Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 08:55:35 -0600
Reply-To: Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Headlights
In-Reply-To: <3D50CF41.32209.1EE65663@localhost>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
One more thing on headlight upgrades. If you just need a little more
light but are too poor/cheap/busy for messing around with relays etc try
cleaning the lenses and replacing the bulbs with 9004 xv's. I did this
and the low beams are now bright enough for me to safely drive dark roads
at night :) The only cost is the bulbs which are about $8 each. These
bulbs will not melt anything and are certainly brighter than the stock
bulbs. Another advantage is that your driving lights will not be so
bright as to blind other drivers!
Andrew Fox
On Wed, 7 Aug 2002, Shawn Wright wrote:
> On 7 Aug 2002 at 6:24, Frank Condelli wrote:
>
> > Couple of things here about Vanagon headlamp upgrades. First, is a 40
> > amp relay preferable over a 30 amp relay using the stock headlight bulbs on a
> > square headlighted Vanagon ? Second, I have found 100/80 watt, XENON WHITE,
> > 9004 bulbs by LIGHT GLOW @ $27.71 ea. and 100/80 watt, XENON WHITE, 9004
> > bulbs, by Hella @ $51.95/set of 2, at Canadian Tire (special order
> > catalogue). Anyone with any experience using these high powered light bulbs
> > in the square headlighted Vanagon ? Wires need enlarged ? Bulb socket ?
> > Heat & Plastic problems ? Will the 30 amp relay work with these or is
> > necessary to use the 40 amp relay ?
>
> My only experience is with my Jetta a few years back - I bought 80/100
> 9004 bulbs from Bowwow, along with a relay. They worked great, until
> they melted the bulb connectors, followed by both bulbs failing in less than
> 6 months. Regular 9004 bulbs last several years in this car, so I suspect
> the high heat led to failure. Rather than replace the plastic bulb sockets, I
> soldered on 3 insulated spade connectors, which solves the melting
> problem, but makes it a hassle to connect bulbs. I haven't bothered to try
> the high wattage bulbs since.
> I find the high beam on my '88 Westy excellent, but the low is awful, so
> perhaps an 80W/80W bulb might be a safer choice?
>
> Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager
> Shawnigan Lake School
> swright@SLS.bc.ca
> http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
> http://www.sls.bc.ca
>
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