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Problem With PIAA

B

baron138

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
312
Location
New Jersey
I finally decided to get rid of the Xenons, and go with either the Silver Stars, or the PIAA. I spent a lot of time on here (as usual) and the 2 makers web sites. I finally decided to go and get the PIAA XTreme White Plus from the guy that has been helping me with audio. They were a little cheaper on the net, but I figured if I had a problem its always easier to deal local. And I wanted them now ;)! Good thing I went local! I waited till 2100 to put them in because I wanted to compare the Xenons to the PIAA. I took the drivers side housings out and put the 9005 high beam in first. No problem. Next I went to put the lows in and the bulb wouldn't turn. I figured maybe the new o-ring was just real tight. I played around for a while and just kept getting more and more pissed :7:! I then compaired the bases of the PIAA with the Xenon, and the originals. The PIAA look like the base might be a little longer, but hardly at all. The originals and the Xenons go in to the housing fine, so its not a problem with the housing melting or deforming. Of course the shop was already closed :mad:! Now I have to wait till the morning to talk to the guy at the shop, and look at the other PIAAs he has to see if its just this pair. Anyone other than me have this problem, or did I just win the lottery again?
 
Look for the three screws that will loosen the housing to allow the PIAA's to fit. They can be tightened up once the bulb is in.
I'll see if I can find the posting that helped me overcome this problem.
 
I installed Silverstar bulbs in my Av this weekend, and had the exact same problem. I thought I was going to break something by trying to make it fit!! Finally, I, too got smart and loosened the three screws in the black plastic housing. That was the problem!! It then turned right in, I tightened the screws back up, and away I went!! I hope this works for you, too.
 
I saw the screws there the first time I put the Xenons in, and I looked at them again when I tried the PIAAs. It was just hard to believe that you spend the money on the PIAAS and the Silver Stars and they don't fit the housings the way they come from the factory. Maybe the bases of these bulbs need to be heavier for the added wattage? I E-Mailed PIAA, and told them what we are running into. I'll see what they say.
 
has anybody else notice the high beams are not 9005's?
My AV has 9011 number on the high beams. Never heard of them.

Mike
 
Yeah, all of our high beam bulbs are the 9011's. I guess it's just how GM or whoever makes the bulbs calls them. Sylvania's correct part # for them is the 9005.
 
Adjusting the three screws is the fix here. I had to do that with my Silverstars , too.
 
Well I received an interesting e-mail from PIAA today about the lows not fitting the Avs.
" The low beams on the Avalanche have been using a slightly modified version of the 9006 bulb, so stock bulbs work fine, but ours won't fit. In this case feel free to return the bulbs for a full refund. If the dealer has a problem, have them contact us at customer service and we will authorize the return. PIAA Service"
What do you think about that :eek:? Whats with the General that they would come up with such a design? Did they get a special on some reject bulbs? I wonder if the other Chevy models have the same problem? I will probably keep the PIAAs and do the screw adjustment.
 
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