Headlight Problem (upgraded bulbs)
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Niwot USA
Headlight Problem (upgraded bulbs)
I am really disappointed with the stock headlights. My daughters Honda Civic headlights put out much more light. I upgraded my bulbs to 100watt bulbs but now the headlight socket is getting flaky and appears that I am losing the ground. The headlight lites but is yellow/orange and dim. I believe that the bulb somehow is losing the ground and the light is getting a ground from the high beam circuit.
Has anyone else seen this problem? Does anyone make a upgrade socket or wiring?
//Rick
Has anyone else seen this problem? Does anyone make a upgrade socket or wiring?
//Rick
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
You should be able to remove the terminals from the plastic connector to clean and retighten the terminals. You should be able to stick a small, thin flat screwdriver in from the wire side to release the terminals from the plastic plug.
Jimmy
Jimmy
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Wake Forest, NC
The stockwiring isn't very good for the headlights. I would recommend one of those headlight brightener kits that has a relay and a harness, especially if you are going to use the brighter lights.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
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From: Wake Forest, NC
No, they shouldn't be too hard to find. Try searching caspers electronics. We had a kit from them once, not sure if they make one for the 9004 bulbs though.
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From: Pacific Northwest
I'm surprized you don't your headlights, this 98 F150 has (had, read on) some of the nicest lights I've ever had.
aldridgec has it right. 2 problems in modern cars with 100 watt bulbs - first is the heat melting the sockets, second is the wiring is typically sized perfectly for the load and you adding 40%+ more current draw to the circuit can overload it and soften the wire insulation itself, and burn up a whole harness (under hood, underdash fire, big mess...) The headlight relay kits are great.
I just put projectors in my truck and added my own relays and fuses so that nothing I changed can affect the truck wiring. This also makes the lights brighter, and while I was at it I used relays to have the highs and lows on together.
aldridgec has it right. 2 problems in modern cars with 100 watt bulbs - first is the heat melting the sockets, second is the wiring is typically sized perfectly for the load and you adding 40%+ more current draw to the circuit can overload it and soften the wire insulation itself, and burn up a whole harness (under hood, underdash fire, big mess...) The headlight relay kits are great.
I just put projectors in my truck and added my own relays and fuses so that nothing I changed can affect the truck wiring. This also makes the lights brighter, and while I was at it I used relays to have the highs and lows on together.
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From: Pacific Northwest
By the way, just thought I'd mention - most of the aftermarket headlight kits (check ebay if you don't know what I'm talking about) are terrible. Even if they fit nicely in your car (many don't fit well at all) very few have well engineered beam patterns and adjustability. I put in the Projector-style lights, (from ebay) the ones with the round projector hi/lows and the smaller spot- projector next to it in the same housing. The fit was perfect. And the light pattern is excellent, every bit as nice as stock. (I still have the stock bulbs.) Just giving credit where due.
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