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Unhappyh with headlights

Yahoo Message Number: 14604
Hi Folks,

My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a job of lighting up the road. On high bean, more coverage is provided and is about what low beams on a car provide. I run at night on high beam and don't ever get high-beamed by on coming traffic. Aiming at the garage, the beams measure OK in vertical height when compared to the installed height. I wonder if others have a similiar experience and has anyone done any replacement or experimenting? Fred Kovol

2000 Allure 30593

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 14606
Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Folks,

My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a job

of

Quote
lighting up the road. On high bean, more coverage is provided and

is

Quote
about what low beams on a car provide. I run at night on high beam

and

Quote
don't ever get high-beamed by on coming traffic. Aiming at the

garage,

Quote
the beams measure OK in vertical height when compared to the

installed

Quote
height. I wonder if others have a similiar experience and has

anyone

Quote
done any replacement or experimenting? > Fred Kovol
2000 Allure

30593

fred Kovol, the same with my allure 2000. NO I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FINE ANYTHING BETTER. IF YOU DO PLEASE POST IT. SO WE ALL CAN SEE WHAT YOU GOT. DAN G. 2000 ALLURE 30498

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 14608
Fred, I have the very same concern. My high beams are what my low beams should be also. My headlight assembly's look a lot like late 80's Ford truck/Bronco, etc. I've been seriously considering upgraded quartz or halogen replacement bulbs in the 80/100 variety, but I need to verify the current wire size/relay capacity for the increased load. I believe stock is 55/65 watt ? I have bought upgraded PIAA bulbs for several of my cars b4. In fact, now i'm gonna make this a priority next week as the master local PIAA warehouse is about 150 feet from where I stash my Intrigue inside my warehouse, and i'll report back here on Monday night my results.

Jim 10996

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 14611
Fred,

I replaced my bulbs with some Sylvania 65W/45W bulbs that I found at Kragen. They cost me $50 or so for the pair, but now my low beams are really nice and the high beams are incredible. I also replaced my fog lights with driving lights ($25) and they are even brighter.
Give it a try. Nothing to lose.
Mike

95 Intrigue 10061

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Folks,

My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a job

of

Quote
lighting up the road. On high bean, more coverage is provided and

is

Quote
about what low beams on a car provide. I run at night on high beam

and

Quote
don't ever get high-beamed by on coming traffic. Aiming at the

garage,

Quote
the beams measure OK in vertical height when compared to the

installed

Quote
height. I wonder if others have a similiar experience and has

anyone


Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 14621
Hi Fred,

I have the same opinion. The lights are a poor design and remind me of what used to be in 60's. They are so poor that I try to avoid driving in darkness. Especially, the way I like to get off on the back roads. Trying to see a deer in time to stop would be a hazard. I am hesitant to upgrade to anything with a higher wattage until I can better understand the capability of the wiring to handle the load.

So whatever you discover, please post and share your findings. Our two coaches I think are within the same production block and I would think the systems would be alike in every respect.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Folks,

My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a job

of

Quote
lighting up the road. On high bean, more coverage is provided and

is

Quote
about what low beams on a car provide. I run at night on high beam

and

Quote
don't ever get high-beamed by on coming traffic. Aiming at the

garage,

Quote
the beams measure OK in vertical height when compared to the

installed

Quote
height. I wonder if others have a similiar experience and has

anyone

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 14624
Have the same problem with my '9 Allure--drive at night on high beam so that I can see the road ahead. I think that I will try what "faaengineer" did. Let's face it, an engineer ought to know what he is doing. ;-)

Thanks

Egon

'99 allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

- In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Hughes" wrote:

Quote
Hi Fred,

I have the same opinion. The lights are a poor design and remind

me

Quote
of what used to be in 60's. They are so poor that I try to avoid > driving in darkness. Especially, the way I like to get off on the > back roads. Trying to see a deer in time to stop would be a > hazard. I am hesitant to upgrade to anything with a higher

wattage

Quote
until I can better understand the capability of the wiring to

handle

Quote
the load.

So whatever you discover, please post and share your findings.

Our

Quote
two coaches I think are within the same production block and I

would

Quote
think the systems would be alike in every respect.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

[quote author=fredkovol"

>

> Hi Folks,

> My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a job > of

> lighting up the road. On high bean, more coverage is provided

and

Quote
is

> about what low beams on a car provide. I run at night on high

beam

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 14630
Fred,

I have a 2002 36 Allure and have the same experience with the headlights. I run at night on high beams, and it doesn't seem to bother oncoming traffic. Low beams are not sufficient with this coach at night.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff & Lisette....2002 36 Allure triple slides

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #8
Yahoo Message Number: 14632
May I ask a question on this subject. Has anyone tryed to ajusted there headlights. Mine were pointed at the ground also when I first got my coach, but then I ajusted them and have been fine.
Mac 96 Allure #30032

