Blowing Out
OK, ive been thru like 5 sets of aftermarket "hyperwhite" bulbs(low beam) in about 12 months --- all of them from different manufacturers. Does anyone else have this prob or know of a brand that is working well?
BTW it seems the driver side low beam goes out first.... only had the passenger side go out once.... and oddly enough both had gone at the same time?!
Pe@ce
BTW it seems the driver side low beam goes out first.... only had the passenger side go out once.... and oddly enough both had gone at the same time?!
Pe@ce
January-14th-2003, 12:38 AM
#2
Cripple Fight!!!!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,944
that's why you stick with either stock halogens or more reputable lightbulb makers like Osram/Silvania or Philips.
check out the Silvania SilverStars people have been talking about around here, sounds like a high quality bulb that'll actually last longer than 6 months
PIAA's are WAY overpriced for what you get, and they burn out pretty quickly too!
check out the Silvania SilverStars people have been talking about around here, sounds like a high quality bulb that'll actually last longer than 6 months
PIAA's are WAY overpriced for what you get, and they burn out pretty quickly too!
January-14th-2003, 01:47 AM
#4
Too Many Cars
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 356
Reason why is unreliable voltage going to the bulbs.. could be from loud stereo system pulling too much power from the rest of your electrical system..
Something like this, a relay kit,
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlight...re-harness.htm
can help..
But aftermarket bulbs generally suck. I went through hundreds of $$$ in PIAA's and generic bulbs in a course of 2 years and just ended up back with my stock bulbs in the very end as nothing else worked out well for me life wise other than H.I.D. retrofit (and the relay kit too)
Something like this, a relay kit,
http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlight...re-harness.htm
can help..
But aftermarket bulbs generally suck. I went through hundreds of $$$ in PIAA's and generic bulbs in a course of 2 years and just ended up back with my stock bulbs in the very end as nothing else worked out well for me life wise other than H.I.D. retrofit (and the relay kit too)
January-14th-2003, 09:09 AM
#5
Boss of you
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 171
I've had PIAAs bulbs in my other car for nearly three years now. They're cool and last but definately not worth the money in hindsight.
I second the voltage fluctuations...which is believable, look at the electrical mods.
Interior Street Glow Neons
Exterior Street Glow Neons
Headlight Strobes
Alpine IVA-C800 6.5" TV Headunit
Alpine DVA-5205 In-dash DVD player
JL Audio Components (Front and Rear)
SUBS: (3) JL 10W3
Amps: JL Audio 300/4 and 500/1
XBox Video Game System
And with just a casual glance, I didn't see anything listed to tame voltage fluctuations or even a larger battery/higher output alternator.
Alternately, I guess a stupid question is, "Are you touching the bulb when installing"...bulbs don't like grubby fingerprints
I second the voltage fluctuations...which is believable, look at the electrical mods.
Interior Street Glow Neons
Exterior Street Glow Neons
Headlight Strobes
Alpine IVA-C800 6.5" TV Headunit
Alpine DVA-5205 In-dash DVD player
JL Audio Components (Front and Rear)
SUBS: (3) JL 10W3
Amps: JL Audio 300/4 and 500/1
XBox Video Game System
And with just a casual glance, I didn't see anything listed to tame voltage fluctuations or even a larger battery/higher output alternator.
Alternately, I guess a stupid question is, "Are you touching the bulb when installing"...bulbs don't like grubby fingerprints
Last edited by davens; January-14th-2003 at 09:12 AM.
January-14th-2003, 04:01 PM
#7
Reflector Collector
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Irvington, NJ
Posts: 207
1. What upgrade wire harness? Im not running higher wattage bulbs.
2. Bulbs arent touched when installed --that would make them explode, not burn out.
3. Stereo system ... yes I have alot of stuff in the car, but its never all on at once, or even have the system turned up loud so the electrical drain is very minimal --- the amps arent high current and draw very little from the system when the volume is at a low level -- so the electrical drain issue is pointless.....
however.. ive been reading into some more posts and apparently several people are having the same problem that i am -- maybe this is something mazda needs to look into.
2. Bulbs arent touched when installed --that would make them explode, not burn out.
3. Stereo system ... yes I have alot of stuff in the car, but its never all on at once, or even have the system turned up loud so the electrical drain is very minimal --- the amps arent high current and draw very little from the system when the volume is at a low level -- so the electrical drain issue is pointless.....
however.. ive been reading into some more posts and apparently several people are having the same problem that i am -- maybe this is something mazda needs to look into.
January-14th-2003, 05:17 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Virginia and Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 602
what I have is a H4 wire harness. It allow me to have the bulbs that burn at 90w/100w without shorting out the bulbs or wires. 
Basically it replaces the factory headlight wiring set and allow me to have a higher bulb wattage. It was a universal kit. It only cost me 40 dollars. 
Basically it replaces the factory headlight wiring set and allow me to have a higher bulb wattage. It was a universal kit. It only cost me 40 dollars.
January-14th-2003, 05:21 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Virginia and Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 602
yea the link tradar sent you can help. thats what you need. An Upgrade wire harness. Thats the same thing I got for my hyper whites. And so far I haven't had a problem. 
* Thank GOD *
* Thank GOD *
January-14th-2003, 05:39 PM
#10
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 216
ive had eurolite hyperwhites bulbs 80/100 and finally they blew out i had them over a year with no problems and my headlight harness wasnt even melted (amen) unlike you other guys but my foglight bulbs would blow out every 2 months or so but now im back to stock dingy yellow
January-15th-2003, 03:17 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 129
Okay, I haven't changed any of my bulbs yet but I was thinking of the HKS Power Beams. I see that the upgraded wiring harness can be a good thing if I do this, or perhaps I should just save my money and go for HID.
Would upgrading the harness on the fogs prevent the fog bulbs from burning out so quick? Is it even possible to upgrade the wiring harness for the fogs?
Would upgrading the harness on the fogs prevent the fog bulbs from burning out so quick? Is it even possible to upgrade the wiring harness for the fogs?
Last edited by jrodhotrod; January-15th-2003 at 03:44 AM.
January-15th-2003, 03:43 AM
#15
Likwidated
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Canada (formerly Yugoslavia)
Posts: 2,159
Everybody that I know that replaced their bulbs with 'aftermarket' ones has had them burn out on them at least once.
My stock ones have held up for over 1.5 years (50,000 kms).... and still going strong...... errr I mean bright
My stock ones have held up for over 1.5 years (50,000 kms).... and still going strong...... errr I mean bright