Denali And Sylvania Silverstar Lights

[steiny93]

My wifes 2006 Denali lost a low beam so I swapped them out for Sylvania SilverStar's.

 

Last week (about 1 year from the replacement) the passenger light goes out. I figure its a fluke and replace the passenger low beam. Last night I get into her truck and notice that the drivers side light is out.

 

Looking at the bulb you can barely tell that its bad, just a tiny bit of the element is gone out of the middle which is what happened with the first one last week.

 

 

So...

Is there something amiss with the truck? Powersurge or something? Or did I get a bad twin pack?

I was thinking of trying the PIAA Intense White lights next.

 

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[tobias]

PIAA Xtreme Whites, FTW or HID. I've been rolling with eBay-purchased $80 HID's for quite some time now with no issues.

[Jje121]

I work for a auto parts company and I was told that the silverstars don't really last to long. I had them on my last car with no problems but have not put them in the truck.

[alaska511]

PIAA Xtreme Whites, FTW or HID. I've been rolling with eBay-purchased $80 HID's for quite some time now with no issues.

 

Really, Tobias?

 

I must respectfully disagree. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are truly superior. PIAA is very overpriced, and the bulb quality on this particular model bulb is low and doesn't last.

 

With the darkness I experience in AK, I can vouch for the Sylvanias. The ones in my '01 Tahoe have been in since '03.

 

I ran them in all of my prior trucks, and they will end up in my Silvy.

 

I suspect the OP may have a wiring issue of some sort, has had bad luck, touched the bulb, or something.

[svensk]

Isn't there a silverstar II?

[goody93]

When installing the lightbulbs, did you touch the bulbs or when installing them did you get dirt or moisture on them? This can make your lightbulbs burn out quicker than normal

[stargazer]

I've heard a lot of people say the Silverstars don't last that long. I would go with the GE NightHawks--I've heard better things about them. I also think PIAA are over priced.

[bojanglespa]

I also had installed Silverstar Low beams in my '04 Envoy. They lasted about 1 year and burned out about 1 month apart. Both replaced with Sileverstar again and another one died about a year later again. Replaced them both with my original stock ones and have not had any die since. I had never had to change a bulb before in a vehicle until I put the Silverstar's in.

[Robertabf]

Hi...

 

I added Silverstars to my 05 Tahoe and had similar bad experience with the bulbs burning out too quickly. I emailed sylvania and complained. They wrote me back saying that the lights

were brighter and thus were more prone to burnout than regular bulbs, but would offer me a one time replacement. So, I got two free bulbs from them. I seem to have more burnouts with the fogs than the regular beams. The highs have been fine, but then I rarely use them.

 

So, if you have burnouts, write them and get them replaced. Maybe if enough folks do that, their engineering department will consider longevity in the design for the future!

[steiny93]

to goody93's question:

When I installed them the first time I was very careful not to touch the bulbs or get anything on them.

 

Sounds like others are having a similar 1 year of use experience, which is bogus.

I think I'll probably write sylvania and try to get a free set. Can always use them in the other truck.

 

In the meantime I'm going to order up a twin pack of PIAA 10925 9005 (HB3) Intense White's. Online you can get them for nearly the same cost as the silverstar's.

 

Thanks for the info

[Gryphon]

The reason Silverstars burn out more quickly is the very reason they're a bit brighter than stock bulbs - the filament is being overdriven. In layman's terms the Silverstar filament is smaller/narrower and thus has less resistance than a stock bulb, allowing more current to flow through it which results in a brighter beam. Smaller filaments of course though mean premature burnout.

[99silveradoz71]

I wrote them a nastygram when I had my 99 and the Sstars burnt out quickly. They also replaced a bulb for me.

[steiny93]

recap:

 

So I ended up taking Daddy's advice and went with a HID setup from the lighting dude on ebay he suggested.

Kit arrived and started the install on the denali. With the projector style of the denali (has eye lid type thingy's inside with the bulb so you don't blind other drivers) the HID's were wasted.

 

So I put the HID's in my 2500hd and they ROCK!

 

Wife kinda got screwed as she is back to the regular halogens but owe well

I'm super happy with the new high beams in my truck.

 

thanks again Daddy, the HID's are sweet

 

oh, and I sent sylvania an email and they confirmed that 1 year of use is about right sent me a free pair of the non silverstars (xtraviewxt's or something).

[bojanglespa]

I also had installed Silverstar Low beams in my '04 Envoy. They lasted about 1 year and burned out about 1 month apart. Both replaced with Sileverstar again and another one died about a year later again. Replaced them both with my original stock ones and have not had any die since. I had never had to change a bulb before in a vehicle until I put the Silverstar's in.

 

I emailed Sylvania the other day with my complaint but have not heard back from them yet.

[97SierraGMC]

i put H4 Silverstars in my 4 wheeler and have rode almost 1500 miles with them in and its been through everything... and no issues... they can take a beating..

 

i also put silverstars in my truck and for the past 6 months no problems..