Bright headlight bulbs.

[phiferpharm]

Having more than a few miles under my belt and with very few deer strikes, I agree with the low beams. Besides, I cannot be bothered to be switching back and forth all the time. My wife bugs me all the time at night with "how can you see with those low beams"?

Really amazes me when I see people running improperly adjusted driving lights or even driving lights at all during a snow storm because of all the reflection.

Running driving lights constantly is one thing but what bugs me is when one of these idiots is up my butt behind me and too ignorant to turn them off.

Most of the factory drivng lights (Dodge Ram especially) are mounted way to high for highway use. To be effective under conditions where they really should be used, the lights need to be mounted way down low. And properly aimed of course.

Yup on both your points. I actually would prefer to swap out the driving lights for yellow beams- it seems to be foggy here almost every night and since I live about 18 miles out of town, I'm usually more likely to see critters than other cars.

I had someone running up my rear last week and I was doing 4-5 mph over the speed limit, then backed down to try to encourage him to pass. No-go, he wanted to run on my butt.

After 10 minutes of this stuff, a Sheriff passed us going the other way. Next thing I see is blue lights behind Mr. Pickup truck behind me. Sheriff seemed to want to speak to him... I just motored on home. Hope he had a nice evening

 

[CHDinCT]

I have to say the lack of brightness for either the low or high beams is one of the few disappointments in my '10 F-150. Looked at those Sylvania Ultra's a few months back but the disclaimer on limited life expectancy put me off. Don't recall what it said exactly but it gave me the impression they could go out after a year or so depending on use. At $45-$50 per pair, they should last for years.

The other problem is that Ford decided you don't need instrument lights unless your headlights are on, so I run with my headlights on almost all the time so I can see the instruments. Every other vehicle I've owned had the instrument lights on as soon as you turn the key, and brighter during the day, dimming down when the headlights are turned on. Really can't figure you what Ford was thinking there. Anyway the point is I run with my headlights on 99% of the time so I wonder how long the Ultras would last. Anyone with them have a bad experience on longevity?

 

[tcartwri]

I have a serious hatred for those HIDs.

They're on the same level as fart cans and formula one wings.

 

[phiferpharm]

I have to say the lack of brightness for either the low or high beams is one of the few disappointments in my '10 F-150. Looked at those Sylvania Ultra's a few months back but the disclaimer on limited life expectancy put me off. Don't recall what it said exactly but it gave me the impression they could go out after a year or so depending on use. At $45-$50 per pair, they should last for years.

The other problem is that Ford decided you don't need instrument lights unless your headlights are on, so I run with my headlights on almost all the time so I can see the instruments. Every other vehicle I've owned had the instrument lights on as soon as you turn the key, and brighter during the day, dimming down when the headlights are turned on. Really can't figure you what Ford was thinking there. Anyway the point is I run with my headlights on 99% of the time so I wonder how long the Ultras would last. Anyone with them have a bad experience on longevity?

I went through two sets in my Avalanche in 5 years of use. They do burn out more quickly than standard bulbs I think.

 

[JimRB]

How old are you or what kind of cars do you own? I never owned a vehicle that had the instrument panel lit until I pulled or twisted the light knob. Of course I have limited experience with vehicles as I buy them and they die 20 years later. I do rent a car on vacation and never saw one with instrument lights that turned on with the ignition. Maybe the $20,000 retail rental cars don't have fancy stuff beyond power windows.

Every vehicle I have owned has 3 positions for the light switch. Off, running lights and headlights with running lights. Well not totally true as the VW originally had 2 positions but I swapped out that switch for a European style switch with 3 positions.

My VW tends to blow headlamps every 30-40,000 miles. It has daytime running lights. I suspect the lamps would last longer if they were not on as I don't drive that much in the dark.

I have to say the lack of brightness for either the low or high beams is one of the few disappointments in my '10 F-150. Looked at those Sylvania Ultra's a few months back but the disclaimer on limited life expectancy put me off. Don't recall what it said exactly but it gave me the impression they could go out after a year or so depending on use. At $45-$50 per pair, they should last for years.

The other problem is that Ford decided you don't need instrument lights unless your headlights are on, so I run with my headlights on almost all the time so I can see the instruments. Every other vehicle I've owned had the instrument lights on as soon as you turn the key, and brighter during the day, dimming down when the headlights are turned on. Really can't figure you what Ford was thinking there. Anyway the point is I run with my headlights on 99% of the time so I wonder how long the Ultras would last. Anyone with them have a bad experience on longevity?

