What is the difference between a fog light & a driving light?
Fog lights provide illumination forward of the vehicle that enhances
visibility in fog, rain, snow, or dust. Fog lights are intended to be
used in conjunction with standard headlamp low beams. Driving lights are
mounted to provide illumination forward of the vehicle and intended to
supplement the high beam of a standard headlamp system. It is not
intended for use alone or with the low beam of a standard headlamp
system.
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How do I mount this light on my vehicle?
All PIAA lamps come complete with installation instructions. If
you've lost your installation instructions, you can search for the product and download them on our instructions page.
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My lamps have water in them, how can I stop this from happening?
Some moisture inside the lamp is normal. The lamp should dry out
after a few minutes of operation. If it doesn't, check the following:
- The lens may be upside down. The PIAA name must read right side up so the vent on the bottom can drain.
- The lens/reflector unit may not be mounted tight against the lamp housing. Loosen, then re-tighten the screws.
- The gasket may be twisted or pinched. Some gaskets have a vent gap.Make sure it's on the bottom.
- Lamps with a "Snorkel" type wiring grommet in the back of the housing must have the opening facing down.
- In damp conditions some condensation in the lens is normal. They should clear after a few minutes of operation.
- The PIAA name on the lens must be right side up or the vent will be on the top and fill the lamp with water. Make sure the lens vent is clear and any other vents, such as the "snorkel" grommets on the back of some lamps, face down. The gasket must be straight and the lens fitted firmly to the housing.
- 90 Pro lamps have a vent on the back of the housing. If the lens is turned over, the vent must be reversed also.
Can I mount my lamps upside down?
PIAA lamps are designed to function properly mounted upright or
upside down, as long as a few details are taken into consideration. When
mounting your PIAA lamps opposite of their intended installation,
remember that lamps with a "Snorkel" type wiring grommet in the back of
the housing must have the opening facing down. Also, the PIAA name must
read right side up so the vent on the bottom can drain. Proper auxiliary
lamp aiming is the most important part of an installation. Refer to the
Light Aiming Instructions on this web site for proper alignment.
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If my product is covered by warranty how do I get it processed?
If a PIAA product is suspected of being defective, it must be
submitted freight prepaid, to either an authorized dealer or distributor
for warranty inspection. The receipt or other proof of purchase and a
description of the problem must be included. The returned product will
be inspected. If the product is found to be defective and covered by
this Limited Warranty, the sole remedy is repair or replacement, at
PIAA's option. A repaired or replacement product will be shipped back at
no charge, and will be warranted to be free from defects in workmanship
and materials under normal use for as long as the original purchaser
owns it. Removal, installation, or reinstallation costs are not covered
by this Limited Warranty. Read the Warranty page on the web site for
additional information regarding your warranty.
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Are these legal?
PIAA lamps are intended for use solely as auxiliary lighting.
Lighting laws vary from state to state. PIAA makes no representation or
warranty, either expressed or implied, as to the legality of its
products for street use on any vehicle or in any location. PIAA lamps
are designed to improve visibility during night time motoring and
inclement weather conditions. However, irresponsible use of any
auxiliary light can be dangerous and illegal. Consumers should consult
the individual lamp web pages or customer service to determine if their
lamp of choice is SAE compliant.
PIAA 9000 Series Bulbs are DOT/SAE compliant and are street legal in all 50 states and Canada. Please refer to individual bulb listings for DOT/SAE compliance.
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Where can I get PIAA products?
Search for dealers here.
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Will they fit my vehicle?
The PIAA Application Guide is available to assist you in your bulb selection for newer vehicles.
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My bulbs keep failing; why does this keep happening?
Bulb failures caused by voltage surges have become more common as new vehicles have placed greater demands on factory electrical systems. The main lamp ground wire must be connected to the battery negative terminal or to a cable leading to it. If a voltage surge occurs, the bulb will look like it was struck by lightning! The metal base and glass will be burnt or the filament will blow up!
Check all connections. A loose connection can cause pre mature bulb failure. There are often power spikes on vehicle start up. Make sure your lights are off when starting your vehicle. You can test for these spikes by using a voltage tester at the light harness where it plugs into the lamp. Anything over 13.6 volts would be considered a spike.
OTHER CAUSES FOR SHORT BULB LIFE OR BLOWN FUSES:
- Check the wiring leading to the lamp. Look for wiring that has been cut, burnt, or worn through. Tape over or replace wiring.
- Check the plug-in connectors from the lamps to the wiring harness. If the connections are corroded, clean them, then fill the connectors with a dielectric (non-conductive) grease or electric terminal dressing to keep moisture out.
- Check inside the lamp. Make sure the rubber insulator over the positive white wire is completely covering the connection between it and the bulb pigtail (it "snaps" into place when fully seated).
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What is meant by color temperature?
The Kelvin (K) is the unit of color temperature. 4150K is the
brightest, most natural white light similar to that of daytime sunlight,and therefore the color temperature used most by PIAA as a base for our technology. Blue light is more fatiguing to the eyes, both to oncoming traffic and to the driver. Oncoming cars will see your lights for only a brief time, but as the driver, you must deal with it for the duration of your drive. The bluer the tint cast on the road and surrounding area, the more quickly your eyes become tired.
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How do I choose the right lights?
It's easy. Analyze the kind of driving you do, or are going to do, or if you are looking for better nighttime visibility. The key is to build your lighting system so that you drive within it, no matter how slow or fast you drive. If the lights are being intended for slow "wheeling" uses then you may lean towards and more wide spread fog pattern. Where if you're more of a off-road, high speed racer, then you might want to think in terms of powerful beams that will throw light as far ahead as you need
to see, given the speed at which you drive.
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Are my relays bad?
With a voltage meter test for power coming from the switch to the relay. If there is power continue to relay. If you have no power to the relay test and insure you have power to the switch. Now test power out of the relay. This can be done at the harness plug to the lamp. If you have power to the relay but no power at the lamp the relay is bad. (Some relays have a fuse inside of them. You can remove the cover and check the fuse.) Power will not pass with a bad fuse. Some harnesses are set up with an inline fuse on the power wire coming from the battery.
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Do I need any upgraded wiring to use your bulbs?
No, all of our bulbs draw factory wattage and will not harm any of your wiring.
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Can I wire my lights separate from my head lights?
Laws are different from state to state but in many cases yes, you can wire your lights to any ignition switched power supply. Check with your local laws before wiring.
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How do I keep the light guards from coming off?
When driving in harsh terrain, our rally racers will silicone them in four places to the lamp and this seems to work well.
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