Is it me or do the 4R's just devour headlights???

[Jeff T]

At two years old I replaced the first one. A few months later the second. Another set later I switched to SilverStars. I was burning those out every 8 - 10 months. Then I found a dealer on the bay, eurodezigns, and now I've probably gone thru 4-5 sets of those.

Anyone else having issues with headlights not lasting??? :dammit:

 

[ToyotaTrailTeam]

No, that's not normal. You've got an issue somewhere!

 

[ronsta]

I second that but I've been running HID kits without any issues for pretty much the whole time i've had the truck. Reason why I've been through two kits is because my first set wasn't bright enough.

 

[DocMT]

Silverstars are known to have a short life span on any car. Other over-driven bulbs are the same.

I'm still running the original headlight bulbs in my '04 4Runner.

 

[mahabali]

Yep, I just had one go out so replaced them both with Hellas.

 

[THEROK]

get phillips bulbs from the UK vendors

 

[Jeff T]

get phillips bulbs from the UK vendors

Any particular seller???

 

[Colemanfu]

No still on my stock bulbs.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

One of the real issues is the bulbs don't like the power surge they get from starting the vehicle if the vehicle has DRLs or the owner starts the vehicle with the switch in the "on" position on vehicles without it.

I was always careful to start my truck with the switch in the off position and I never got less than 20 months on both my sets of Ultrastars.

Yes,it sucks that there appears to be a design flaw and if I owned a DLR equipped vehicle I'd search for another option.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Unless you do all of your driving at night something is not right.

I had my SilverStar Ultras for at least a year and a half with no problems. Just took them out and replaced them with HIDs.

Maybe you should disable your DRLs.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

My 03 is still on the originals.

 

[DocMT]

Guys, the 4th gen doesn't use the headlight bulbs for DRLs.

 

[sr5hi]

Bought my 4Runner in 2003 and replaced the low beams with PIAA Bulbs. They are still working.

 

[A/V1]

At two years old I replaced the first one. A few months later the second. Another set later I switched to SilverStars. I was burning those out every 8 - 10 months. Then I found a dealer on the bay, eurodezigns, and now I've probably gone thru 4-5 sets of those.

Anyone else having issues with headlights not lasting??? :dammit:

When you replace your bulbs, are you touching the bulbs (glass) with your bare fingers? That would definitely cause the premature burnouts you are seeing as the oil from your skin will cause it to overheat and burn out early.

If that's not the case, I don't know what to tell you. You definitely seem to be going through an unusually large amount of bulb changes....

 

[Jerrydog]

I just bought my 4runner but I can say this is the case for the last 12 years with my Pathfinder. One goes out then the other a month later. 6 times +/- over 12 years, after the second time I started replacing them in pair, if one went out I replaced both but save the old ones as a emergency spares and get about 2 years per pair out of them. Had a similar issue with my wifes 2002 deville as well but not as consitant.

And yes dont ever touch the halogen bulbs with your fingers.....

 

[NCSCOTT]

Guys, the 4th gen doesn't use the headlight bulbs for DRLs.

Thank you!!!

That was going through my mind as I was reading!!!


I run Silverstars in the 04, I usually get 2 years on a set of low beams. I think my fogs are 4 years old, also Silverstars. High beams are at least 4 years old. They hardly get any use living in a bigger city.

In the 08 I run MTec bulbs (4350K color temp) in the Low beams. Over 2 years on those too. Silverstars in the fogs and high beams. Haven't replaced any of those yet. When They burn out I will replace them all with the MTecs.

I run fogs any time lights are on in both vehicles. The Mtecs are slightly whiter/bluer than the Silverstars.

Like the other poster said. Don't toch the bulbs with bare hands when installing them. Use a clean paper towel or something. The grease on your fingers create hotspots on the bulbs and they will not last as long.