Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 16:22:33 -0700
Reply-To: "Justin B. Jensen" <jjensen@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Justin B. Jensen" <jjensen@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Two Questions - headlight improvements / automatic tranny?
In-Reply-To: <5.0.0.25.0.20001029170349.00a6a0f0@umassd.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Ric, Craig and Listees:
As Ric mentions below, 100-Watt H-3's can be added quite simply to the
driving light housings on '86 and newer vans for immediate lighting
gratification. I have been running this setup for many years now without a
problem until recently. During a trip to the Grand Canyon not long ago I
ran the high beams continuously for several hours. The added electrical
load smoked my ignition switch circuit handling headlight loads as well as
my headlight dimmer switch. I am not abandoning the 100-Watt H-3's (no one
could after becoming accustomed to the added visibility) however, I am now
waiting for the Bus Depot to deliver along with the new ignition switch and
dimmer switch a relay which I will wire into the high beam circuit to carry
the added load around the headlight switch, dimmer switch and ignition
switch which should preclude future problems of this sort. If you are
running this setup you should consider adding a relay ASAP before you end up
replacing the overloaded components.
Justin
SLC Utah
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of
Richard Golen
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 3:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Two Questions - headlight improvements / automatic tranny?
Craig,
I bought a set of the 100W bulbs for the driving lights on my '87 Westy and
replaced the 55 W bulbs that originally were in the driving lights. The
only modification that you have to make is to the bulb...there is a small
tab on the metal base of the bulb that needs to be trimmed off with a pair
of side-cutters in order to get the bulb to fit.
Now I have nice bright high beams for under $20.
Ric
At 02:44 PM 10/29/00 -0700, Craig Spaeth wrote:
>1) In our 1990 Multi Van the headlights are pathetic. Short of the four
>light South
>African conversion (very cool) are there any good ways to improve the
>lighting on
>these? I am used to running 90/130 h4 bulbs in my air cooled cars so I
>have become
>spoiled by being able to see at night.
>
>2) Also our 1990 is an automatic with almost 49,000 miles on it. What does
the
>automatic require for a long and illustrious life? Are there any inherent
>problems
>with these? I have never owned any automatic before.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Craig
>the Gorge VW club
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