My Lights are S****

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Discussion

tvradict

Original Poster:

3,829 posts

281 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
quotequote all
Having done a a thousand or so miles over the last week, and driven back over night sunday from MK, I have come to one conclusion, the light on my car are the most fg pathetic lights EVER! Drving at any more than 50 on any unlit road is scarey, I can see, I find myself ducking down to try and see further! Full Beam is brilliant, Can't fault it, I can see for miles!!! But the Dipped Beam is shite!

I've checked the bulbs, they are fine, no probs there, the glass is clean, the lights are at the right height! They just don't have any power!!

Whats the best course of action?!?! New Bulbs? Which ones? New light units??

I am intending fitting either rally style lights to the bonnet above the grill or 4 Griff style Driving lamps into the Bumper just above the Number Plate (which I reckon would look very cool!)

Any one got any other suggestions/comments on how to remedy this little Ford oversight?!?!

mattjbatch

1,502 posts

278 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
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Pretend your a numpty and just leave your main beam on all the time Don't forget your front fogs aswell if you've got them!

philshort

8,293 posts

284 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
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I went with some friends to pick up their new 4.0 Chimaera at the weekend. Lynne was driving it back, with hubby Paul driving their BMW behind. Lynne was FORCED to drive on main beam down country lanes. All that we could see in front was a huge shadow cast by the BMW lights behind. This really brought home how pitiful the standard Chimaera lights are!

mtmrop

53 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
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If you're really that unhappy with your dip lights, then i'd be looking at new light units. The bulb is only part of what defines how much light you get (lumens output) - the unit shape and position controls the rest.

I'm not an expert on headlight units, but here are a couple of things to look out for:

1) Bulb separation - if there is more than one part to the headlamp unit (e.g. one section for the headlamp and one for the side lights), make sure the secions are completely sealed from each other. If they are not, you will end up with 'light bleed' between the sections. This will reduce the overall lumens output where you want it - i.e. on the road in front of you.

2) Make sure the new unit can be set to your car! Not much use getting a new unit if you can't point it in the right direction!

Hope this is some kind of help - i'm struggling to remember what the Orion headlamp units look like.

JMorgan

36,010 posts

291 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
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Check connections are sound. Fuse panel as well if you can get to it. A poor connector can cause power drop as well as heating up at the poor conection.

element

63 posts

272 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
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and make sure your battery ground is shiny clean

tvradict

Original Poster:

3,829 posts

281 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
quotequote all
quote:

and make sure your battery ground is shiny clean





Eh?

GregE240

10,857 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
quotequote all
quote:

and make sure your battery ground is shiny clean





Eh?


Stu, when are you going to use up all of those smileys off that damn site ?

Follow the black lead off your battery to where it bolts on to the bodywork. It should be nice and clean, as our man alluded to.

Failing that, why not change your bulbs ? Cheap upgrade, and could do the trick. Emma's MX-5 had crappy lights, but I bunged in a set of Xenon bulbs in, and Robert's your dad's brother Go see your spotty mate in Halfords who knows jack about petrol additives - about a tenner each for H4 bulbs.

tvradict

Original Poster:

3,829 posts

281 months

Tuesday 9th April 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Stu, when are you going to use up all of those smileys off that damn site ?


Ok Ok, I'll stop with those smiley's!

quote:

Follow the black lead off your battery to where it bolts on to the bodywork. It should be nice and clean, as our man alluded to.


Ahhhhh! Right I'll do that!

quote:

Failing that, why not change your bulbs ? Cheap upgrade, and could do the trick. Emma's MX-5 had crappy lights, but I bunged in a set of Xenon bulbs in, and Robert's your dad's brother Go see your spotty mate in Halfords who knows jack about petrol additives - about a tenner each for H4 bulbs.


HAHA! Dumb Git that he was!!!
Right, I'll do that later then!

It's wierd, I have a picture taken at dusk of the front of the car, the light are really bright, brighter than my Astra when looked at side-by-side but they light up SFA when on the road! Maybe I just drive too fast!!!!

Just looked at that picture again, they are shite! The lights on the Astra must ber really shite then!!
www.stuart.brindle.btinternet.co.uk/Orion_front

>> Edited by tvradict on Wednesday 10th April 00:57