Sealed Beams

[windjammer]

I'm wondering if other experiences are as mine. The headlights on my car aren't worth a darn. I remember back when I had a 68' Chrysler with 4 sealed beam lights......you could see into the next county.

Now it's very easy to over drive your head lights. My last three cars have been Fords. Two Crown Vics and now Mercury Marquis.

I don't know about other cars. I keep cars a long time. Usually 10 years, so I haven't had that many without sealed beams.

Can the factory bulbs be replaced with something better..?

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

How old is your car??? I have a 10 year old suburban and I had to change out the lights about a year ago because I couldn't see anythingh with them. Apparantly the plastic gets yellow and opaque with age and this really cuts down on the transmission. I tried a bottle of something that promised to rejuvenate them (basicly an agressive rubbing compound) but it didn't work. I finally replaced the whole light .

 

[m1gunner]

The best upgrade for all vehicle headlights is to add 2 relays (low and high beam circuits) and wire from the relays directly to the headlights with much heavier gauge wire than factory light wiring. Run a heavy gauge wire from the battery to the relay, and let the relay switch this as your headlight power source. (of course, use circuit protection such as circuit breakers)

The original lighting circuit is used to fire the relay.

This wit increase stock light output by 15% or more, and can double the output of aftermarket bulbs. OEM wiring is too small and suffers from excessive voltage drop.

 

[BarbC]

Maybe it's your eyes. How old are you?

Seriously. Could be your night vision is going.

 

[windjammer]

Maybe it's your eyes. How old are you?

Seriously. Could be your night vision is going.

The car is a 2008 Mercury Marquis.......I'm 67 years old. This car isn't the first I've had problems with..The first was an 1988 Ford Crown Vic. Then a 1998 Crown Vic.

 

[s&wchad]

Oh, those kind of sealed beams... never mind.

I was thinking of something else.

 

[BarbC]

Here's some replacement options for Ford. Make sure HID is legal in your state.

Ford HID kit & Ford Xenon Kits

 

[JcMack]

At 67 you're 4 years older than me. I noticed starting 5-6 years ago that my "night vision" was not as good as it used to be. Today I avoid roads I don't know from daytime travel. I have developed something like tunnel vision, at least at night. There are many headlight upgrades that can be implemented, but I've found they don't help much. I'd say have them installed professionally if it includes an additional relay. Keep in mind that oncoming drivers may be flashing their lights at you all the time, if your new standard lights are really bright. If you live in snow country, in heavy snow the high intensity light will bounce back to like you a white wall.

 

[cowboy117]

Windjammer,Cajunlawyer is right.Anything newer built by Ford has bad headlight covers.Don't use sandpaper on them!Try a headlight cleaner on them.

 

[5Wire]

...I noticed starting 5-6 years ago that my "night vision" was not as good as it used to be....

I had the same problem. My Opthalmologist recommended "eye vitamin/mineral" supplements and gave me enough samples for 60 days. He said it would take that long to show an effect. My night vision returned to at least as good as it ever was and my night driving discomfort went away.

Any place that sells supplements will have 'em. I use Ocuvite by Bausch & Lomb. The doc gave me I-Caps. He said Lutein in particular, was an important for carotin which helps night vision.

 

[venomballistics]

part of the problem is that the lenses are plastic.
It does not start as a problem but they gradually suck over time at the world sand blasts the lenses.
improvements may be had by buffing them out with rubbing compound though they are best replaced entierly

 

[TACC1]

Just my 2 cents-worth...
I have to drive for my company 24/7. Although my vision at night is getting bad, you are right about the newer headlights not working as well. Most newer cars start out at a disadvantage due to the lights being mounted closer to the pavement. I see that Chrysler has some headlamds with basically a flat beam that increases side view, but
doesn't help lower or sometimes to the top of street signs.
You might want to make your next vehicle one that has higher mounted headlights.
The only way to remove inside clouding, is to break the seal on the headlight assembly, and polish. Has to have a good seal again, or the
lamp will burn out in short order.
On full size vans the lights are mounted higher up. Insurance
companies state that you're overdriving your lights above 40mph,
on low beams.
TACC1

 

[H Richard]

At 69 I will no longer drive at night on the highway. In town with ambient light I have no problems, but on the highway on-coming headlights nearly blind me. I'm told it's a part of aging (thanks doc). Welcome to Sr. Citizen status, and try and take advantage of all the discounts & perks. They don't off-set the downside.

