2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Best headlight bulb?

[Crazygator]

Ok,

I am tired of doing things the hard way.



Which headlight bulb is the best one to run, or better yet which one have you used and had good lighting from? I have a 2000 2500 SLT 4x4 QC if that makes any difference, which should not.



I have seen the bright boxes, and would consider it, but wanted your help for the correct direction in getting a bulb that will work, in other words, that I can see with on a standard city night - no dark desert high beam driving here.



My current NAPA bulbs are not bright at all and I am just looking for something brighter and better.



Thanks!

 

[Taz]

Replacement bulb... I keep searching for an HID conversion kit. Screw halogen!

 

[MPBerk]

Had great luck past two years with my Sylvania Silverstars

 

[LandShark]

I also liked the light from the Silverstar bulbs, but stopped using them because they were burning out after only 9 months. Regular bulbs last about 5 years for me.



A nice upgrade is the relay kit that bypasses the headlight switch. It gives slightly brighter lights and saves the switch from overheating.

 

[BDR]

I'm runnin the Philips Crystal Vison bulbs in my Sport swap with the conversion harness. There pretty bright and look great.

 

[JGK]

The best thing you can do for lighting on these truck is the sport headlight swap. No bulb in the single-bulb headlights will do as well.



FWIW,

-Jay

 

[wcjp]

Silverstars only last about 6months on my Dodge. Finally converted back to standard Sylvania's. Standard Sylvania bulbs have no problem with my BriteBox.

 

[rrausch]

Ditto what JGK said.



I used to run Sylvania Silverstars and then I did a Sport Headlight Conversion which I ran without the Silverstars. The Sport conversion is WAY BETTER! If you are considering an upgrade DO IT. I also ran my Brights and Dims through 2 relays and took the load off of the headlight switch, so if I need to I can pull back on the multifunction switch and light up all 4 elements! That brightens up things considerably!



The conversion is fairly easy. You may need to cut a little bit with a sawzall but it is no big deal. There are ample past Threads about this conversion, and pictures of the before and after cut, if your truck needs it. The cut is not at all visible afterwards--the cut is in the inner sheet metal.

 

[6btsmoker]

i have run piaa bulbs for years without any problems. even take them out when selling a vehicle so i can use them in the next one. well worth the money in my book.

 

[Forrest]

Where do you get the PIAA bulbs?





tia

 

[Tardog]

IMO PIAA bulbs are way over priced for what you get, Ya I got a set, but was dissapointed with the light output of them. There are much better bang for the buck bulbs out there, Phillips Night Hawk, Sylvania Silverstars, Wagner True Visions and others to name a few. My PIAA's have become dark (like a burn mark) on the top sides of the bulbs that I am not happy with. It isn't the name it's the quality/type of filiments in each bulb. The newer bulbs (as listed) have better quaility control on the filiments used. All approved bulbs must meet a min/max light output spec. Most run of the mill bulbs just meet the minimum. The ones with the better light output appoach the maximum levels. Plus some fancy gases and bulb tinting and you have better light output with the same wattage used. Most better quality bulbs will be better than what you have now, but as JGK put it there is no substitution for the sport conversion. Just my $. 02 worth, Cheers

 

[TowPro]

That's strange that the Dodge burns out Silverstars. I put them in my 98 Jetta TDI and they were still burning bright white 30K miles later when it got tottled last month. On the Jetta they are on all the time. They make it so you can't turn off the headlights and call it Daytime Running Lights.

 

[Jaysyl]

In my 95 Dakota I have had the Siliverstars for 3 years they have not burned out yet. I was thinking of putting some in the 05. I use the head lights just about everyday, I work the graveyard shift. :{ :{ :{

 

[SnoKing]

I also liked the light from the Silverstar bulbs, but stopped using them because they were burning out after only 9 months. Regular bulbs last about 5 years for me.



A nice upgrade is the relay kit that bypasses the headlight switch. It gives slightly brighter lights and saves the switch from overheating.

Funny you should say that about Silverstar's, I had one burn out recently. I have them and the Summit wiring. Helped a lot. drove with one regular and one silverstar. Could really see the difference. SNOKING

 

[JGK]

If you want the best possible lighting using halogen bulbs in OEM headlights at an affordable price, do the sport headlight conversion, then buy the bulbs from this place. At this link click on the 9004 and 9004 bulbs in the right-most column. Note the last bulbs listed. They are over-wattage versions. I've been using them since I did the sport conversion 2 or 3 years ago. My first set of over wattage lights have just started burning out late this summer. I have noticed some discoloration on the reflective surface above the bulb inside the headight, however. THEY BURN HOT! I would proabably bet $ these will throw more usable light for the human eye than any of the Silverstars you'll find in your local parts store. I don't believe in the Silverstars at all. Call me a skeptic, but I think its just a bunch of marketing BS.



For a good lighting education, visit www.danielsternlighting.com. Then plan your headlight upgrade. The link for the bulbs has lots of parts for an upgrade project.



-Jay

 

[CFAR]

Silverstars lasted about 14 months. Burned out within 2 weeks of each other. Light was much better though. Whiter.

 

[KDillard]

We sell PIAA lights at work. They have some super brights that are 5000k light temp. Very bright!!! Last pretty well to. I personally run silverstars.

 

[JRS]

SilverStars

I wrote Sylvania about the Silver Stars burning out in my truck after less than a year. The response from them is below.





Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately, as with most high performance

products, there is a trade-off between the higher performance of the

SilverStar and its life hours. The shorter life span is directly related

to the performance nature of the lamps. The blue absorption coating on

the glass contributes to the crisp, white light emitted but also

contributes to its decreased life. The SilverStar product works harder

(not burns hotter, however) to give the whiter, brighter light and this

impacts the life hours. The life expectancy of a SilverStar halogen

light source is largely dependent on the driver's use of the lights,

which will vary by season, time of day and number of miles driven. We

estimate the SilverStar halogen lights to have a life span of up to one

year under average driving conditions. The life of the SilverStar is

further decreased if being used in a day-time running light application.





If you feel that your driving habits do not warrant the life expectancy

that you received from your SilverStars, please feel free to return the

product with this e-mail to the address below. Please also include the

approximate hours you received from our product, type of product

purchased, if it was used in a daytime running light application, your

name, address (no PO boxes please), phone number, make, year and model

of vehicle. This information will aide our Quality Department in their

audit of the returned product. Upon receiving this, I will send you a

set of replacements.



OSRAM SYLVANIA

ATTN: Customer Service

275 West Main Street

Hillsboro, NH 03244



Thank you,

Heather

Customer Service

 

[Forrest]

Interesting. Just found out that my daughters Suzuki went thru them really fast ... like < 6 months per bulb. They finally went back to the stock replacements, no problemo.



Found the PIAA bulbs pretty resonable:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...33709QQitemZ8016236795QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[2-ND TIME]

lighting

If anyone is having lighting problems redo all the grounds the ones under the drivers batteries are the most critical I think for lights.

I soldered all the connections and added new# 12 wires to the existing ones (combining several of those tiny #18's)

I used S/S bolts and brass flat & lock washers and lots of Coppercote.

What a big difference in the head lights. ( they actually work)