Jeffbec51@... wrote:

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #9
Yahoo Message Number: 14648
From: "faa_engineer" m.brundage@...>
Quote
I replaced my bulbs with some Sylvania 65W/45W bulbs that I found at > Kragen. They cost me $50 or so for the pair, but now my low beams > are really nice and the high beams are incredible. (snip)
Yes ... someone on the Subaru Outback list said the Sylvania Silverstar elements make his headlights "whiter and brighter." Clickon the following for some good headlight info:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html
And, FWIW, the Sep '04 "Motorhome" magazine had a good article on headlights and their adjustment.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #10
Yahoo Message Number: 14650
The whole deal. Mine were all rusted and busted. I found a pair that was basically the same shape as the opening in the fiberglass.
The look fine.
Mike

95 Intrigue 10061

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #11
Yahoo Message Number: 14651
I'd like to think that....but please don't ask my wife.

Mike

Quote from: Egon
Have the same problem with my '9 Allure--drive at night on high

beam

Quote
so that I can see the road ahead. I think that I will try > what "faaengineer" did. Let's face it, an engineer ought to know > what he is doing. ;-)

Thanks

Egon

'99 allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

> - In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Hughes" > wrote:
>

> Hi Fred,
>

> I have the same opinion. The lights are a poor design and

remind

Quote
me

> of what used to be in 60's. They are so poor that I try to

avoid

Quote
driving in darkness. Especially, the way I like to get off on

the

Quote
back roads. Trying to see a deer in time to stop would be a > > hazard. I am hesitant to upgrade to anything with a higher > wattage

> until I can better understand the capability of the wiring to > handle

> the load.
>

> So whatever you discover, please post and share your findings.
Our

> two coaches I think are within the same production block and I > would

> think the systems would be alike in every respect.
>

> Jim Hughes

> 2000 Allure #30511
>
>

[quote author=fredkovol"
>]
> >

> > Hi Folks,

> > My concern is the headlights on low beam do not do much of a

job

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #12
Yahoo Message Number: 14666
We had a 200 Intrigue and now a 2002 Magna. The Intrigue was really poor as far a headlights go, and was a terrifying experience driving after dark. The Magna is better, but barely ok at best. Glad for all the input and info, so I will look into some of the options mentioned. Thanks, y'all!

Bob Fuzak

2002 Magna #6148

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #13
Yahoo Message Number: 14668
Jeff....

I adjusted mine and they were still poor. They are as high as I can safely put them, and still don't do an adequate job of lighting the road as far as I am concerned. I will look into changing per the comments posted and hope that this will improve the situation. FYI.

Bob Fuzak

2002 Magna #6148

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #14
Yahoo Message Number: 14684
From: "Robert R Fuzak Sr" RFuzakSr@...>
Quote
We had a 200 Intrigue and now a 2002 Magna. The Intrigue was really poor > as far a headlights go, and was a terrifying experience driving after > dark. The Magna is better, but barely ok at best. Glad for all the input > and info, so I will look into some of the options mentioned. Thanks, > y'all!
How many with headlight complaints have looked closely at the surface of the headlight lenses to see if they're faded/crazed??? Our (admittedly much older) '98 Intrigue had terrible headlights 'til we had 'em replaced with new ones at last year's CC Rally in Tennessee and now our headlights are great. However, I'm thinking of covering 'em whenever parked to protect 'em from the sun's harmful UV rays.

BTW ... take a look at many "older" cars' headlights and you'll see that the problem is epidemic. And NHTSA doesn't seem to want to do anything about it unless they get complaints from EACH vehicle owner. Bottom line is that you can't report problems you see on others' vehicles.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #15
Yahoo Message Number: 14764
Dick....

We bought both coaches new. One was less than three months after date of manufacture, the other less than a month. This problem was present from the get-go. Perhaps my expectations are to high, but I sure don't like to drive by Braille! They really can/should provide better illumination, and should be able to do so without blinding the oncoming traffic, given today's technology. I'm still looking for a solution.

Bob Fuzak

2002 Magna #6148

Re: Unhappyh with headlights

Reply #16
Yahoo Message Number: 14805
From: "Robert R Fuzak Sr" RFuzakSr@...> (snip) > Dick....We bought both coaches new. One was less than three months after date of manufacture, the other less than a month. This problem was present from the get-go. Perhaps my expectations are to high, but I sure don't like to drive by Braille! They really can/should provide better illumination, and should be able to do so without blinding the oncoming traffic, given today's technology. I'm still looking for a solution.
Recommend using a meter to check voltage at the bulbs when lights are "on" to make sure they're receiving full voltage. I think, though, that you'll never get the same lighting affect that you do when driving the family car 'cause you're sitting much higher.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97