 

[CHDinCT]

How old are you or what kind of cars do you own? I never owned a vehicle that had the instrument panel lit until I pulled or twisted the light knob. Of course I have limited experience with vehicles as I buy them and they die 20 years later. I do rent a car on vacation and never saw one with instrument lights that turned on with the ignition. Maybe the $20,000 retail rental cars don't have fancy stuff beyond power windows.

Every vehicle I have owned has 3 positions for the light switch. Off, running lights and headlights with running lights. Well not totally true as the VW originally had 2 positions but I swapped out that switch for a European style switch with 3 positions.

My VW tends to blow headlamps every 30-40,000 miles. It has daytime running lights. I suspect the lamps would last longer if they were not on as I don't drive that much in the dark.

I'm 53 and have owned probably 10-12 cars and trucks between me and the wife. I will admit the F-150 is my first domestic vehicle since a beater Ford Ranger I had for dump runs years back (and I can't remember how that worked). Maybe it's a Japanese thing but my Toyota's, Honda's and Subaru's all lit the instrument panel with the key on. You can see all the instrument lights dim down when the headlights come on which makes sense since you don't need as much light from them at night to read them. With the F150, you can't read the speedo, tach, etc. in bright daylight especially if I'm wearing sunglasses, or on a real overcast day - again, no can see the instruments. Makes no sense to me, so I leave the headlight switch in auto and put a cloth over the light detector on the dash top to force them on.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The other problem is that Ford decided you don't need instrument lights unless your headlights are on, so I run with my headlights on almost all the time so I can see the instruments. Every other vehicle I've owned had the instrument lights on as soon as you turn the key, and brighter during the day, dimming down when the headlights are turned on. Really can't figure you what Ford was thinking there. Anyway the point is I run with my headlights on 99% of the time so I wonder how long the Ultras would last. Anyone with them have a bad experience on longevity?

I can not think of one vehicle I have had that has the instrument lights on without the headlights. I have owned 25 different vehicles from Ford, Nissan, BMW, Honda, Toyota, GMC, Dodge, Saturn, Mercury, ect.

Not sure what you have been driving but I can not say I remember any doing that???? I also rent well over 100 vehicles per year. I am a pilot and travel a lot. On my 2nd vehicle this week and will have a different one tomorrow.

Chris

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I get flashed at almost daily in my Titan. The lights are so bright in low beam everyone assumes I have my brights on. Like you said, some just have better lights then others.

Chris

I don't specifically recognize a Tundra in the dark, but in my opinion the late model Dodge trucks that almost always seem to have their Driving Lights on are extremely annoying. The fact they sit high makes it even worse.

I flick my own driving lights on / off and then bright them all the time, but seems none of them ever clue into turning off the DL's. At least on a country road maybe there is a weak argument for DL's, but on city streets with all kinds of overhead light blazing????

 

[aczlan]

I flick my own driving lights on / off and then bright them all the time, but seems none of them ever clue into turning off the DL's. At least on a country road maybe there is a weak argument for DL's, but on city streets with all kinds of overhead light blazing????

Two reasons for DRLs:
1. Insurance discount
2. They come on automatically on newer cars.
Edit: No excuse for leaving ones driving/fog lights on all of the time

Aaron Z

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Two reasons:
1. Insurance discount
2. They come on automatically on newer cars.

Aaron Z

Are we talking about the same thing? The Two Fog / Driving lights mounted in the bumper on Dodge trucks? I was not referring to Day Time Running Lights.

An insurance discount for driving with basically four bright lights? Is this something new?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I dont think CinderShnauzer is talking about fog light, instead the daytime running lights . I dont know of any car that they (fog lights, running lights whatever you call them)come on automatically. That would be a PP design if so. They really should not be on except for running in fog. I think lots of folks run them because they think they are cool and havent a clue as to what they are really for. Those guys likely run their headlights on bright in fog also.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I can not think of one vehicle I have had that has the instrument lights on without the headlights. I have owned 25 different vehicles from Ford, Nissan, BMW, Honda, Toyota, GMC, Dodge, Saturn, Mercury, ect.

Not sure what you have been driving but I can not say I remember any doing that???? I also rent well over 100 vehicles per year. I am a pilot and travel a lot. On my 2nd vehicle this week and will have a different one tomorrow.

Chris

On my 02 twin turbo Subaru Legacy the instrument lights are on all the time that the ignition is on.

 

[CHDinCT]

On my 02 twin turbo Subaru Legacy the instrument lights are on all the time that the ignition is on.

Thank you. When I bought my F-150 I checked my old Tacoma before it was condemned by Toyota and my wife's accord. Turn the key on and the instrument lights come on and radio and climate controls. Turn the headlights on and they dim down. By the way, I'm not talking about exterior daytime running lights, etc. I'm talking about interior instrument/radio/climate control lights.

