Why are my headlights so dim?

"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
02/09/2020 at 21:09 • Filed to: None

Because one of them is dead, that’s why. I knew this would happen eventually, but why did it have to happen now? I went ahead and replaced them both, just to be sure, but it’s $50 I didn’t want to spend. At least they were easy to swap out in the Walmart parking lot in the snow whilst walking with a cane.

I do wish I had some sort of warning system like I had in the Germans, although I know that would just be something else to break or give false readings. I used to check the headlights in my old parking spot at work, but well, that’s no longer an option. I guess I should have checked them sooner...

DISCUSSION (23)

facw > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 21:30

So is the security sensor somehow a headlight feature, or just an anti-shoplifting deterrent?

My headlight go to is Philips X-treme Vision, which seems to be a good blend of brightness, longevity, and price.

Kinja'd!!!

Local shops don’t seem to carry them though, so not a great option if you need them right now as opposed to in two days.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > facw
02/09/2020 at 21:36

Yeah, anti-theft. These were locked away in a display case, so getting help at 10pm to unlock the case was a challenge.

I didn’t want to keep driving around with poor illumination in the weather we’re having, so I just decided to replace them right then and there. Perhaps next time, when I have a few more $$, I’ll go for LEDs like I’ve done with almost all of the other lighting on my car.

ttyymmnn > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 21:38

Kinja'd!!!

I hate the new headlights.

ranwhenparked > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 21:46

Wait, you replace your headlight bulbs when they burn out? From what I’ve been seeing lately, I thought maybe that went out of fashion.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > facw
02/09/2020 at 21:54

I second this - I get them online. I do find they start to go dim after a year or two if they don’t burn out though. I’ve noticed it lately. Not like “I can’t see these are so dim” dim, just not quite as bright as they were when I got them.

Good bulbs! I would swap to their LED bulbs, but they don’t sell them in my bulb format. I have Philips LED brake/tail bulbs and side repeater bulbs though!

facw > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 22:01

Yeah, I’d like to go LED, but seems like there would be fitment issues in my car that make it not worthwhile.

Urambo Tauro > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 22:16

The bulbs you have pictured there have a significantly s horter life expectancy than the standard bulbs of the same brand (compare th e back of the packages). But then again - I’ve had those U ltras on my car for years (7 ish I think ?) and they haven’t burned out yet. And I’m one of those drivers who uses headlamps during the day, so I dunno.

smobgirl > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/09/2020 at 22:46

I usually just look at the bumper ahead of me when I’m stopped in traffic to see if mine are still lit. I get warnings for the brake lights but not for the headlights.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Urambo Tauro
02/09/2020 at 23:41

I tried Silverstars back in 2013-15 or so and was hardly getting 12 months out of them. I gave up and just went back to standard Sylvania halogens.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/10/2020 at 01:08

I havent done diligent research, but isnt putting LED headlight bulbs into a housing designed for halogen bulbs a recipe for glare? I cannot count the # of bro trucks I saw with clearly aftermarket LED bulbs that just blinded everybody on the road.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/10/2020 at 03:05

best idea replacing both

Long_Voyager94 > ttyymmnn
02/10/2020 at 07:12

Modern LED/HID lights are obnoxious.

I notice it most on Corollas and Teslas for some reason.

BigBlock440 > ttyymmnn
02/10/2020 at 08:32

seconded

ttyymmnn > Long_Voyager94
02/10/2020 at 08:37

When the headlights of oncoming cars are so bright that I can’t see the road in front of me, then the headlights are too damn bright.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
02/10/2020 at 09:19

I was behind a car the other day, and the TAILLIGHTS were burning holes in my retina!

Long_Voyager94 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
02/10/2020 at 09:59

The Tails on our new van are like that. I’m almost not against smoking them out just because they’d still be brighter than most taillights!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Long_Voyager94
02/10/2020 at 10:15

It’s really frustrating. With headlights, the pain only lasts for a couple seconds. If you’re stuck behind crazy bright taillights in traffic, where the hell are you supposed to look?

superdave847 > Long_Voyager94
02/10/2020 at 12:09

They are awesome on the German cars.

ranwhenparked > Long_Voyager94
02/10/2020 at 12:13

A cop pulled me over once, because he thought I was driving with my high beams on. That was years ago, in a '13 Mustang, things have only gotten worse since

Long_Voyager94 > superdave847
02/10/2020 at 12:16

Maybe for the driver, they’re not awesome for everyone around you.

Long_Voyager94 > ranwhenparked
02/10/2020 at 12:17

I wish cops would pull people over for driving with their brights on around here. It’s a god damn epidemic around here.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/10/2020 at 12:47

This is relevant to my interests - our Outback has horribly dim headlights too, this is a common complaint on these cars.

Are these replacement bulbs truly brighter? Meaning you just replace the bulb and get brighter output - with no modification to the headlight system itself or power being supplied to it?

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
02/12/2020 at 18:43

I used to get the Sylvania ultra bright whatevers, but they wouldnt last more than 6 months. I got sylvania to warranty 1 pair. Ive found Hella makes some good basic bulbs that are 90% as bright as the Sylvania’s for less than half the price. And theyve lasted over 2 years.

Tl;dr Hella bulbs are good and cheap yo.