Headlights very weak.
- SideKick
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Headlights very weak.
Yes, still me
Another issue I have is that my headlights are very weak. Sometimes driving I check to see if my lights are on because they are near useless.
Now I did have a problem with my main lights going off when I turn my brights on, but I fixed that by taking appart the stuff behing the steering wheel, finding all those contacts, I cleaned it out with a very small screwdriver and some tissue paper. l also sanded off all the contact points with fine 120 grid sand paper. All my lights can go on at the same time now But these very dim lights have been a problem since before that.
How or what can I test and where?
Thanks!!!
Another issue I have is that my headlights are very weak. Sometimes driving I check to see if my lights are on because they are near useless.
Now I did have a problem with my main lights going off when I turn my brights on, but I fixed that by taking appart the stuff behing the steering wheel, finding all those contacts, I cleaned it out with a very small screwdriver and some tissue paper. l also sanded off all the contact points with fine 120 grid sand paper. All my lights can go on at the same time now But these very dim lights have been a problem since before that.
How or what can I test and where?
Thanks!!!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
aaaahhhh a Hilux with proper lights!!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Stephan, upgrading your wiring usually solves this problem (use say 4mm wire in stead of 1.0mm)
Are your reflectors still good as in shiny on the inside. This reflects the light forward :wink2:
But 9/10 it has to do with the wiring
Are your reflectors still good as in shiny on the inside. This reflects the light forward :wink2:
But 9/10 it has to do with the wiring
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Did you open the stalk unit or just clean the connection at the bottom of the steering column. What is you alternator voltage running at?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Stephan, if the reflectors are stoofed or the glass of the headlights is badly pitted, you can buy brand new Hella 4H headlights from Goeiehoop for around R200 each!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
I got all the way to that little box with all the copper plates inside. Opened THAT up and cleaned it out inside all the contactsCasKru wrote:Did you open the stalk unit or just clean the connection at the bottom of the steering column. What is you alternator voltage running at?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Hi guys
What else can I test?
OOOOMS wrote:Are your reflectors still good as in shiny on the inside. This reflects the light forward :wink2:
The glass and the reflectors looks good (although it looks a bit dirty in this close up photo and it's very cloudy and raining outside so those reflectors also look less shiny now on the photo . . .)Mr_B wrote:Stephan, if the reflectors are stoofed or the glass of the headlights is badly pitted, you can buy brand new Hella 4H headlights from Goeiehoop for around R200 each!
I've got one of those old school alternators where the regulator is a seperate box. But I did measure on the battery. Is that fine? With the engine off, it measures 12.49V and with the engine running I measure 15.96VCasKru wrote:What is you alternator voltage running at?
What else can I test?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
I still say wiring.....
However, not related to your lights, but this,
However, not related to your lights, but this,
is way to high... :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: Should be around 13.8 - 14.2volt max!But I did measure on the battery. Is that fine? With the engine off, it measures 12.49V and with the engine running I measure 15.96V
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Re: Headlights very weak.
OOOOMS wrote:I still say wiring.....
However, not related to your lights, but this,is way to high... :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: Should be around 13.8 - 14.2volt max!But I did measure on the battery. Is that fine? With the engine off, it measures 12.49V and with the engine running I measure 15.96V
How can it be too high??
And how do I measure the electricity going to my lights? And how much should it be?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Those are not the correct lights for a SFA. Replace them with the correct Hella fittings, fit Osram Nightbreakers Plus, the voltage at the globes should be close enough to the battery voltage when the lights are switched on. If not, you need to check all light wiring, particularly the 3-pin sockets and Ground connection.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
15.96v is way to high for a 12 volt battery........fact, it will damage it :!: :!: :!:How can it be too high??
And how do I measure the electricity going to my lights? And how much should it be?
You can measure it with your tester.
