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Car Forum / Chrysler Cars / January 200599 Dodge Caravan-problem with very poor lit headlights.
I have a 1999 Dodge grand caravan which has very dim headlights. Anyone know how to improve the headlight quality? My other auto is a Nissian Xterra and its headlights are awesome, can see for almost a mile on dim and i cant see the lines with the dodge. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks in advance Swatmedic Yeah, these lights are very poor. I upgraded my lamps to Sylvania Xtravisions and it helped a bit but they are still sub-standard. I think they were improved starting in 2001. >I have a 1999 Dodge grand caravan which has very dim headlights. > Anyone know how to improve the headlight quality? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Swatmedic > Yeah, these lights are very poor. I upgraded my lamps to Sylvania > Xtravisions and it helped a bit but they are still sub-standard. I think [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > > > Swatmedic This is correct. The headlamps on the 1996 - 2000 minivans don't put out as much light as the previous or later models. When the van was re-designed for the 2001 model year, the headlamp size was increased. As suggested above, you can try installing the Sylvania Xtravision bulbs. They did help a little on my 1998 Dodge Stratus which has a simliar design. -Kirk Matheson Do you have a heavily tinted after-market windshield? Those will definitely attenuate the light rays. Could your eyes be dimming out on you? Once you hit 40, your peepers start to go. Could your factory windshield be pitted? In some parts of the country, a windshield can be sandblasted in 50 miles of driving. This defect will scatter light and drive you nuts. Are your headlamps getting the voltage? Put a voltmeter across the high beam contacts and run the engine in neutral. With the lights on, it should read about 13 volts or better. Are your headlamps aged? Old lamps turn dark because the filament leaves its deposits on the inner surface of the glass bulb. Are you expecting too much from your headlamps? After all they only put out about 120 watts total. Thats only twice a typical table end lamp in your home. Driving conditions have a lot to do with it. In the city, ambient light is so bright, sometimes you can't see the headlamp beam strike the road in front of you. The same lighting system on a dark, moonless night on a country road can shine a beam half a mile. Are you headlamps aimed properly? Those beams that can carry half a mile might only illuminate 100 feet if dipped down too far. Next time, buy a MacIntosh and enjoy your computing free of virus and spyware. New update, now the low beams are out, both out at once. High beams still work. The poor light has been for months so i dont know which was a sign of which. Does anyone know if both go out if one is bad? I havent checked the bulbs yet. Will in just a bit, always a pain there. > New update, now the low beams are out, both out at once. High beams > still work. The poor light has been for months so i dont know which was > a sign of which. Does anyone know if both go out if one is bad? I > havent checked the bulbs yet. Will in just a bit, always a pain there. Halogen bulbs placed in service on a common circuit at the same time tend to have VERY similar lifespans. They REALLY dropped the ball on those '96-'00 minivan headlamps; they're barely adequate even when they're both working and perfectly aimed. Scout around until you find someplace near you that sells the new GE Night Hawk bulbs; at the moment those are the best 9007s available for your van. DS |
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