Do your parking light bulbs get like this ?

**Blue2KTA** · 02-09-2011, 02:28 PM

Its just flakes off.

**sjsingle1** · 02-09-2011, 03:40 PM

never seen that on mine......and i use sylvanias too

**2000dreambird** · 02-09-2011, 03:49 PM

does it do it often or is this the first time you have changed it?

**Blue2KTA** · 02-09-2011, 04:10 PM

Its at least the 2nd time that this has happened. The housings were replaced with new ones 2 years ago. I'm trying GE bulbs now, see what happens.

**0rion** · 02-09-2011, 04:11 PM

Any moisture getting into the lense at all? I've seen bulbs do that before but it's pretty normal I think.

**Blue2KTA** · 02-09-2011, 04:58 PM

No leaks in housings. Seems like the bulbs are getting so hot that its flaking the coating right off.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-09-2011, 05:09 PM

I've never had either of our 4th gens do that.

Have you thought about replacing them with the LED replacement bulbs? They are brighter and don't produce near the heat of a regular filement bulb.

I'm pretty sure someone had a link on here a while back on where to find the LED version of that DRL bulb.

**2000dreambird** · 02-09-2011, 05:47 PM

its because the housings get so hot and the lights are on all the time so its pretty natural.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-09-2011, 05:57 PM

Hence the LED replacement to cure that issue.

**2000dreambird** · 02-09-2011, 06:04 PM

i remember a thread about someone trying to use switch back LED's but i don't think he ever got them to work right

**Smittro** · 02-09-2011, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

Any moisture getting into the lense at all? I've seen bulbs do that before but it's pretty normal I think.

Agree.. I have seen it many times as well..

Don't know what causes it but all they are is a modded version of the old, "push 'n' twist from years ago..

It used to make the lights look off colored..

Cheap to replace yearly if needed imo..

**Firebirdjones** · 02-10-2011, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by 2000dreambird

i remember a thread about someone trying to use switch back LED's but i don't think he ever got them to work right

I don't know what a switch back LED is,,,,nor can I find that old thread either. But I did manage to look up the part number.
3157's, and you can find them in LED's for about ~$20

Seems like I remember some people having so much trouble with heat it was actually melting the sockets and the surrounding plastic. Sounded pretty nasty, although mine have never done that. I think that is the reason why the LED lights were tried in these driving lights, since they are on all the time. Wish I could find that thread.

**2000dreambird** · 02-10-2011, 10:52 AM

yeah i have replaces the socket twice on my drivers side

**2000dreambird** · 02-10-2011, 11:01 AM

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...switchback+led
the switch backs are talked about in this thread, they are a led tower that turn both clear and amber, they flash either on off or alternate the amber clear pattern.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-10-2011, 11:18 AM

That's a bit too fancy for me,,,,just an amber bulb will do the trick for me.

Also there is no need for all the wiring changes to run the LED's anymore. They make the LED's with the resistors built right into the bulb,,,,so you just plug them in and go. Very simple, I just saw them yesterday when I was searching.

**JayTA98** · 02-10-2011, 11:20 AM

i had the same issue with this. This bulbs are painted amber. The DRL get them hot and eventually flake off. I use light bulbs that the whole glass is stained amber in the making process. they never flake or fade out. i get them from my buddy's shop. He orders them like in an 8 pack for like 7 bucks.

I turn off my DRL because my sockets were getting burnt. I also replaced them like twice a year.

**2000dreambird** · 02-10-2011, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

That's a bit too fancy for me,,,,just an amber bulb will do the trick for me.

Also there is no need for all the wiring changes to run the LED's anymore. They make the LED's with the resistors built right into the bulb,,,,so you just plug them in and go. Very simple, I just saw them yesterday when I was searching.

where did you see these?

**Firebirdjones** · 02-10-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by 2000dreambird

where did you see these?

I was searching around typing in different stuff in google and they came up. They were made with about 3 diodes inside the housing socket to compensate for the difference in ohms.
Looked like a good option to me, and they were $20-$25. Should cure all the heat issues you guys are having.

**Firebirdjones** · 02-10-2011, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

i had the same issue with this. This bulbs are painted amber. The DRL get them hot and eventually flake off. I use light bulbs that the whole glass is stained amber in the making process. they never flake or fade out. i get them from my buddy's shop. He orders them like in an 8 pack for like 7 bucks.

I turn off my DRL because my sockets were getting burnt. I also replaced them like twice a year.

That used to be the only way they were made (with stained glass) but alot of manufactures have gotten cheap over the years.

I prefer to keep the DRL's functional. I want people to see me coming and lessen the chance of an idiot pulling out when you are right on top of them.
I've owned these cars for years, and I've never had a melted socket or housing.

**JayTA98** · 02-10-2011, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

That used to be the only way they were made (with stained glass) but alot of manufactures have gotten cheap over the years.

I prefer to keep the DRL's functional. I want people to see me coming and lessen the chance of an idiot pulling out when you are right on top of them.
I've owned these cars for years, and I've never had a melted socket or housing.

I agree with you on this one. I'm trying to install some LED lights. I don't want the socket ones. I tried those and they weren't bright enough. I wish i didnt threw away my old housings so I can play around with them. I'm trying to put them under the current DRL lights. I just don't find a light or strip that looks good enough.