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One-eyed monster: sealed beam question

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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 10:49 AM
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One-eyed monster: sealed beam question

I have sealed beam headlights. Passenger's side low beam doesn't work, be it with the daytime running lights, or turning it on with the stock. The high beams do though. In a sealed beam, there are two filaments are there not? Is it possible the filament for the low beam is burned out and the other is fine or is it most likely an electrical problem somewhere in the bowels of the steering column?
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 10:53 AM
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Yes there are two fillaments. Your low beam is just burned out, so replace the headlight.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 11:14 AM
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Dc is right it is time to replace. But FYI the bulb on the inside of a sealed beam is very similar in shape just smaller than the 9004/H4. I thought that was funny long prongs extend from the bulb that go through the rear of the sealed beam to plug into the headlight harness.

Its worth the upgrade to convert.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 11:29 AM
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I deffinately suggest upgraded to an H4 head light as well!

used to have an H4 conversion. got into a wreck. truck got fixxed with sealed beam headlights. i hate them. you get way more light with an H4 set up.

i'll be doing one again but will be getting an HID kit along with it.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 12:14 PM
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I just paid tuition. I'm going to have to be satisfied with "upgrading" to a working headlight for now.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 12:36 PM
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see my ebay h4 conversion thread well worth the 40 bucks
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 01:26 PM
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I got some used headlamps you can have if you want.

If you're looking for an upgrade, get the Hella H4 conversion, and put in a set of headlamp relays. Hella 72200 retails for around $120.

IMO, get the Hellas, or stick with stock type but go Halogen. Anything else isn't really a good value.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:31 PM
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From: Enterprise, AL
Dude school first. Stick with it. If money's tight get whatever keeps you legal and safe. Don't drive like a bat out of hades.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 86tuning
I got some used headlamps you can have if you want.

If you're looking for an upgrade, get the Hella H4 conversion, and put in a set of headlamp relays. Hella 72200 retails for around $120.

IMO, get the Hellas, or stick with stock type but go Halogen. Anything else isn't really a good value.
PM sent

Originally Posted by muddpigg
Dude school first. Stick with it. If money's tight get whatever keeps you legal and safe. Don't drive like a bat out of hades.
Yep, school first. I get a pay check in a this Friday, so I might hold out til then. I've got fog lights so I'm running those as well all the time now. Should keep me visible.

Last edited by Matt16; Jan 4, 2009 at 10:38 PM.
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Old Jan 4, 2009 | 11:40 PM
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I think your up in Canada? I can't recall

but around here you get pulled over real quick when a headlights out. They're super cheap, I keep a spare one in my toolbox after I had one burn out in Seattle right as I was heading home to Olympia (hour drive) at 1am on a Saturday night (sunday morning) got pulled over 10 minutes from home by an ahole cop

so im prepared now never to deal with an ahole cop at 2am in the morning over a STUPID burnt out headlight.

=)
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 02:21 AM
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Originally Posted by drew303
I think your up in Canada? I can't recall

but around here you get pulled over real quick when a headlights out. They're super cheap, I keep a spare one in my toolbox after I had one burn out in Seattle right as I was heading home to Olympia (hour drive) at 1am on a Saturday night (sunday morning) got pulled over 10 minutes from home by an ahole cop

so im prepared now never to deal with an ahole cop at 2am in the morning over a STUPID burnt out headlight.

=)
Yes, Vancouver.

"Thanks officer for pointing it out, I'll get right on that."
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 11:16 AM
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if you can afford it Matt, go with the hella e-codes. They are the best 200mm style light I have ever seen.

the pattern is beautiful, output is awsume! Screw sealed beam!! Get a light that had some actual R&D put into the lense...
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 01:00 PM
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my 83 has 2 fuses for the headlights. highs worked but lows one was dim. replaced the light and same thing. looked at the fuses and one was dead. it might be something else to take a look at. I don't know if they are still like that or when they changed, but just something else to check.
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Bru
my 83 has 2 fuses for the headlights. highs worked but lows one was dim. replaced the light and same thing. looked at the fuses and one was dead. it might be something else to take a look at. I don't know if they are still like that or when they changed, but just something else to check.
Interesting. I'll look into that, I honestly can't remember if I have or have not seen such a fuse.
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 01:37 PM
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I got two silver stars for christmas last year. Had them on my truck for 3 months, and they both went out 2 weeks apart. Low beam completely went out...and replaced them with cheap lights. Works fine. But your low beam is burnt out
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 03:45 PM
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I've heard silverstars are great while the last, but they don't.
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 04:28 PM
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From: chippawa niagara falls ontario
non of my gen2 runners or surf have sealed beams.. they all take light bulbs..

i think im parting a runner so i might have a pair up for sale soon
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 06:15 PM
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From: seattle WA
i bought a set of "nighthawks" by gm i think, and they are great...(but so are all new bulbs).
i got em at fred meyer/ walmart for about 9 bucks each.

i would also recomend aiming them too...

but as above, if you live near SEattle, i have an extra one you can just have...(i keep for a spare, but have 2 now)...
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 91Toyota
I got two silver stars for christmas last year. Had them on my truck for 3 months, and they both went out 2 weeks apart. Low beam completely went out...and replaced them with cheap lights. Works fine. But your low beam is burnt out
Two common problems of premature halogen bulb failures are getting fingerprints on the bulbs while installing them (that makes dark spots on the bulb that overheat and burn out - i.e. do not touch the bulbs with your bare hands/fingers/etc.) and running with insufficient voltage at the bulb due to inadequate headlight wiring. Halogen type bulbs must get above a certain operating temperature (about 750F) in order for their internal halogen gas-tungsten vapor reaction to take place. If they don't get to that operating temperature, your fancy halogen bulb works more like an old fashioned flash bulb (i.e. they burn out very fast).
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Old Jan 5, 2009 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 4Crawler
Halogen type bulbs must get above a certain operating temperature (about 750F) in order for their internal halogen gas-tungsten vapor reaction to take place. If they don't get to that operating temperature, your fancy halogen bulb works more like an old fashioned flash bulb (i.e. they burn out very fast).
Didn't know that about temp thanks.
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