E-Series VansTechnical discussion of topics related to vans powered by any of the Navistar engines. This covers a broad number of years, but there isn't enough demand to split it any further.
Greetings Gang:
My day starts rather early, Some times I roll out at 0330 in the AM.
My route to work takes me through what is left of the wooded area's in New Jersey.
I'm Rolling in a 03 E-350 Chateau PSD.
During this 45 min. drive in the dark, It seem's the headlights on low beam are not as bright as they should or could be, The high beams are not much better.
Question:
What is the best way to attack this problem??
Is there a HIGHER OUTPUT replacement bulb I can use that will not burn out the wiring or couse some other electrical problem?
Has anyone else noted this lack of light problem??
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2003 E-350 Chateau Wagon, 7.3 PSD, 3:55LSD, Sirius Satellite Radio.
Retired USMC
You Don't Always Get What You Won't, But If You Try, Sometime's, You Just Might Find, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED
For starters I would get a wire harness from suvlights.com, I just put one of the sets in that is for the 9007 lights for my mine, and for me it looks like it realy helped out in the lighting . the lights the silver stars are brighter, also look in to doing a relay so that the lows are on at the same time the highs are on, think that you will like what it does.
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The van is back..........(song of elton john... the B.... is back....)
But boy does it need that program.......
Perhaps I should ask the question another way.
Is there a BULB type unit, Halagen or Zion, that will improve lighting with out replacing wiring harness's and all that stuff??
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2003 E-350 Chateau Wagon, 7.3 PSD, 3:55LSD, Sirius Satellite Radio.
Retired USMC
You Don't Always Get What You Won't, But If You Try, Sometime's, You Just Might Find, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED
Just adding the mod of having the low beams stay on with the high beams makes a world of difference. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]
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~ Pete ~
1999 E-350 PSD - Super duty cargo - 3.55 LS...Bilsteins, dual alternators, all power...125K miles - now with a new Jasper trans and torque convertor.
My 03 chateau low beams seem to be fairly decent. Nothing like the highs, but way better than the 90 I was previously driving even with new halogens. Maybe you could check the adjustment of the lights and make sure they are correct. If they are off, it sure can look dark on low beam. Hotter bulbs may require heavier wiring, no way around it. HID lamps sure would be great but I would be willing to bet you wouldn't make alot of friends in cars on the road.
How many deer do you see going through the Pine Barons at that time of the day?
Funny you ask Dave [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
I see quite a few.....I have "Deer Alart" ultra sound devices gluded on the bumper of my Van, Seems to keep them away. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
However, The truck I drive @ work, Ford CF-8000(Heavy)twin scrow, I have hit 3 deer so far this year. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
They come in @ the Pass side, side of the truck & do little damage.....Just that the twin screws & the DOT bumper makes hamburger of them & unfit to recover. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
The bigest hassel is when the gut gets tied up on the drive shaft, and at the end of the day I must cut it out before I go home. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sick.gif[/img]
I have had the same truck 5 yrs now, I think the "Body Count" is 9 or so. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
My route of march is through Rutgers Game Park twice a day....."Now you know the rest of the story" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]
I understand Rutgers has a few law suite pending with respect too the Deer problem in that area, One person was killed as a result of a deer joining a woman in the front seat of her car while she was on her way through the area....I hate it when Deer try to drive. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
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2003 E-350 Chateau Wagon, 7.3 PSD, 3:55LSD, Sirius Satellite Radio.
Retired USMC
You Don't Always Get What You Won't, But If You Try, Sometime's, You Just Might Find, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED
That's strange buster. I hit two deer in my older Ford vans(gassers) but they seem to run from this diesel one. I don't know if it's the turbo whining or the clatter of the diesel engine. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
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~ Pete ~
1999 E-350 PSD - Super duty cargo - 3.55 LS...Bilsteins, dual alternators, all power...125K miles - now with a new Jasper trans and torque convertor.
Hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
I still working on the headlight thing. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img]
Comming home from my Daughter's home & Thanksgiving dinner I noted that the headlight realy Suck. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]
I had Dayton Ford check the headlight adjustment on Sat......It's O.K.
The service writer said I'm not the only person with negitive comments on the headlight subject. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
Correct me if I'm wrong, Is there not a DOT standard with respect to the amount of candel power put out on Auto headlight's??? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
I just looked at this HID web-site.......Nice idea, BUT I'm not going to spend that sort of money on headlight. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]
Has anyone more/better ideas on this subject??? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]
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2003 E-350 Chateau Wagon, 7.3 PSD, 3:55LSD, Sirius Satellite Radio.
Retired USMC
You Don't Always Get What You Won't, But If You Try, Sometime's, You Just Might Find, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED
Light output has to be between 850 and 1150 lumens i believe. The van headlights must be right on the lower bounds cause they do really suck. As for the HIDS everyone is always saying their a bad idea because you can't get the beam pattern working right, but i dunno, i still want to give em a try. I found a site that claims that have done the best you can do with the beam pattern and they also have high and low beam HIDS which is good.
After researching the lighting question for my other vehicle I found out that the big problem is the DOT standards. Apparently the DOT light pattern is designed to illuminate overhead signs. Because of this, they limit the light output so as not to blind oncoming cars.
The European spec has a different pattern that enables the use of much brighter lights without bothering oncoming traffic.
The euro-spec lights are legal in every part of the world except the USA.
I always figure if you have enough light and it's not in other people's faces the light bouncing off the road should be sufficient to light up road signs. If not... i guess I'll just have to look cool and not see road signs, [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I use some "for off road use only" 100/80w 9007 bulbs from JC Whitney in both vans. I did have one socket melt, I suspected it was caused by the higher wattage, but if the sockets can handle both high and low beams on at the same time then I don't see why it would melt with these bulbs. I cut it off and spliced a new one on, used dielectric grease and haven't had any other trouble. They do not last as long as the stock 65/55w bulbs (I always carry a spare). I think I will try a harness from suvlights.com with a dot bulb and or the current bulbs. Tony
There were some discussions on melting sockets in another forum an this site. You can search for it or what they did is go to a NAPA parts place and they have heavier duty replacement sockets. Using the high temperature dielectric grease is a good idea. It will resist corrosion and let them run cooler. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
- [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] - Ed
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<font color="red">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~</font> SMILES and the best to all**Ed-<font color="red">RETIRED</font>**OINKING-BILGE-RAT <font color="red">FREEDOM IS NOT FREE ! ! !</font>
2005 LTD. X PSD 2WD FIBERGLASS RUNNINGBOARDS; SUNVISOR: REAR DEFLECTOR
<font color="00FF00">BENEFACTOR**<font color="red">NRA</font>**<font color="red">LIFER</font>**<font color="red">TX.ST.RIFLE ASSOC</font>**<font color="red">GOA</font>**<font color="00FF00">MEMBER</font>**<font color="00FF00">NRA/ILA</font>**<font color="red"> I VOTE ! DO YOU ? </font>**QUACK*QUACK ! ! !
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