Warning for those using Pilot Projector Fogs - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***sweeneyp*** · 10-07-2011, 06:55 PM

Well about 3-4 months ago, I installed a set of Pilot Projector Fogs (These) and I have a warning for yall.
They come with 55 watt halogens H3 bulbs so I replaced the bulbs with an 35 watt H3 HID kit. I mounted them behind my grill, like this (to give you an idea of what they were exposed too (ignore the bugs haha))

Now lately the output from the projectors has gone way downhill with an extremly dark spot in the center. So I took my grill out and took the projectors off to see if I could find a problem. Opened up the projector and found something pretty shocking.

I modified the projectors before install to make them water tight. All seams and joints into the projectors were sealed with silicon and buytl-rubber sealant.
Well obviously there is heat damage, and extreme corrosion/rust on the shield and on the bowl. The bowl damage was directly OVER the bulb. If 35 watts of lighting heat caused this, I would hate to see what would happen with a 55 watt bulb that it comes with.
Just a heads up in-case anybody were thinking about using these or have used them.

kingnba6 · 10-07-2011, 08:35 PM

wow i was thinking about using them too. thats a lot of damage from just a 35w. couldnt you just sand it and paint it?

Dman1 · 10-07-2011, 09:07 PM

Made in China?

***sweeneyp*** · 10-07-2011, 09:43 PM

kingba6
Yea its pretty ridiculous, though I guess you get what you pay for. This was only like 35 bucks for the set. Most good projectors are more than that for just 1. You talking about sanding it down and re-chroming it? It would be pretty hard/more expensive than just getting another pair (Which I'm not, I got these before my headlight retrofit to add width to my cars lighting system, now there is no need. Plus after my recent audio overhaul it will give some ease on my alternator at night).

Dman1
Unfortunately I don't know if they were made in China or not. There aren't any marking on the actual projectors to indicate location of manufacturing.

nov0798 · 10-07-2011, 10:22 PM

Damage was most likely caused by you sealing them, they cant "breath". when you add heat, and then the outside air is cool, you get condensation in them, and the damage occurs. If they werent sealed from the factory, I wouldnt have.

***sweeneyp*** · 10-07-2011, 11:16 PM

the seams were almost sealed as they were (the metal overlapped at the seams), I just added enough sealant to ensure it. I had the HID's on while sealing it to make sure there wasn't moisture in the housing. As it was stock, if water got in there, it would have sat in it and taken days to leave the housing causing extreme rusting. I just made sure it wouldn't happen. Almost all the metal of the housing was still exposed to airflow to cool it. Plus it was in the grill that really allowed more airflow over it

Dman1 · 10-08-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

kingba6
Yea its pretty ridiculous, though I guess you get what you pay for. This was only like 35 bucks for the set. Most good projectors are more than that for just 1. You talking about sanding it down and re-chroming it? It would be pretty hard/more expensive than just getting another pair (Which I'm not, I got these before my headlight retrofit to add width to my cars lighting system, now there is no need. Plus after my recent audio overhaul it will give some ease on my alternator at night).

Dman1
Unfortunately I don't know if they were made in China or not. There aren't any marking on the actual projectors to indicate location of manufacturing.

Based on what you are saying about the price, I'd be willing to bet that they were from China. Your lucky they didn't eventually catch fire.

***sweeneyp*** · 10-08-2011, 08:24 PM

You are probably right about the whole made in china thing. My multimeter has a thermometer tool on it and I got curious to see the kind of temps inside the housing. With the bulbs running in just the bowl (the lens and front of the projector completely off), I was getting a reading of 330 degrees with the probe next to the bulb but not touching it (between bulb and bowl). but had to stop before it got higher as my thermometer wire had rubber at the end and it was starting to smoke haha. Running the 35 watt HID's. This seems REALLY high, though the housing metal was only at around 110-130 degrees after running for about 10 mins.
Do those temps seem way off to anyone? I don't know the norm when it comes to housing temps.