Headlight assembly recommendation
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 455
Likes: 6
Biggest upgrade for my sealed beam setup was replacing the wiring harness with a much heavier gauge aftermarket harness that wires directly to the battery (original wiring is known to melt, mine had almost started to), and then going to Sylvania Xtravision bulbs, which are available for sealed and non-sealed beams. The lights are very bright and very white.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 209
From: SoCal
I misunderstood the meaning of having to pump them up every morning; they must be leaking slowly.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 209
From: SoCal
My Sylvania Xtravision H4 bulbs didn't last very long. When they failed, I examined them closely, and found that the filament was a lot shorter than a standard bulb. That lets them burn hotter, producing a whiter light with the same amount of power, but they will burn out sooner. Sylvania states this somewhere in their documents.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 271
From: Oak Harbor, Washington
All air shock systems leak. I had a leaking air shock a couple of days after the initial installation and warrantied it, but after that I never found them to be leaking. I suspect the air compressor itself leaks, and I purchased an auxiliary check valve but never installed it [shrug]. I just run the compressor for three seconds every morning and call it good.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 306
Likes: 15
Plastic headlight resto trick.
Get some 40% deet bugspray, a small wad of paper towel, and a large wad of sopping wet paper towels
Spray some on small wad of paper towels(DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ON LIGHT)
Rub good for 20 sec
Run quickly with wet ones.
BOOM
Get some 40% deet bugspray, a small wad of paper towel, and a large wad of sopping wet paper towels
Spray some on small wad of paper towels(DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ON LIGHT)
Rub good for 20 sec
Run quickly with wet ones.
BOOM
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 209
From: SoCal
Those plastic headlight lenses will eventually turn dingy all the way through, so while polishing them will remove the surface haze, they start blocking more light as they age. At some point, you need to replace them to remain safe. If you can refit with glass headlights, it's highly recommended.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 7
I agree, glass is best. If you can't go glass, make sure you apply a UV blocking clear coat of some kind. The good kits come with a suitable coat. The makes of the cheap kits want you to believe that you can just polish and be done with it. If you remove the UV blocker, your lenses will scorch all they way through and eventually become unrestorable.
My '97 had new aftermarket lenses and I added an extra layer of clear coat over the questionable aftermarket coating. They seemed to hold up well, but I don't have that van anymore. I need to do something on my '95
My '97 had new aftermarket lenses and I added an extra layer of clear coat over the questionable aftermarket coating. They seemed to hold up well, but I don't have that van anymore. I need to do something on my '95
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 306
Likes: 15
Try the bugspray. I have a 92 and have only done the bugspray twice. The first time was was about 3-4 years ago, and then again a few weeks ago. It holds up a long time. Its been over a year since I did my 02 accord, and its time. But the accord lights are cheaper than the aerostar lights. My next expense will be a new windshield.
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eigenvector
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
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Mar 26, 2004 12:30 AM