 

[windjammer]

Here's some replacement options for Ford. Make sure HID is legal in your state.

Ford HID kit & Ford Xenon Kits

Barb.....do you have any idea the cost of the kit and instalation..? I would have to have it done..

 

[jag312]

Apparently the standard buld for road use has a 55 Watt low beam and a 60 Watt high beam. I'm replacing the bulbs with a Zenon set that I bought from England that has a 80 Watt low beam and a 100 Watt high beam. The bulbs haven't arrived yet, but when they do, they just plug in. I'm waiting to see what kind of improvement they will be.

 

[BarbC]

Barb.....do you have any idea the cost of the kit and instalation..? I would have to have it done..

I don't know what a local shop would charge you for installation. I'd ask a shop I trusted. It looks pretty much an easy swap-out that wouldn't take a competent mechanic more than an hour.

 

[sar4937]

You might want to make sure individual parts are available if you were to get in an accident. Your insurance may only repair back to oem. High output bulbs would be the most cost effective, make sure the lenses are clear, and have the headlamps aligned (and maybe even aimed out a bit farther) Some lamp assemblies have spirit levels and graduations, and you could adjust them to shine out a bit farther yourself. Make sure you know which screw to turn

 

[Cyrano]

I'm 76. Haven't had any problems yet with my Chrysler.

 

[windjammer]

Just saw on the local morning news......Blue tinted headlights are illegal in parts of Tennessee. To be used by law enforcement only.

Can result in a $250 fine.

THP To Give $250 Ticket For Blue Headlights - Automotive News Story - WSMV Nashville

 

[BarbC]

But - what about brighter white? The 6000K kit is truer color.

http://www.carhidkits.com/xenon-hid-kit-99/6000k-hid-kit-183.html

 

[zercool]

My truck (07 Nissan) came with halogens from the factory. I promptly replaced those with Sylvania SilverStars, which I've used in four different cars now, always with excellent results. Better throw and definition.

The last set of bulbs I got, the guy at the parts store pointed me at another brand which he said were better than the Sylvanias. Hella, I think they are. I hate them. Color isn't as good, throw isn't as good, beam quality isn't as good. I'm eagerly awaiting the day one of them will burn out so I can go back to my SilverStars. I'm too cheap to do it before one burns out.

I *think* Sylvania makes SilverStars in a sealed-beam lamp as well.

Beyond that, an HID upgrade is your best bet, but is probably going to be a high-3 or 4-figure expense.

 

[jag312]

The 100 Watt "Ultra Zenon" bulbs that I ordered from England have arrived. I just put them in. A really big improvement. They have a very pure white light, and they are very bright. I like them.

 

[JOliver]

The Ford headlights have been a problem for awhile..they just arent bright enough.The relay suggested with an upgraded bulb is a great choice as the HID conversion.
To the OP ...Keep in mind the newer cars central lighting system runs THRU a LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE that is located under the dash and is a small processor for the lights and controls on the car/truck if you go to a "better bulb" the silverstars are SAFE but if you go with a bulb thats super stout like 100 watts ...You'll run the chance of melting wires and blowing the control module ...then you will have another set of problems..the control module is about 200 bucks...trust me I know
I ran a garage that seviced many Crown Vics(Sheriff Dept) and we smoked a few to find out.

 

[Lomax Anderson]

If you can't see with the stock lights ...don't drive at night!

All you people with these fancy blinding lights ...I hate them lights...might help you to see but it blinds the rest of us