Date:         Mon, 3 Dec 2012 02:23:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Jay Brown <badkarma@TTLC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jay Brown <badkarma@TTLC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Time to replace headlight
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
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Hi Patti,

Your Vanagon needs the 9004 bulbs for the main high/low beam outer lenses as
others have mentioned.  There is no readily available sealed beam headlight
for the rectangular outer lens on the 86-91 Vanagon.

When you go to replace the bulbs, take a look at the headlight lenses
themselves.  If the inner surface of the lens appears cloudy, be sure to
clean it to maximize your light output.  A quick swish with 99% isopropyl
alcohol usually does a pretty good job of cleaning things up (70% IPA leaves
spots).  Foggy headlight lenses decrease the lumen output and can also
effect the focal pattern of the headlights, which was pretty poor to begin
with and only gets worse with time and wear.

If any of the plastic headlight adjusters are broken, replacements are now
available from Bus Depot, Van Cafe etc. for less than $10.00 each, or as a
complete kit.

Higher wattage bulbs are available that make driving at night a much more
pleasant and safer experience.  Before installing high output bulbs, you
will need to install a set of headlight relays to protect your headlight
switch from overheating.  This is a pretty simple proceedure that takes most
people 20-30 minutes to complete.  Headlight relays are available from my
website https://sites.google.com/site/vanagonheadlightrelays/ as well as
most of the usual suspects for Vanagon parts.

Hope that helps,
Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
https://sites.google.com/site/vanagonheadlightrelays/