Are my lights truly this bad, or am I being stupid?

[TobyGilden]

Right, I have been driving around with what appears to be my full beam on, and getting flashed a couple of times (not the hippy kind of flashing from camper loving girls) from disgruntled motorists.

I have 2 light settings, one is reminiscent of a distant candle light, and the other a blinding full beam. I just took the van out for a drive, down some country lanes, and the candle light didn't even light up the road a meter in front of me, so I was forced to use the blinders!

Now is it that the lenses may be out of alignment? Or are the bulbs just not up to the job?

I have found some headlight bulbs on eBay, that I was thinking of trying to overcome this problem, have many people upgraded their bulbs?

[Ralf85]

Have you got round or square headlights?

[itchyfeet]

I wonder if your high beam indicator blue bulb has gone and you are unaware you are driving on high beam
to get dip beam you usually pull the left stalk until it clicks once and you are then on dipped beam, drive up to something close and you should be able to see the difference.
Pull and click the left stalk again puts it back on high beam.

[TobyGilden]

I have got single round lenses.

On my dash I have a switch to turn the lights on, when the "full beam" is on I have a green LED light on.

I just can't believe that the main lights could be so poor

[itchyfeet]

I have got single round lenses.

On my dash I have a switch to turn the lights on, when the "full beam" is on I have a green LED light on.

I just can't believe that the main lights could be so poor

so pull and click the left stalk and the high beam light should go out then you are on dipped beam.
yes lights are poor becuase of old corroded wiring and no relays which means the main switch drops alot of voltage, have a search lots of posts on improving that.

[bernard1973]

Mine were the same, I just bought something like these - but obviously not from Halfords. Made a difference although they're still not like a modern car.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs- ... r-bulb-x-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CovKid]

This: http://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/VW ... ry_to_dash" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and that: http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff27 ... pycopy.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Plus good headlight units and better bulbs.

[itchyfeet]

Or are you saying when you dip the lights they go to sidelights?
if so something wrong with the dip beam circuit.

[Ralf85]

So round or square lights?

[Dazco]

I have got single round lenses.

Errrr I think he's got single round lenses

[Ralf85]

I have got single round lenses.

Errrr I think he's got single round lenses

Missed that!

[California Dreamin]

It would help to establish a few facts about your van...
Round lights but are they early or late (late Hella's normally say H4 printed on the lens) however, as we have learnt recently, some early H4 lamps don't actually have this mark. H4's means more powerful HALOGEN bulbs are fitted..
Early lamps used lower wattage Tungsten bulbs (round glass as apposed to bullet shaped) The later Hallogen lamps are definitely a PLUS.

But what you are describing sounds like a fault...although not up to modern standards, these lights are adequate to good (adequate for the older Tungsten rounds and good for the H4's) but the wiring and switch gear all need to be in good condition to ensure you are getting what VW intended.

If yours are H4's then fitting a pair of Osram Nightbreaker unlimited H4's which are PLUS 110% brighter than standard bulbs (if you believe the advertising) will definitely improve things...you can pick up a pair for under £12.50 delivered.
But like I said...have you got a fault...best thing to do is drop off the grille and unscrew one light, turn on the lights (engine running) and measure the voltage at the bulbs....you really should be getting over 13 volts...if not you have a wiring issue, feed or earth.

Martin

[TobyGilden]

Thank you very much for all of the help, I will do a voltage test on the lights tomorrow, the van is an 83 model, and very basic, so I'm guessing they are the earlier, not so good lights

[MidLifeCrisis]

I have got single round lenses.
On my dash I have a switch to turn the lights on, when the "full beam" is on I have a green LED light on.
I just can't believe that the main lights could be so poor

Just to clarify and make really sure we are talking about the same thing ......
.... you should have a switch like this .....

Pressing the right side of the switch fully down is lights OFF.
Press down one 'click' on the left side gives Sidelights
Press down a second click on the left side gives Main Beams
Then pulling the left stalk towards you turns High Beam on/off.

Is that how yours works?

[TobyGilden]

Yes I have the same set up, but;

1 click is candle light level (side lights)
2 clicks gives me full beam
Pulling the lever gives me the same as 2 clicks on the button

Maybe a wiring fault skipping out main beam? I have 2 different levels of lighting (dipped and full beam), rather than 3 (dipped, main beam and full beam)