Remove the bulb, switch the vehicle on, take your tester and test the voltage at the light socket
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Stephan, doen wat die oom se. Plus, sit herleiers ( relays ) in vir elke paar ligte soos wat hulle doen met die spots. Ek het verder gegaan, vir elke lig sy eie herleier EN sekering met dik drade . Dit maak dat die lig sy krag direk van die battery kry ( of amper direk )en nie eers 'n draai deur die harnas maak nie. Sorg dat die spul ook droog bly. Niemand kan die silikon agter die ligte sien nie, maar as 'n lig dood is sien almal dit. Ons blinde ouens sukkel maar soms om te sien.Family_Dog wrote:Those are not the correct lights for a SFA. Replace them with the correct Hella fittings, fit Osram Nightbreakers Plus, the voltage at the globes should be close enough to the battery voltage when the lights are switched on. If not, you need to check all light wiring, particularly the 3-pin sockets and Ground connection.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
dont mess around with the wireing just buy a plug an play hid kit. comes with all the wirering . best solution
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Agree with OOOOMS and Kobus, run thicker wire direct from batteries and let the normal wiring just switch the relay on and off. The draadjies they put in when manufacturing are way too thin. Problem on most old vehicles.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
First sort out the 15.96volt it will cause other problems with you 12v lamps :!:
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Also try a diffrent multimeter. The other day I tested mine and was giving the same reading 15-16 voltsOOOOMS wrote:First sort out the 15.96volt it will cause other problems with you 12v lamps :!:
I had another meter and that gave a reading of 14volts.
But if that reading is true you need to sort that out.You going to fry your battery
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Re: Headlights very weak.
If all else fails try putting a candle in the headlight......
Do as 000OMS said and sort out the voltage first and then rewire the lights.....
Do as 000OMS said and sort out the voltage first and then rewire the lights.....
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Keep in mind that due to the floating earth on the stalk unit it's not that easy just using the existing wiring to power up the relays. The stalk unit needs a certain feedback or resistance from the headlights.
I wanted to do the same thing and ran into this snag. I've stop trying to figure it out but have found something in between that will solve that problem but have not tried it out. It is some circuitry with diodes and resisters and the two relays for low beam and high beam.
I wanted to do the same thing and ran into this snag. I've stop trying to figure it out but have found something in between that will solve that problem but have not tried it out. It is some circuitry with diodes and resisters and the two relays for low beam and high beam.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Hi guys
So I measured the voltage.
The battery measures 12.5V.
I unplugged the back of the headlight unit and measured it there. 11.3V. Is that within acceptable margins? Or is that why lights are so extremely weak?
So I measured the voltage.
The battery measures 12.5V.
I unplugged the back of the headlight unit and measured it there. 11.3V. Is that within acceptable margins? Or is that why lights are so extremely weak?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
That would be the reason yes.SideKick wrote:Hi guys
So I measured the voltage.
The battery measures 12.5V.
I unplugged the back of the headlight unit and measured it there. 11.3V. Is that within acceptable margins? Or is that why lights are so extremely weak?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Family_Dog wrote:Those are not the correct lights for a SFA. Replace them with the correct Hella fittings, fit Osram Nightbreakers Plus, the voltage at the globes should be close enough to the battery voltage when the lights are switched on. If not, you need to check all light wiring, particularly the 3-pin sockets and Ground connection.
-F_D
Trace the earth, always earth to body, you can take it to Battery negative. The volts can be faulty Multimeter, mine packet up a month ago, were giving also about +2Volts more than it should.
Re: Headlights very weak.
Definitely not :!: You have then a voltage drop of 1.2 volt between your battery and your lights. Huge problemSideKick wrote:Hi guys
So I measured the voltage.
The battery measures 12.5V.
I unplugged the back of the headlight unit and measured it there. 11.3V. Is that within acceptable margins? Or is that why lights are so extremely weak? Yes
Re: Headlights very weak.
You say you measure 12.5 Volt at the battery, is that with the vehicle idling or off ?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
HiOOOOMS wrote:You say you measure 12.5 Volt at the battery, is that with the vehicle idling or off ?
That is with the engine off. With the engine on, it's about 13.5V.
This one is brand new. But I will get a friend to double check my readings with his. Eiter way, with my multimeter I measure a 1.25V drop. If it's out, then it's out on both and doens't change the difference between the two.4x4megaworldpta wrote:Trace the earth, always earth to body, you can take it to Battery negative. The volts can be faulty Multimeter, mine packet up a month ago, were giving also about +2Volts more than it should.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
TrueThis one is brand new. But I will get a friend to double check my readings with his. Eiter way, with my multimeter I measure a 1.25V drop. If it's out, then it's out on both and doens't change the difference between the two.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Now you have to find where to drop is ...... probably in the switching .... stalk switch or relays.
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Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Stalk switch.Mud Dog wrote:Now you have to find where to drop is ...... probably in the switching .... stalk switch or relays.
