Date:         Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:23:12 -0400
Reply-To:     John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      88 Vanagon headlight socket problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

4 or 5 years ago, I upgraded my headlights to use higher wattage bulbs and
was pleased with the result.

Recently I noticed that the low beams seemed weaker than they should be.  I
first suspected a poor ground connection as I had installed one of Frank
Condelli's headlight relay kits before adding the higher wattage bulbs.

I removed the black plastic grill and then unbolted the headlight buckets to
check back there.  What I found is that on both sides, there was on contact
on each of the low beam headlamp connectors that was discolored/melted !
That probably explains dimmer low beams.

The bulbs that I'm running there are *Hella 100/80 watt 9004 halogen
headlamp bulbs.  *The standard wattage there is 65/45.

I believe that I have access to a donor van to get 'new' sockets to replace
mine and just splice them in.  I'll do my best to insure that contact areas
are clean and tight.

Are there any 'list recommendations' of things that I might do to maximize
the contact there and thereby minimize the resistance and heat generated at
that junction?

Has anyone else encountered similar problems?

My high beam lamps are *Hella 100 watt halogen bulbs *(standard is 55) and
the contacts for that lamp are larger and they don't get as much use, so
there didn't seem to be a problem there.

Thanks in advance for any info.

John Graham
88 Westy - Hathaway
Charlotte, NC
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