Melted Turn Signal Reflectors

[Bic-Ball]

Both of my turn signals stopped working at about the same time two weeks ago, I bought new bulbs and when I went to put them in I realized that the circular reflectors around them had melted to the bulbs, causing them to stop working. I just went to take the bulbs out just now, and the glass shattered when I went to twist the bulb out. Question is, why did this happen, were the wrong bulbs in there? Is there a smaller in size bulb I can get that will stay further from the reflectors or is there some other strange problem? My headlights are HIDs if that makes a difference, I would think that they would give off less heat than halogens meaning they wouldn't contribute to this problem at all. Here are two pictures:

[Lazer Viking]

holy chit

[Bic-Ball]

Also, the new bulbs are12.8/14 Volts, 27/6.7 Watts.

[zrowcool]

i'm guessing these are aftermarket lights. I had the same happen to me on my smoked depo tails. I took a dremel with a grinding stone and grinded the drip/melt smooth. havent had any issues since then

[BADB5A4]

You are supposed to use single filament bulbs I think in these after market signals. If you use dual they will run with when the lights are on and create too much heat. At least I think this is the case..

[Militant-Grunt]

Same thing happened on my two piece depo's.

[AudiTurbo]

WoW!

[Bic-Ball]

i guess i can just cut the wire for the parking lights and only use it as a turn signal. i replaced the bulbs and the signals work but i bet next time i turn my head lights on they'll melt again since the plastic is MUCH closer to the bulb now. i'm guessing this happened when I fell off the road and had my hazards on for a few hours, that probably made enough heat with the second filament flashing to melt things.

before i go out there with cutters, which wire is the parking light wire, is it color coded?

[Bic-Ball]

which wire do i cut to disable the parking lights? i need to know before i drive at night again

[speedydragon]

no need to cut, well if you do cut, it's the grey wire. Get a small piece of electrical tape and tape one side of one of the connectors. That's what I did isntead of cutting.

[samgoody14]

I also just put electrical tape over it.

[JMG]

Are these OEM housings? Also, in europe the turn signals aren't constantly on, as other posters noted. Having then constantly on generates alot of heat. You can just cut the grey wire so that they only turn on when you are signaling.

[Bic-Ball]

i came to that solution yesterday :p they're OEM valeo housings off of ECS

[TH85]

i came to that solution yesterday :p they're OEM valeo housings off of ECS

i have the same valeos housing and have had the same problems but only on one side.....what did you end up doing?

[Siena]

Holy crap!

I'd advise you replace the holder to a single filament set-up, and have just the earth and indicator feed running to it.

And please, use a regular 12V/21W bulb.