This is strange...

So, both of my foglights stopped working today. I check the fuses, check the wiring, etc. Yank the foglights and sure enough, both bulbs are blown. The filament is broken in both.

I've had these bulbs on 3, maybe 4 months tops. Sylvania Silverstar H3ST bulbs.

Anyone have a clue what would cause this, other than faulty bulbs?

Originally posted by huck
This is strange...

So, both of my foglights stopped working today. I check the fuses, check the wiring, etc. Yank the foglights and sure enough, both bulbs are blown. The filament is broken in both.

I've had these bulbs on 3, maybe 4 months tops. Sylvania Silverstar H3ST bulbs.

Anyone have a clue what would cause this, other than faulty bulbs?


Did you touch the glass on the bulbs? i've heard this can happen if you do. i tried H3 silverstars too and to tell you the truth you'd be much happier with PIAA ion cyrstals (i have them now and love them)

But for both to go out at the same time is strange. maybe try the oem bubs again to see if they'll work.

eric

Yeah, the OEM bulbs work fine. And it's not from finger grease, the glass is still intact. It's the filament that is broken. The fact that they both went out at the same time has me mystified.

Finger grease could still be the culprit - grease attracts dirt, insulates the bulb, keeping heat in, & the filament fails.

But that's probably not it, more likely the bulbs. Is there an Xtravision in this size?

Did you flip your fogs on and off in rapid sequence at all? I've had problems like that with every bulb I've used except for the stock ones. Only one blub went out at a time tho.

I had the same problem with the PIAAs I put into my car. A headlight and a foglight went two days apart. It was probably finger grease. I just put the stockers back in, and they have been fine for well over two years now.

I just had the same shi t go wrong with my new Sylvania Silverstar H3St bulbs in the foglights. I installed them carefully with latex gloves, never touching the bulbs and one of them crapped out after a month....no rocks hit or anything.

I think they pretty much suck and have no longevity in our application. I've read other threads about this before and sure enough, they didn't last long in my car either. It's all friggin advertising and fancy packaging

Too bad I didn't listen and went ahead and bought them.

...they are a total waste of money ($40 a pair!!!)

grrrrr.:(

I don't think i'll be getting silverstars now that i've read this thread.

Originally posted by DizzyWRX
I don't think i'll be getting silverstars now that i've read this thread.

Silverstars would be the worst choice for Fog lamps anyway, the light they emit is at the glare end of the spectrum and it scatters very easly. When it's foggy this is something you want to avoid like the plague. Unless you are doing it for looks (your choice) best to keep stock bulbs or go to a all weather bulb that is toward the yellow end of the spectrum.

Originally posted by Peaty
Silverstars would be the worst choice for Fog lamps anyway, the light they emit is at the glare end of the spectrum and it scatters very easly. When it's foggy this is something you want to avoid like the plague. Unless you are doing it for looks (your choice) best to keep stock bulbs or go to a all weather bulb that is toward the yellow end of the spectrum.

That's good to know. Thanks!

I have these in our Outback but they also come in the H3 for the Impreza and Forester. I found they work nicely:

Link here:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1243

Quick pic:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=901

Originally posted by Peaty
Silverstars would be the worst choice for Fog lamps anyway, the light they emit is at the glare end of the spectrum and it scatters very easly. When it's foggy this is something you want to avoid like the plague. Unless you are doing it for looks (your choice) best to keep stock bulbs or go to a all weather bulb that is toward the yellow end of the spectrum.

True but I use my foglights for daily driving. Not just for foggy conditions. I prefer the additional light on the road. The stock driving lights dont cut it for me. Might have something to do with my atrocious night vision. :D

Then what you most likely want are some driving lights. The fog pattern is low, wide and close to get under the fog and prevent back dazzeling of the light. They really aren't good for driving at highway speeds. If you don't see something till your fog lamps hit the item you will run it over anyway. Silverstars in general are a poor choice ( the north american version) because they have a tint to the lens, that robs output by filtering light. Best to get a bulb that is clear with good output.