Want to put in relays but need to find out how
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Relay only, ain't gonna solve your problemSideKick wrote:Stalk switch.Mud Dog wrote:Now you have to find where to drop is ...... probably in the switching .... stalk switch or relays.
Want to put in relays but need to find out how
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Re: Headlights very weak.
just buy an hid kit and stop cuting wire inpronimg wires adding wire and i bet you now it wont be half the brightness of hids. i just istaled mine and its great
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Re: Headlights very weak.
HID's are designed for certain reflectors (newer generation vehicles). The light pattern is not correct & not as effective as it should be.
Yes, a bit more light and a whiter light and a lot of unpleasantness for oncoming drivers.
Yes, a bit more light and a whiter light and a lot of unpleasantness for oncoming drivers.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
This has been my take on HID's all along. If these kits were available with a corrective lamp unit (reflector AND lens), then I would say it's a worthwhile exercise, otherwise not IMO. Co-incidentally, I drove at night with a guy that had done a HID conversion just 2 months ago (new Corsa bakkie). The first thing that I noticed was the poor depth, both on dip and bright .... the light colour was nice and bright, but you could see that it wasn't focused .... there wasn't much penetration from the dispersed beam, even my old Osram Cool Blue's were better in this regard.OOOOMS wrote:HID's are designed for certain reflectors (newer generation vehicles). The light pattern is not correct & not as effective as it should be.
Yes, a bit more light and a whiter light and a lot of unpleasantness for oncoming drivers.
When your road comes to an end ...... you need a HILUX!.
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
I think not. Please correct me if I'm wrong.OOOOMS wrote:Relay only, ain't gonna solve your problem
If I take the "old" wires going into the light, I take them out, plug them into the "switching" side of the relay, run new cables from the battery to the "power" side of the relay, to the lights, then it should work 100% if my logic is correct I just need to get some resistance between the switch and the relay . . .
Am I correct?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
OK. Now that I'm trying to draw it, I see now I am wrong. I have to replace the wiring. And to be more specific, I don't know how to draw it.
Basically this is a simplified drawing of the wiring now:
But when I tried to draw it with the relay in place, I clearly got it wrong!
What relay do I get and how do I wire it up?
Basically this is a simplified drawing of the wiring now:
But when I tried to draw it with the relay in place, I clearly got it wrong!
What relay do I get and how do I wire it up?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Or WAS I right and you actually wire it like this:
I take the "old" wires going into the light, I take them out, plug them into the "switching" side of the relay, run new cables from the battery to the "power" side of the relay, to the lights, then it should work 100% if my logic is correct I just need to get some resistance between the switch and the relay . . .
Am I correct?
I take the "old" wires going into the light, I take them out, plug them into the "switching" side of the relay, run new cables from the battery to the "power" side of the relay, to the lights, then it should work 100% if my logic is correct I just need to get some resistance between the switch and the relay . . .
Am I correct?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Maybe just add an inline fuse . . .
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Stephan in theory it should work but in practise it doesn't. The problem is that we have floating earths on our stalk switches. If you remove the plug from the one headlight and do your circuitry it will work like a charm but as soon as you unplug the second headlight everything changes and you will not get it to work like that
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Re: Headlights very weak.
What is a floating earth?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
a floating ground is a ground, that is a reference node serving as a common return path for current from other components, which is not electrically connected to the Earth.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Hi Guys
OK. So I went to AutoZone. The electrician there wasn't really in a helpful mood, but the one thing he did tell me is that you don't need any resistor for the relay. You connect it up as is.
Coincidentally I confirmed this when I stripped down some more wiring and saw that my spots is connected up exactly that way with a 5 pin relay. I haven't disected it completely, but here is how I figure it so far. And how I'm thinking of connecting up my lights. (Black is the old existing wiring and red is new wires)
Again please feel free to give feedback as I'm just trying to figure this out as I go along . . .
OK. So I went to AutoZone. The electrician there wasn't really in a helpful mood, but the one thing he did tell me is that you don't need any resistor for the relay. You connect it up as is.
Coincidentally I confirmed this when I stripped down some more wiring and saw that my spots is connected up exactly that way with a 5 pin relay. I haven't disected it completely, but here is how I figure it so far. And how I'm thinking of connecting up my lights. (Black is the old existing wiring and red is new wires)
Again please feel free to give feedback as I'm just trying to figure this out as I go along . . .
