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#39502 03/05/02 09:27 PM
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I think I found the reason some 50 watt upgrade bulbs melt the lenswes and some don't. this was my first mod and lasted about 3 months without a problem. I recently had a 4x4 back into the car and do damage to the front end. All is fixed, but a couple of days ago I noticed the fog light lenses had melted (I just rechecked, the lenses are bulged out about 3/4 of an inch and even melted the bumper a little mad ).

The difference is that the body shop mounted the lights (after the repair) right up against the bumper. So no cooling airflow around the lights. Originally the lights were about an 1/8 of an inch back from the bumper.

I would get them replaced under wtty, but since I am in the GB for the PIAA's laugh , I am not going to bother.

So if you put 50 watt (885) bulbs in, make sure the lense is backed away from the bumber so air can flow around them. That should help prevent Fog Light Meltdown eek


"My Name is Richard. I am a Contouraholic."
1999 SE Sport Duratec ATX Spruce Green; Drop--In K&N Filter; VentShades;
Fog Lamp Fix Mod & PIAA510s with Bumper Braces & Stock Type aiming screw mod;
PIAA 9006 Super White Headlamps
AIWA CDC-MP3 HU; WeatherTech Mats
Viper 600ESP w/Remote entry
#39503 03/05/02 09:33 PM
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this is a possibility. however, mine had plenty of space and still melted within a period of 3 or 4 months. i dont think proper cooling would even solve the problem. i think the problem with mine was extended driving. i drove to my parents house (2 hrs away) with them on many times, i figured thats what caused mine to melt. who knows, either way the piaa's rule! you won't be disappointed! :p


-Dan
1998.5 SVT "Black and Blue" #5292
See here for MOD list.
"Washing your car to make it rain does not work."
#39504 03/05/02 09:36 PM
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I dunno, I've had my 885s for nearly 2 years now, with ALOT of extended driving with them on, and haven't had any problem. Not sure why some people are having problems and others aren't.

#39505 03/05/02 10:34 PM
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Mine was fine for many months and several bulb change cycles. (DRL operation shortens life) The last bulb I put in on the PS cooked the lens after about a month and it's bulging out about 3/4". Lots of space around the light. I think its a variance in the light bulbs or how closely they are mounted to the base maybe confused


Scott
95 SE-2.5L ATX (120K+ miles & many mods)
#39506 03/05/02 11:15 PM
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There's probably a combination of things. I'd suggest drilling a hole in the top and in the bottom. The holes don't have to be very big at all. You'd be amazed at how well it does and how little moisture, if any, is introduced.

HTH
John

#39507 03/06/02 03:45 AM
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Mine melted with the stock bulb in it... frown


-Steve
'99 T-Red SVT #102
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#39508 03/06/02 04:29 AM
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damn! i just bought 885's tonight!!!

now i'm gonna be all paranoid and ****!!!!

just a note, did you guys with burned out bulbs happen to have them "dirty" alot? i think lots of dirt, salt, grime, would cause the lenses to retain more heat...


Todd Christ SVT Contour Registry
MODS: KKM Intake, SHO Shop Y-Pipe, Bullit Fuel Door, Edelbrock RPM Resonator
'98 E0 SVT Contour #1037 of 6535
#39509 03/06/02 05:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Toadster:
damn! i just bought 885's tonight!!!

now i'm gonna be all paranoid and ****!!!!

just a note, did you guys with burned out bulbs happen to have them "dirty" alot? i think lots of dirt, salt, grime, would cause the lenses to retain more heat...
That's exactly what happened to me...After hearing all these "horror" stories with the 885's, I just decided to put the stock 893's back in. Yes the 885's were brighter, but not much brighter, and it was defintely not a huge difference when driving at night over the stock bulbs. If you really want to get better light output, just aim the fogs up...anything more and you are better off just buying aftermarket fog lights. Using higher wattage to compensate for the flawed/poorly designed stock foglights no longer seems like the greatest idea if it runs the risk of ruining the foglights altogether. Really, the stock foglights provide aesthetic appearance more than usuable driving light.

IMHO I would just return the 885's, keep the stock 893's, and aim the fogs up. cool


1998 E0 Ford Contour SVT
Built on 8/19/97 -- #3101/6535
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue
* New Cupholders * CEG sticker =) * 9005 Philips BlueVisions * Sound System: Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X617 HU, RFosgate fnq514 components, RFosgate 6x9 3ways, RFosgate 12" sub, MTX 5ch/800w amp, 1 Farad Cap * Removed Ford emblems * Fogs w/parking lights and aimed up * Brushed Aluminum Style Grills all around * 205/55/ZR16 Bridgestone Potenza RE730's * Removed Headliner * Visit MY SVT website (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)*
#39510 03/06/02 02:01 PM
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I had 885's in my '95 for a few years with no troubles , my brother has 885's in his '95 for probably 2 years now with no troubles , and my SVT has had 885's in it since day #2 (a bit over a year) with no troubles . All 3 of the cars have seen lots of extended driving with the lights on .

It stinks that some peeps have had troubles , it's such a cheap mod , and a big improvement over stock units . Maybe there's a bit of variance in actual light wattage ??


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Allen

********** Love Those REDWINGS !!! **********

2000 Contour SVT Black w/ Tan #2137 of 2150 / built 2-4-00
Mods : ~ Factory DRL mod ~ "Powered by Ford" seatbelt covers
~ OF's TH fix ~ Audi A-6 Side Repeaters ~ Highs in Lows Mod
~ #885 foggies ~ KKM filter ~ Mondeo ST200 Badging & Shiftknob
~ Pre-98 Sails ~ Nose Bra ~ Trunk cargo net ~ '98 Clock
~ "Glasspacked" Resonator ~ Painted Rear Reflector
~ Räzo Pedals ~ Custom "Mondeo" Windscreen Banner ~ Ventvisors
~ Lighted Moonroof Switch ~ Mystique Rear Seat Light
~ Painted Grille Ring ~ H&R Springs & Mondeo ST200 Struts
~ Mille Miglia "Cello" Wheels

My old 95 \'Tour SE ~ New SVT pics here
#39511 03/07/02 03:32 AM
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I watched mine carefully and there were no indications of melting. The light was a lot better with the 885's.

When the car came back from the body shop, the lights were reaimed a little low. I looked at them and there was no blistering or melting. I didn't have a chance to reaim them. I looked about 2 weeks ago to reaim them and they were bulged out into the bumper (melted the bumper on the bottom of the cutout) and blistered. I was using them before on my drive to work every morning and back home both before the accident and after. They melted "suddenly" and not slowly over time. WEIRD!

Next week the PIAA 510's are being ordered. Can't wait for some "real" lights! laugh


"My Name is Richard. I am a Contouraholic."
1999 SE Sport Duratec ATX Spruce Green; Drop--In K&N Filter; VentShades;
Fog Lamp Fix Mod & PIAA510s with Bumper Braces & Stock Type aiming screw mod;
PIAA 9006 Super White Headlamps
AIWA CDC-MP3 HU; WeatherTech Mats
Viper 600ESP w/Remote entry

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