[T5 for Life]

So, I put the GP Thunder 8500 lights in the other day, loved the color. But there is a major heat issue.<p>One of the bulbs continues to overhead shortly after the car is turned on, to the point where I can't even touch the base where the plug goes. Of course the bulb fails and I get my little warning message in the car.<p>I out my other ones back in and noticed the wattage is different. Stock is 51W, these are 55W. That shouldn't make the difference in heat generation, should it? I'm thinking I have a bad bulb, and my just spend the money on the Sylvania Silverstars for my DRLs.

 

[PhilUp]

Re: GP Thunder lights (T5 for Life)

Hmmm I've had these lights for awhile now and haven't had any problems although Pafox also had them burn out and actually melt the connector. Perhaps these bulbs aren't that great after all...<br>On the flipside I had Silverstars before and one burnt out a few months after installation. I also had Luminics bulbs during my entire drive from NY to LA and no problems. I believe every bulb I've used were 55W as well. Strange...

 

[Garnetmica]

Quick side barquestion...when the bulb warning comes on, does it go out when the bulb is replaced or do you need to go to the dealer to have it cleared?

 

[T5 for Life]

Re: (Garnetmica)

it goes right out, no need to visit the dealer.<p>Phil, I know you swear by these, that's why I got them. And the color was sweet. But the heat on that connector scared the badoodles out of me. And seeing that someone had one melt a connector makes me even more nervous. I've run Silverstars in all my vehicles before this one and had years of service out of each set. But then again, they weren't in DRL mode with constant use. I guess I'll be a test subject...

 

[pafox]

Re: GP Thunder lights (T5 for Life)

Like Philup said I'm having that issue right now....was it caused by the GP's..can't say for certain and your right how can 5w make that much of a dif.....unless there not really 55w....dunno....I'm having the dealer check it out on Monday. I have however re-installed the OEM DRL's so I can get a Warranty claim...maybe it is truly an unrelated issue...don't know if I'll be putting thr GPs back in though..the kicker is I already bought another set thinking that I blew a bulb....I used the Silverstars too and i had a similar issue...WTF!...time to just throw HID's in there right....

 

[T5 for Life]

Re: GP Thunder lights (pafox)

pafox, that sucks. Did the Silverstars get too hot or the bulb failed? What wattage were they? I've never seen a 51w 9006xs. Either 35w or 55w, I think one higher as well (85w?)<p>It was just one of the GP bulbs on mine. i switched it to the other side and it did the same thing. The bulb would work for a spell, then get too hot and shut down. When I felt the heat coming off of it, i put the other ones back in. And the worst part is the color on the stock bulbs SUCKS after seeing the GPs.

 

[pafox]

Re: GP Thunder lights (T5 for Life)

True about the color..Silverstars..failed..never noticed the heat thing..wattage..I'll have to check,think I still have one....

 

[diablo2828]

Hey guys...i had this problem before. I ran 80 watt nokya on the stock 55watt harness. The harness melted completely to the point where only the metal tabs were visible. I had the dealer replace it for free. So do not run higher that stock wattage. If all else fails get HID! And the weird thing is only one of the bulbs burned the harness. I am currently running one blue nokya 80watt bulb and a stock 55w halogen and the 80 still hasent melted the harness yet...had to special order in 55watt blue nokyas.

 

[T5 for Life]

Re: (diablo2828)

Has anybody ran the Apexcone ones from SharpHID? He makes a 9006 but I think it's a dual filament for normal and bright beams.

 

[diablo2828]

Not that i know of...would anyone care to explain how hard it is to install HID's...i have electronic experience...but i just do not know how to connect everything...and whats a good company to buy from...my car uses H11's for low beams<p>Thanks

 

[B.G.]

Re: (diablo2828)

I thought i was the only one that had these GP burn their connector. I had to replace my connector a couple days ago. They are working fine now. If it happens again, im going to say screw it and get a different type bulb or get HID's in there

 

[JoeLvo]

Re: (B.G.)

So are we talking DRLs or low-beams or what?<p>If you want to run silverstars in the DRLs for example, you're gonna have to go with the extended service bulbs. I would contact SharpHID and let them know what you've been experiencing. I'm sure they will have some hypothesis regarding the failure mode you are experiencing.<p>Good luck <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[pafox]

Re: (JoeLvo)

Joelvo...DRL aftermarket lamp/base failure is what we've been experiencing...whether an HID kit could be put in the OEM DRL's place is a separate question...<br>Have you used the extended service lamps from Silverstar(Sylvania)?

 

[AthruC]

Re: (pafox)

You should all stop messing with your lights <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/tongue.gif" BORDER="0"><p>You can use HID's, but they'll be uber-bright. Possibly using a 3000K HID would make it not as blinding...?

 

[B.G.]

Re: (AthruC)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>AthruC</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should all stop messing with your lights <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/tongue.gif" BORDER="0"><p>You can use HID's, but they'll be uber-bright. Possibly using a 3000K HID would make it not as blinding...?</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Is using and HID in that location as simple as splicing into the harness?? I mean ive installed several HID kits and I want to know if it would be any different? Would I get any Light messages on the dash? Thanks

 

[T5 for Life]

Re: (B.G.)

I'm definitely not going to spend the money to hook HIDs up to my DRLs. Not worth it to me. I wanted a quick color change, that's about it. I am very disappointed in the GPs despite how sweet they looked.<p>And can we get extend life Silverstars anywhere or are they a special order thing. Again, crossing into the "not worth it" zone.

 

[AthruC]

Re: (B.G.)

Not sure to be honest.<p>Juve has some ideas about avoiding codes, but I think you'll be fine. Don't hold me to it though.<p>Same 'swap' as any other HID kit.

 

[B.G.]

Eh, may go out on a whim and try it

 

[PhilUp]

Re: (T5 for Life)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>T5 for Life</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm definitely not going to spend the money to hook HIDs up to my DRLs. Not worth it to me. I wanted a quick color change, that's about it. I am very disappointed in the GPs despite how sweet they looked.<p>And can we get extend life Silverstars anywhere or are they a special order thing. Again, crossing into the "not worth it" zone.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Try looking into Luminics bulbs. I had their 3000k bulbs in for a longer period than the GP's and for my entire drive from NY to LA as previously mentioned with no problems.

 

[rushin_max]

Re: GP Thunder lights (T5 for Life)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>T5 for Life</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Stock is 51W, these are 55W. That shouldn't make the difference in heat generation, should it? </TD></TR></TABLE><p>That's what the label says, but who knows how much they're actually pulling. If you have a separate 12v power supply and an ammeter, you could test each bulb's draw to see what is going on. You could prolly test it on the car, but you need to break the circuit somewhere for the ammeter.