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Here are photos of that relay.
It has 5 pins and you connect the two lights up in parallel so they run independently . . .
It has 5 pins and you connect the two lights up in parallel so they run independently . . .
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Like I said, I would start by cleaning up those connections on that relay .... they look very dirty and possibly even corroded. Run the lights for a few minutes and see if any of those wires, or even the relay itself, gets hot.
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Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Somewhere we are missing each other . . .
These last pics are of my spotlights that is running off of that relay and is wired like in that diagram. They are working 100%.
It's my normal low and high beam head lights that is useless and that I want to get onto relays . . .
These last pics are of my spotlights that is running off of that relay and is wired like in that diagram. They are working 100%.
It's my normal low and high beam head lights that is useless and that I want to get onto relays . . .
Stress: The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living $H!t out of some asshole that desperately deserves it!
Re: Headlights very weak.
Have a read here:
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=20909&hilit=headlight+upgrade" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=20909&hilit=headlight+upgrade" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Headlights very weak.
Why not try replacing the relay with a new one (bosh or better) see if that makes any difference....SideKick wrote:Somewhere we are missing each other . . .
These last pics are of my spotlights that is running off of that relay and is wired like in that diagram. They are working 100%.
It's my normal low and high beam head lights that is useless and that I want to get onto relays . . .
If that does not get you the lights you want try replacing as much as the old lighting wires as possible from the relay to the lights, it could be that the weir is onl and its loosing its current through to much corosion........
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[rimg=206x128]
Forget the past, Embrace the FUTURE!!!!
To 4x4 or not to 4x4 thats the question....
IT'S A JEEP ..... You wouldn't understand....
[rimg=206x128]
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Re: Headlights very weak.
There is no relays on my lights. That is why I'm trying to get the lights onto it . . .MOFASA wrote:Why not try replacing the relay with a new one (bosh or better) see if that makes any difference....SideKick wrote:Somewhere we are missing each other . . .
These last pics are of my spotlights that is running off of that relay and is wired like in that diagram. They are working 100%.
It's my normal low and high beam head lights that is useless and that I want to get onto relays . . .
If that does not get you the lights you want try replacing as much as the old lighting wires as possible from the relay to the lights, it could be that the weir is onl and its loosing its current through to much corosion........
Stress: The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living $H!t out of some asshole that desperately deserves it!
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Re: Headlights very weak.
HiOOOOMS wrote:Have a read here:
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=20909&hilit=headlight+upgrade" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes. That is exactly what I'm trying to do, but I'm told my setup won't work and I'm trying to find out why it wont work . . .
CasKru wrote:Stephan in theory it should work but in practise it doesn't. The problem is that we have floating earths on our stalk switches. If you remove the plug from the one headlight and do your circuitry it will work like a charm but as soon as you unplug the second headlight everything changes and you will not get it to work like that
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Re: Headlights very weak.
SideKick wrote:Stalk switch.Mud Dog wrote:Now you have to find where to drop is ...... probably in the switching .... stalk switch or relays.
Want to put in relays but need to find out how
That is very easy,You will need two relays one for dims and one for brights.
At the bottom of the relay all the terminals have numbers.
(30) mains in +
(87) output to lights
(85) earth-
(86) trigger or switch.
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Re: Headlights very weak.
HiCasKru wrote:Keep in mind that due to the floating earth on the stalk unit it's not that easy just using the existing wiring to power up the relays. The stalk unit needs a certain feedback or resistance from the headlights.
How much resistance is needed?
Is 85 Ohm enough?
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Re: Headlights very weak.
If I remember my grade 7 electrical right, then:SideKick wrote:HiCasKru wrote:Keep in mind that due to the floating earth on the stalk unit it's not that easy just using the existing wiring to power up the relays. The stalk unit needs a certain feedback or resistance from the headlights.
How much resistance is needed?
Is 85 Ohm enough?
55W / 13.75 V = 4 Amps that each bulb pulls.
13.75 V / 4 Amps = 3.44 Ohms resistance each bulb gives.
you said you only need one bulb for it to work, which means you only need 4 Ohms resistance for it to work, which means a relay giving 85 Ohms should be more than enough!.
Unless it is too much . . . I still don't understand this floating earth . . .
Stress: The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living $H!t out of some asshole that desperately deserves it!