SYLVANIA 9003 XtraVision Halogen Headlight Issues

I am now on my 3rd pair of Sylvania 9003 bulbs in the last 6 months. In both cases the driver side bulb burns out and minutes later the passenger side burns out. The customer service at Sylvania has been great and they have sent me two sets no questions asked but it seems a little strange that they are burning out so quickly and minutes apart. It is making me think that maybe it is actually my truck that is causing it.

Thoughts?

 

Going to sound stupid, but do you apply bulb grease when installing them?

 

Try wiping them down with isopropyl alcohol before installing them.
Don’t touch the glass.

 

Thats what happens with those super bright bulbs.

Go back to the cheapys. They last longer.

 

That was what I have been thinking!

I have been using bulb grease but maybe not enough?

 

If you read reviews on those lights everyone complains that they burn out quickly. Its a poorly designed bulb.

My father bought a set and it melted the inside of his lenses because he was too lazy to polish his hazed out headlight lenses lol.
But his were burning out like crazy too. I think the lights just take too much power and they fail.

 

This

 

Sylvania isn't what they used to be. Almost bought these for my girl's Rav4. At $50+ a bulb, you'd think they'd match.



Ended up buying the "Basic" Silverstars, I which I'm told I'll be replacing soon.

 

I was going to buy the H11 Xtravision bulbs for the fogs. They state something like 146 hour life. Not worth the money and hassle to replace every few months.

 

That is ridiculous.

Lets turn this around what "cheap" bulbs has everyone had the most success with?

 

Nokya

 

Have had Silverstar bulbs in since new, for 5 years.....dielectric paste on the contacts, glass envelope wiped with acetone.......FWIW

 

My stock original bulbs lasted 7 1/2 years and my lights get a lot of use. I often drive with them on in day light especially on 2 lane country roads. I replaced them with the basic cheapest sylvania bulbs and at 2 1/2 years and they are going strong. The cheapy bulbs are plenty bright. Just keep your lens clean and don’t let them oxidize and you’ll see as well at night with the cheapy bulbs as you will with the short lived expensive bulbs.

 

Three things to check:

1) Get a DVM and see how much voltage you have at the connector. With the vehicle running, you should have 13.8-14.2 volts. With the vehicle off: 12.0 volts.

2) Check you grounds. Bad ground = too much resistance = excessive heat.

3) As has already been said, make sure you don't touch the glass portion of the bulbs when installing them. This is a bit of a trick on a Tacoma - especially on the passenger side.

 

Sorry I had to be the one to break that to you.

 

Wouldn't be the worst bulbs I've bought.

 

Yea, but I hate to see anybody waste their hard earned money.

 

I’ve had Sylvania Silverstar ZXE ‘s on my truck for almost 2 years with no issues,even put them on my wife’s Honda CRV over a year ago and no issues.

 

Silverstars for years.
"The candle the burns twice as bright, burns half as long"

 

The candle coated in blue tint burns half as long and half as bright.