Anyway, was reading reviews on the F150forum on the Sylvania Ultras and it looks like about 2 out of 3 reviews claim noticeably brighter lights with 1 out of 3 indicating no improvement. Amazon has them for $36 with free shipping so I might give 'em a try and hope they last at least 2-3 years.

 

[aczlan]

Are we talking about the same thing? The Two Fog / Driving lights mounted in the bumper on Dodge trucks? I was not referring to Day Time Running Lights.

An insurance discount for driving with basically four bright lights? Is this something new?

Sorry, I thought you were referring to daytime running lights... That is what my comment was referring to.

Aaron Z

 

[jwstewar]

Thank you. When I bought my F-150 I checked my old Tacoma before it was condemned by Toyota and my wife's accord. Turn the key on and the instrument lights come on and radio and climate controls. Turn the headlights on and they dim down. By the way, I'm not talking about exterior daytime running lights, etc. I'm talking about interior instrument/radio/climate control lights.

Anyway, was reading reviews on the F150forum on the Sylvania Ultras and it looks like about 2 out of 3 reviews claim noticeably brighter lights with 1 out of 3 indicating no improvement. Amazon has them for $36 with free shipping so I might give 'em a try and hope they last at least 2-3 years.

My 99 Silverado doesn't have the instrument lights on all the time. Neither did our '97 Accord or our 2000 Accord.

Our 2005 Chevy Trailblazer and 2008 Chevy Suburban do.

Mom's 2005 Toyota Matrix does not.

 

[dodge man]

My wifes 2011 300C has the dash lights on all the time. The design of the panel is such that you wouldn't see them if they were off.

 

[Johnp33]

Driving around with really bright head lights, out of adjustment, blinding the oncoming trafic may get you killed if the person you blind turns towards you.
I have hit a deer because of a jerk blinding me, I am not the kind of guy that woiuld find him and :thumbsup:retalliate. :thumbsup:

 

[techwrtr2]

I have to say the lack of brightness for either the low or high beams is one of the few disappointments in my '10 F-150. Looked at those Sylvania Ultra's a few months back but the disclaimer on limited life expectancy put me off. Don't recall what it said exactly but it gave me the impression they could go out after a year or so depending on use. At $45-$50 per pair, they should last for years.

The other problem is that Ford decided you don't need instrument lights unless your headlights are on, so I run with my headlights on almost all the time so I can see the instruments. Every other vehicle I've owned had the instrument lights on as soon as you turn the key, and brighter during the day, dimming down when the headlights are turned on. Really can't figure you what Ford was thinking there. Anyway the point is I run with my headlights on 99% of the time so I wonder how long the Ultras would last. Anyone with them have a bad experience on longevity?

I ran the Ultra's in my Subaru for about 6 months. And one burned out. I'd purchased them on the cheap over the internet, thought maybe they'd been rough handled. So I went to WTMart and bought another set... they lasted no longer. At the time I was driving almost a thousand miles a week and had my headlights on 99% of the time (between winter road conditions and a LONG construction season here....) I can't afford to be tossing that kind of money at bulbs every few months so I went to a more normal bulb.

As far as the other bulbs out there, HID conversions don't work properly in conventional reflectors because the HID bulb illuminates longitudinally. Conventional bulbs are side to side (look at the filament). This means the light is going in directions it's not supposed to and thus causes glare.

The best lights I've used with a conventional bulb are properly aimed e-code lights (European spec). I had them on my mid 80's VW Golf and found they outperformed most other cars far newer and far more expensive. Added them to my Cherokee, same result. Of course, technically they are not legal though they are better. Good ones have a sharp cutoff that means no blinding on low beams if aimed properly.

:2cents:

 

[CHDinCT]

I ran the Ultra's in my Subaru for about 6 months. And one burned out. I'd purchased them on the cheap over the internet, thought maybe they'd been rough handled. So I went to WTMart and bought another set... they lasted no longer. At the time I was driving almost a thousand miles a week and had my headlights on 99% of the time (between winter road conditions and a LONG construction season here....) I can't afford to be tossing that kind of money at bulbs every few months so I went to a more normal bulb.

:2cents:

Thanks for the report. Not encouraging. These days I don't do all that much driving so I may still try them. Don't feel like messing with HID retrofits, or their cost.

 

[techwrtr2]

Thanks for the report. Not encouraging. These days I don't do all that much driving so I may still try them. Don't feel like messing with HID retrofits, or their cost.

I wouldn't mess with HID retrofits either personally. I might again consider them since changing jobs, I drive 54 miles per day. Period. And during the summer months, I might not run my headlights for weeks if it's not raining. I hit a lot of construction zones in my work, not so much now.