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Old 12-22-03, 05:04 PM
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dim headlights

anyone else have this problem with dim headlights I have tried a new alternator and I have put 4 gauge grounds in from the battery to the engine block and to the rad. support.next new halogen headlights??any ideas?
Old 12-22-03, 05:20 PM
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Mine dim really bad when i hit the brakes. I cant stand it. I cant even have my stereo up loud cuz when i hit the brakes it shuts the Head unit off cuz it drains so much power. Why does it do this???
Old 12-22-03, 05:34 PM
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Originally posted by 86GXL
Mine dim really bad when i hit the brakes. I cant stand it. I cant even have my stereo up loud cuz when i hit the brakes it shuts the Head unit off cuz it drains so much power. Why does it do this???
that is a bad alt... no idea about the original post though
Old 12-22-03, 05:37 PM
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my solution was i went to Autozone and picked up a pair of Glass Headlight units and a pair of Sylvania Silverstars and its works as a sweet setup.. the stock Sealed beam units are crap...

it was a really good 80.00 expense..

39.99 for Glass Unit Headlights
19.99 x 2 Sylvania Silverstars..
Old 12-22-03, 05:38 PM
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you can wire them up with relays directley from the battery, on all my german cars made them roughly 75% brighter. but they had the headlights pull a current from the battery, through the interrior switch, then to the headlights, resulting in a 3ish volt drop by the time it got to the headlights. you can get an easy, basically plug in kit now from pep-boys or autozone. its called like an H4 harness wireing.
Old 12-22-03, 05:39 PM
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Originally posted by Bio-Weapon
that is a bad alt... no idea about the original post though
Could it be that there is corosion in my main power wire???
Old 12-22-03, 05:58 PM
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well maybe I will try some different headlights first,I am sure there is a Japanese brand headlight in my car,not sure on that though I know that they are NOT a Halogen or Sylvania type beam.
Next will be a deep cycle battery I guess.....
Old 12-22-03, 07:25 PM
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hey junior....what is that orangish colored line going around your trim...i like how it looks and i want to do the same thing on mine.
Old 12-22-03, 11:20 PM
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If you are going to put in new headlights. While your there check the ground wire on the connector to make sure it don’t look fried or corroded. A bad ground on the connector would give you dim headlights also. My 90 GXL did this but only because I replaced the seal beams with the H4 conversion and didn’t use the wiring kit. The lights got so hot that it started to fry the ground wire. So then, I bought the headlight wiring kit and all is well!
Old 12-22-03, 11:39 PM
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alright thanks I will check that when I go out to start to start it up again.
Old 12-22-03, 11:46 PM
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I HAVE THAT PROBLEM!!! But i figured out that it is the harness, if I push the harness into the light it gets fixed,
Old 12-22-03, 11:54 PM
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Originally posted by Madrx7racer
I HAVE THAT PROBLEM!!! But i figured out that it is the harness, if I push the harness into the light it gets fixed,
Dude, you have the grouning problem. check your connector too
Old 12-23-03, 12:20 AM
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my headlights go a notch dimmer when i hit the brakes. only notice it when i'm not moving of course. also noticed that my blower speeds up when i tap the gas. i guess these alternators reallly aren't big enough.

my headlights shine very well and don't plan on replacing them until they go out.
Old 12-23-03, 12:22 AM
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Originally posted by x2delight
my solution was i went to Autozone and picked up a pair of Glass Headlight units and a pair of Sylvania Silverstars and its works as a sweet setup.. the stock Sealed beam units are crap...

it was a really good 80.00 expense..

39.99 for Glass Unit Headlights
19.99 x 2 Sylvania Silverstars..

dam i went to pepboys and got the sealed beams for 45 and it is still the same thing. but no drain on the alt get it checked for voltage output
Old 12-23-03, 12:23 AM
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Originally posted by x2delight
my solution was i went to Autozone and picked up a pair of Glass Headlight units and a pair of Sylvania Silverstars and its works as a sweet setup.. the stock Sealed beam units are crap...

it was a really good 80.00 expense..

39.99 for Glass Unit Headlights
19.99 x 2 Sylvania Silverstars..

dam i went to pepboys and got 2 sealed beams with the silverstar lights for 45 and it is still the same thing. as you have, but no drain on the alt get it checked for voltage output
Old 12-23-03, 12:24 AM
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Originally posted by RotaryForce13B
If you are going to put in new headlights. While your there check the ground wire on the connector to make sure it don’t look fried or corroded. A bad ground on the connector would give you dim headlights also. My 90 GXL did this but only because I replaced the seal beams with the H4 conversion and didn’t use the wiring kit. The lights got so hot that it started to fry the ground wire. So then, I bought the headlight wiring kit and all is well!
I think the kit made my headlights get a little brighter!
Old 12-23-03, 12:24 AM
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Originally posted by RotaryForce13B
If you are going to put in new headlights. While your there check the ground wire on the connector to make sure it don’t look fried or corroded. A bad ground on the connector would give you dim headlights also. My 90 GXL did this but only because I replaced the seal beams with the H4 conversion and didn’t use the wiring kit. The lights got so hot that it started to fry the ground wire. So then, I bought the headlight wiring kit and all is well!
I think the kit made my headlights get a little brighter!
Old 12-23-03, 12:25 AM
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ok what is wrong with using the H4 without using a wiring kit?


also how much does this kit cost to have it draw power right off the batt rather then going inside to some switch?
Old 12-23-03, 12:45 AM
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doesn't make any sense to me either. do the H4's take more amps? if so, why would you use them if we're short on power already? if not.......well.....tell me.
Old 12-23-03, 03:21 AM
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what does the h4 waireing harness contain and what does it connect to? what was the process installing this?
Old 12-23-03, 05:12 AM
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Originally posted by rxspeed87
also how much does this kit cost to have it draw power right off the batt rather then going inside to some switch?
You can just wire in a couple of relays to the existing circut. All you need is a 4 relays, connectors and wire.
Old 12-23-03, 05:40 AM
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i got the H4 conversion but i didnt use the wiring kit.. i dont see any fuss... that being i dont drive at night much anyways... but when i do it seems fine...

ill take some pics of my Glass units sometime soon..
Old 12-23-03, 10:23 AM
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I just had a peek at the FSM.
The headlights are switched by relays in front of the radiator.

BTW good headlights for the price are GE 5064HO (2 for $16).
They have 55 watt low beams instead of the standard 35 watts.
Where I drive there is almost always oncomming traffic, so good low's are a big deal..
Old 12-23-03, 10:55 AM
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Yeah, I have this problem with my 10AE too... I'm going to run to Autozone and have them test my alternator today. If all else fails I'll buy a new one, or maybe even an FD alternator.
Old 12-23-03, 11:19 AM
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Common guys, you can't expect a 15 year old alt with 75K+ miles on it to produce the same kind of power as it did new. If an alt lasts to 100K miles, I'd say its way outlasted its useful life.


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