More Than a Headlight Problem? *Resolved?*

[onetuza]

When I got my '65, two and a half years ago it had weak headlights so after quite some time, I replaced them with Sylvania H6024ST 65-watt high performance halogen sealed beams. They lasted 10 mos and blew out together. (I should mention here that this is a show car and the headlights only get used maybe a dozen times during the winter here in Florida)

I contacted Sylvania and they sent me a new pair, as they were under the one-year warranty. At the time they told me that if they didn't work for me, they had another model they'd send me. They did say that halogens have a short life, but not that short.

Well, they blew again. both together, I think when I hit the high beam switch. This time I'm over the warranty, but I plan on contacting them.

My question? Is there another factor that could be blowing these lights? The high beam switch, the relay? I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to electrics.

Is there maybe a better sealed beam headlamp you can recommend? (I don't want blue headlights.)
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When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather . . . .
Not screaming, like the other passengers in his car!

[drscope]

6 volt or has it been upgraded to 12 volt?

Dim lights are often a symptom of bad grounds. On a show car that might be as simple as paint on the grounding studs. On a "not a show car" that is often from dirt, rust or corrosion on the grounding studs.

Of course poor connections on the positive side of the circuit can also cause dim lights.

It's unusual that both times you mention both lights went at the same time. That's a little fishy and makes me question if you have some sort of voltage spike that may be overloading the bulbs.

Have you taken the bulbs out and used a couple of alligator clips to test them?

And when they blow are you loosing just the low beams or are you using the high beams as well?

Need a few more details!
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[onetuza]

[KTPhil]

First check the wiring. Make sure the three wires are in the correct pin sockets. They actually can work with them wrong, but draw too much current or seek an alternate ground path.

Another possibility is that your dimmer foot switch is bad, perhaps shorting for a brief moment, or sending current to both high and low at the same time.

A VOM can check both these possibilities out in under an hour.

[onetuza]

On a side note, I'm thinking of switching to non-sealed beams so when one blows I don't have to pull the damn bucket apart.

Something like these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002M9QJM/ref=ox...PDKIKX0DER
_________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather . . . .
Not screaming, like the other passengers in his car!

[KTPhil]

[fla2smoker]

[drscope]

For the time being I think you need to forget about replacing your headlights and figure out what the problem is! Switching out bulbs isn't going to make the problem go away.

Once you have it figured out and corrected, then go back to thinking about what bulbs to use.

Take your old bulb and look at it. There should be 3 connections on the back. One is ground, one is low beam and one is high beam. the top, or center pin is usually the ground.

use your alligator clips and test wires to your battery. Hook from that top/center connector to ground and then run a hot wire to the other connectors one at a time to see whats working.

To loose high and low on both bulbs at the same time is pretty fishy to me.

Are you running a generator or an alternator? And you didn't answer if you are still 6 volt or upgraded to 12.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[onetuza]

[fla2smoker]

Check the wiring using the diagram in the technical area.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bug_62.jpg

Trace the wires from the fuse block to both headlights. Check to make sure your fuses are rated properly as well. Sounds like the wiring is not correct to blow both lights at the same time and not the fuses.

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View my 66 build thread here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=507996

[onetuza]

[hitest]

[61SNRF]

[KTPhil]

[onetuza]

One important thing I forgot to mention is that when I originally swapped out the standard lamps for the Sylvania H6024ST 65-watt high performance halogen sealed beams, the low beams were marginally better, but the high beams were exceptional. Would this indicate something wrong with the high/low switch or relay with respect to the low beams?
_________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather . . . .
Not screaming, like the other passengers in his car!

[KTPhil]

[61SNRF]

[drscope]

65 converted to 12 volt with an alternator and blowing all 4 filaments in the headlight bulbs.

Did you by chance order your headlight bulbs by year and not by voltage?
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[onetuza]

[onetuza]

Just found this thread which may be very helpful, especially since my halogen low beams seemed dull to me:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=608076
_________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather . . . .
Not screaming, like the other passengers in his car!