How long do your headlight lamps last?

I have to change the lamps for my headlights about every 3 to 4 months. Been using the run of the mill normal Sylvania XtraVision lamps. They don't seem to last anywhere near as long as I think they should.

Are there better, longer lasting lamps out there?

I don't want to pay a tonne of money for LEDs.

 

I'm still using the stock lights on my 04.....

 

Still using stock on my 01. You may want to try OEM, OP.

 

The OEM lamps burned out a few months after I got it also.

Is there something that could be causing them to burn out?

 

Check all your fuses.

 

When replacing the bulbs, you're not touching glass bulbs?

 

No. I'm very careful to not touch the envelope of the lamp.

 

There's definitely something going on with your Taco if it's going through bulbs at that rate. On my 1st Gen Taco, the OEM headlight bulbs lasted 12 years before requiring replacements. As others have suggested, you need to determine why this is burning yours out so quickly before you continue to purchase new ones every 3-4 months. Revert to OEM first and see what happens.

 

'04. 1007k. DRLs. Original headlamp bulbs.

The lenses on the other hand are complete trash.

 

I had this same issue with my 2007. I sold it to a friend and he also has the issue. OP if you figure it out please post back here. I'd love to help my friend figure out what's going on.

 

So how do I go about trying to track this down?

It's a 3 to 4 month interval between burn outs.

 

Check the headlight harness with a multi meter and see if you are getting to much voltage, amps, or a weird fluctuation. But a stand alone h4 relay harness might be the way to go. Not expensive and easy install.

 

Do you think the OEM headlights are functionally that much more durable than the off the shelf Sylvania's that Wal-Mart sells?

 

Where do you check the voltage at? right at the connector at the end of the harness that plugs in to the light? or further up the chain? What should the voltage and resistance read?

FWIW, it's only the regular beams that seem to burn out, the high beams have not gone out. But they get used less too.

 

No. I buy the regular ones, the cheap ones that seem to last longer.

 

Find a local tacoma owner and use a multi meter and compare voltage between your troublesome truck and there not so troublesome truck

 

I would check right at the connector, and its a good idea to check against another truck. Or if you can find a service manual you should find the specs.

I would bet you see fluctuations that surge or fall real fast, that would be hard on the filiments.

 

Resurrecting an old thread, but wondering if you ever found out what the issue is. I am having the same problem on my 2013 Tacoma and my wife's 2007 Prius.

 

They have the bulb hours on the back of the package.
I hardly drive at night & run my park lights & PIAA fogs If I want lights during the day. You have to think do you drive a lot at night? Do you keep your lights on all the time?.

 

I never found a solution. I've resigned myself to having to change them about every 6 months, and I always keep a couple of spares in my truck for went they go out. Fortunately, they aren't hard to change.

I drive a lot at night. I usually get off work after dark, and often have to go in before sunrise. My commute is about an hour each way, 6 or 7 days a week.