Electrical Lighting

[megax29]

I'm having problems w/ my headlight sockets, they keep on burning out. I have the Sylvanias on there and the socket keeps on melting until the light goes dim. I am sure I got the correct model for my car. So one socket melts and it doesn't blackout completely but it dims and only one of them. So I change the socket and problem is fixed for about 2 or 3 days then the other one dims out and sure enought the socket melts. I've changed socket a total of about 5 times in the last year. Something is definitely wrong and I'd like to avoid paying $60/hr when I may be able to fix it myself. Any ideas? Maybe a fuse or short of some type? How do I diagnose and how do I fix it? Thanks in advance. I'll provide pics to show exactly what I'm talking about this evening.

[crazeflier07]

Dont know if this makes sense but for higher halogen bulbs or higher output bulbs you are going to have higher heat which melted your sockets as so. Try to see if they have any sort of socket replacement parts that will work with the higher output and heat you will experience with your bulbs. I know with HID kits there is a whole assembly that you need to hook up to get it working right so maybe there is something similiar for this. Also be careful that your bulbs arent too strong for they will cause your headlights to yellow up and the clear to peel on you and basically make them look like crap. Hope this helps!
~Jon~

[megax29]

It's not a whole lot of help. I'm suprised more people don't have advice for me. I thought maybe it could be a short or fuse or something like that and I was hoping for instructions on how to fix it.

[I_luv_HP&trq]

i've never heard of a socket melting. provide some pictures like you said you would do in your original post. maybe then something might jog our minds.
In the end though it may be cheaper to have it diagnosed by a professional then to keep buying sockets. $60/hour is cheap compared to other places.

[MonteCitan]

only times I've ever seen a socket melting would be when incorrect bulbs were being used.. if it was shorted/getting too much current the bulbs would blow unless they were the improper bulb for the socket in which case the socket would melt..

just my $.02...

[Stumpy]

you have to make sure the wattage for the socket is the same as the bulb. if not, find a higher temp/watt socket. that's my $.02. and with mine and monte's you have 4 cents. a little more advice and you can pay for that 60/hr diag.