Has anyone installed a brighter ( stock has 52 W) bulb in their factory fog lamps? If so, what did you use and where did you get them?
Thank you in advance for your input.
Marc

 

9005 SilverStars. Avail at Pep, Autozone, Advance, Meijer...

RP

 

Are they a direct replacement? Twist right in?
Marc

 

Here's the latest crux on that...

Some will disagree with me on this but, you have to trust me here...

They are generally a direct replacement however, some folks apparently have a slightly different assembly where the bulb mounts. The stock bulb, a 9145, has three flanges around the edge of the bulb. The 9005 bulb has three flanges as well but, they are in slightly different positions around the edge.

What I had to do was trim one of the flanges on the bulb with a pair of wire cutters so that they would work. I've heard that others haven't had to do any trimming.

I tried to insert mine without the snip snip but, it simply wouldn't work.

Hold the 9145 bulb and the 9005 bulb side by side and you'll see the difference. Although minor, it kept the 9005 bulb from inserting into the assembly on my truck.

Trimming the flanges took all of 15 seconds (if that long) and they work great. No overheating problems or anything of that nature.

 

I will be stopping at the local Auto Zone on my home from the car plant today.
I just installed the factory lower valance on my Screw (4 x 2) and the lights are not as bright as I had hoped they would be. I set it (the Screw) next to my Lightning out in the drive last night and turned both on and the L, surely outshined the Screw.
Once again, thank for your quick response.
Oh, by the way, nice truck you have there.
Marc

 

Thanks Marc... I appreciate it...

If you have any other questions, feel free to post or email me!

RP

 

Hey Rock Pick I installed the Silverstar 9005's in the fogs after I got home yesterday, and man what a difference they make.
Guess what I am going to do after work today. Yep, you guessed right, I am going to go get the 9007st's for my head lights.
Thanks again for your help yesterday.
Oh, by the way, I did NOT have to alter the 9005's, they twisted right in. Go figure.
Thanks again for the, here we go " Gem of an idea".

Marc

 

No problemo Marc. Glad you like them. They're a very popular item among many folks here on the boards.

You're one of about 50% that I've heard of that didn't have to modify the bulb flanges.

I'm not sure if it's a function of me having an early production 01 model or what but, without a doubt, some have had to mod the bulb slightly. It could depend on the bulb manufacturer as well I suppose... not sure..

Oh well, I'm glad you like them.

RP

 

I did the same mod last May-- and put me in the I didn't have to trim category. It may be early vs late as I have a late 2001.

Love the slightly better output, and they match the headlights which were replaced at the same time with SuperStar's.

No problems at all in 10 months.

I did try the switch mod though, but gave up after repeatedly blowing fuses-- this allowed you to turn on only thr driving lights. Maybe someday I'll look at that again.


Greg O.

 

Hey Greg O,

How often do you use your fogs? Every time you drive in the dark or just when its foggy? Im curious because I would like to do this mod, however I was concerned with burning the wires since I use mine every night.

Thanks,

Jim

 

I use my fogs all the time. I have done the "fog light mod" on this truck and the truck I had previous. I also run SilverStars in the heads as well as the fogs.
I run the fogs anytime it is not complete daylight with the parks and always with the heads...high beams as well as low beams(thanks to the fog light mod) and have never had any problems whatsoever. No burned wires, no blown fuses.
The fog light mod may seem a little daunting at first, but it is really a very simple task. I did it on my '99 SCab, then on my brother's '99 SCab, then on my '01 SCrew, then on my brother's '03 SCrew, all with no problems.

 

Ditto REBELYELL, same here, Fog Light Mod and no Problems

 

My fogs are typically on anytime I have my heads on... I just like the look.

No problems here either...

RP

 

Just a reminder to some and info to others, the brighter fog lights will actually be worse in the fog. The light is brighter and has more blue to it. Blue light refracts more than red or green so it will basically be blinding vs helping you see better in bad fog.

This is from both experiance and reading.

Yellow is the best color (for both physical and legal reasons) for fog lights. I have PIAA fogs, but thier expensive, you can get yellow fogs for relitivly cheap if you look around.

Also if you do the fog light modification like many of us have you can run your fogs with out the main lights thus preventing your main headlights from reflecting/refracing off of the fog and making it really hard to see.

So if you live somewhere where it's foggy a lot you may want to steer clear of the brighter Silverstars unless you do the fog light mod and have the yellow fogs.

Just my 3 cents (inflation)

 

Very valid point dcovell...

I've been watching for Ion Yellow bulbs for about 10 months now to give my truck an 'Acura' or 'Lexus' type of look.

The only thing about it is that either 1) the bulbs run around $80 for a set or 2) they generally don't give off that VIVID yellow color like the Lexus bulbs seemingly do.

Do the Lexus have yellow lenses as well along with the gold bulbs?

I'd love to have the Yellow fogs with my HIDs... I think it looks killer plus, like you mention, it's much more functional.

RP