Anyone else have a melted silverstar?

DSLaBuda · 11-06-2005, 06:12 AM

I have an 2005 ion1, and about 4-6 months ago (not 100% sure) I replaced the front lights with silverstars. I used 9007 in the headlamps, and 3457's in the turn signals just like the application calls for. Yesterday I notice my left turn signal blinking faster than normal. I figured a bulb just burnt out, it happens sometimes. So I bought another pack of 3457's today and changed the bulb when I got home from work. It was dark and starting to drizzle so I just changed it and didn't really look at it.

So anyway, I go to put the turn signal on and it still doesn't work. I looked at the bulb on my dash that I just took out and it's black around the base. On one of the wire legs it's completely burnt--as in the plastic is melted and the wire is broken. It's pouring out now so I can't look at the socket so see how bad it was, but wtf.

Has anyone else had this problem with silverstar turn signals? I'm not looking forward to a fight with the dealer on Monday if they try to say it's the bulbs that caused it. I went with the silverstars for the fact they were an oem company, the bulbs were completely street legal, and are considered a direct replacement. I guess we'll see how this pans out. I want to see what they say when I show them the bulb.

Sleeper SL2 · 11-06-2005, 06:21 AM

I havent had a silverstar melt a turn signal, but I did have an apc cheapo "hid" turn signal, and headlight burn up the connectors in my eclipse. All i did to replace it was get another connector and cut the old one off and solder the new one in and put some decent turn signals and headlights in. I dont know how they burned up because it seems kinda random how it happened (i had the blubs in for atleast 3-4 months before it happened).

impulse93 · 11-06-2005, 10:12 AM

it didn't melt it. You didn't properly seat it in the socket.

I've never had a problem with my silverstars.

I did however melt my foglight housing using 55w (instead of the normal 35 or whatever is stock) though it lasted me about 5 months/10K miles worth of night driving.

DSLaBuda · 11-07-2005, 01:56 AM

nope, it's actually melted and about a mm of wire is gone. i pulled the housing out today and looked at the plug. the area under the socket cover smelled burnt and the socket is slightly blackened by one of the contacts. i'd have to get a photo to show here, but it looks like it's on the ground side (two contacts joined at the bottom) of the socket. the bulb was fully seated when i put them in. so unless they can work themselves free i don't see how it happened.

weird thing today, the left drl/turn signal (the replacement i put in there) started working today. still going to call the dealer and ask about it. maybe this could be related to my gauges taking a dump the other day--they didn't respond until the car was restarted. they said not to worry about it unless anything else weird happens.

white_shadow · 11-14-2005, 05:24 AM

i have had silverstars in my chrysler for over a year with no problems. as far as my saturn L goes, i might get silverstars, but i am wanting HID

Artificialist · 11-14-2005, 04:07 PM

My Saturn was recalled once, the dealer said that the factory wiring would send too much power to the turn signal. That did cause my signals to burn out more than once, and it is very possible than in some cases, things could be melted. I have seen it happen to a large number of GM pickup trucks.

I wonder if your car has that type of problem. I figured the bugs would have been worked out of the ION after 2 model years.