Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2020 23:45:09 -0500
Reply-To: Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM>
Subject: Re: headlamps
In-Reply-To: <CY4PR0801MB373194118B5B94E9B95B651AA0590@CY4PR0801MB3731.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi Dennis - thanks for this. It’s been a busy week and I’m just getting around to catching up now. My youngest daughter turned ten and we slid in the extra seat and took four kids up to the cottage in the Westfalia. That double seat is handy about once a year.
I think I’ve only done three ‘upgrades’ to my van - the hot start relay, headlight relay, and 3 window canvas. Guess two of them are going to cause me problems :)
The good advice I was getting on my headlight problem suggests it was a ground issue. Pulling the lever did not result in any lights happening. The blue high beam indicator was lit. Both headlights stopped working at the same time (as far as I can tell - it was daytime).
Those of you who know me know that I like to drive, love to camp, but am stumped by electrical issues. I am getting pretty good at diagnosing after years of falling asleep to Car Talk. My neighbour came by with his multimeter and ‘helped’ but as far as he could tell there was no ground issue.
In the meantime I’m running my old low power bulbs and they work fine.
I see that GoWesty is advertising some fancy bulbs. Here’s the text. I’d be curious if it’s actually ‘brighter’ light or just more focused light? Would love to hear some feedback. I didn’t realize the high power headlights would cause an issue with the alternator, so perhaps I won’t be in a panic to replace them. My old eyes are finding it harder to drive at night these days though.
Thanks again to everyone for their advice!
Jeff
These high-efficiency, standard-wattage H4 bulbs are a direct fit for any headlamp using this model bulb. All Buses, Vanagons with round headlamps that take a replaceable H4 bulb, and 1996 and later Eurovans use these bulbs.
They provide up to 90% more light with increased down-road performance, better peripheral lighting, and a more focused beam pattern—while consuming the same wattage as a standard bulb. The brighter and more focused filament, along with ultra-clear glass, creates the brightest stock-wattage bulb available with absolutely no wiring modifications needed.
Key Features:
• The brightest headlight bulb currently available
• Up to 90% increased down-road visibility
• Increased side-road (peripheral) visibility
• Up to 90% brighter light
• "Plug and play" orientation means they can be installed as easily as standard halogen bulbs
> On Aug 23, 2020, at 10:50 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Of the upgrades that give me pause headlight relays, high power bulbs and starter assist relays are amongst them. In general they add failure points and hide other issues.
>
> With your headlight outage the proper approach at time of failure would have been to get a meter or at least a test light and do some diagnostics. Did you loose power or the ground? Changing the bulbs you moved things and maybe the bad connection is now made, only to fail again.
>
> As for headlight relays yes depending on how they are wired take to load off the X contact on the ignition switch and take the load off the headlight switch but that is all. Especially with the 4 headlight systems the wiring to the headlights is not addressed and this especially includes the Ground. The headlights for both sides go back to a single quick slide connector to one of the start grounds above the fuse box. If you are trying light 4-100watt bulbs you are looking at a 40 amp load on a connector that had all it can do to handle the original 20 amp load. Keep in mind that with lamps when the voltage can’t be maintained under load the current draw will go up due to the filament not maintain temperature.
>
> Not only do relays not correct the ground or the wiring and connectors to the lamps they also do not address the complete current path from the alternator to the battery and then the battery to the vehicle loads.
>
> As for the high wattage bulbs, consider that for 4 lamp system you can be using 400 watts just for headlights, 1/2 your alternator theoretical capacity. If your radiator fan needs to run at the highest speed you need 540 watts for that. If the AC or heater fans are also on the alternator is now overloaded.
>
> Getting back to the possible headlight ground failure, this needs to inspected and corrected. Tings are crowded there and I have seen this failure cause an under dash fire. Also inspect the ground for the radiator fan. Move them to new ground points near the lamps or fan use something more substantial then a sheet metal screw and for the wire connectors use something that will also seal the wire strands from the elements.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Jeff Palmer
> Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2020 6:30 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: headlamps
>
> Yes, the Bus Depot setup. I am happy with it.
> Jeff
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 22, 2020, at 3:36 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>> Is this the set up from Bus Depot?
>>
>> I’m currently using that as well with the stronger bulbs.
>>
>> I’ll need to find my spares to keep in the bus once it is home. I was carrying both spare high wattage and low and after your experience that seems like a good idea.
>>
>> Eric
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 22, 2020, at 1:13 PM, Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> Strangely enough both my headlights failed on the same trip. High and low beams. They were the high power bulbs that I use with the relay. I put in the old low power bulbs and they worked. Odd.
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>> 85 Westfalia
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>>> On Aug 22, 2020, at 12:25 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Try lifting lever for high beams. If still no go the ground probably failed. All 4 lights use a common quick slide connector on one of the star wheels above the fuse box. Easy fix is to just connect the grounds at the lights using a ring terminal under one of the screws holding the light bracket to the body.
>>>>
>>>> Dennis
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of David McNeely
>>>> Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2020 12:58 AM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: headlamps
>>>>
>>>> What is the most likely reason for the headlamps on my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile to be kaput? All other lamps work, headlights do not. Just started this.
>>>>
>>>> Not a fuse, unless 4 bad at once, not likely. Switch? Is there a relay that can go bad?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance, mcneely
>>
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