Date: Sun, 22 May 2016 19:12:04 +0000
Reply-To: Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Brighter headlights - 91 Westy
In-Reply-To: <e268ae1c-c99f-a111-68ca-6b48081aa5f2@williamsitconsulting.com>
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I kept my square headlights and used the GoWesty headlight upgrade kit. GoWesty has a video showing you how to wash your square headlights. Be sure to use a MILD soap and nothing hotter than lukewarm water. A stronger/hotter wash solution will cause the reflective coating on these old headlights to flake off. Also be sure to dry your headlights thoroughly. Although I did it under the influence of cool dry weather during August, there was still enough humidity here in Vermont to protract the drying process.I had to take the headlights back out after reinstallation due to condensation and continue drying for a couple more days. A hair dryer (on cool setting) did not help.
The outer bulbs in that GoWesty kit were 9104 (80/100W) and lasted about 18 months. The manager at my FLAPS, which specializes in european cars, informed that those bulbs are for off road use and illegal for road use here in Vermont. So following his advice I'm currently using the high efficiency Philips 9004 (45/65W). I was told these bulbs also have a shorter service life compared to the stock bulbs.
I'll consider installing grounds close to each headlight, something the GoWesty instructions did not include.
Steve87 Syncro hardtop
On Sunday, May 22, 2016 1:37 PM, Steve Williams <steve@WILLIAMSITCONSULTING.COM> wrote:
Hi,
I posted this on Facebook as well...
I have a 91 Westfalia and am trying to get the headlights brighter. I
have installed relays which did help but they are still not as bright as
I'd like.
I have read that doing a ground local to the headlights will help also.
Is there a "preferred" ground close to the headlights or do I just drill
into the metal someplace appropriate? Should I leave the existing ground
in place and supplement it with a new one, or should I snip the existing
ground wire and just use a new ground? Is this a case where "more is
better"?
I want to wash the inside of the headlight unit and try to get the
reflectors as bright and shiny as possible. I don't want to make
anything worse, so am looking for how other people might have done this.
Finally, I've bought new higher powered bulbs, so I am hoping a
combination of these things will make my van safer to drive in heavy
rain at night on a 2 line highway... which is pretty scary right now.
High beams are OK, but when I have to go low beams in heavy rain on a 2
lane road, it's outright dangerous.
Thanks for any information!
Cheers,
Steve
