Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
07-04-2007, 09:54 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
A bad headlight wire connection will usually give off heat.
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:54 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
A bad headlight wire connection will usually give off heat.
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:54 AM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
A bad headlight wire connection will usually give off heat.
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
I have seen a lot of bad headlight switches in later Jeeps that caused
dimming. These switches got physically hot, so you can carefully feel
the switch when the lights have been on for a while.
Same for the main wire connections on the lights like Scott mentioned.
They will be hot if they are a bad connection.
Had one bad connection in a TJ that the dealer couldn't find after
several trips and diagnosed a bad computer so the gent gave up and wired
the headlights direct using the stock wiring to only trigger the relays
to turn them on which is super low power. That turned his headlights a
'bright' white by giving them battery voltage and has lasted several
years. He obviously had a power issue, not a ground issue. He/we used
this link to wire the relays:
http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...osch/relay.htm
You can use a multimeter to look for voltage drops by 'walking' it
around. You take a reading on the battery positive and negative 'posts'
to see the volts, then move the negative probe to the clamp, then to the
body to see if it is the same, then to the bolt on the headlight ground
out near the fender, then the loop connector on the headlight ground to
see if you get any volt drops. If it drops say between the bolt and the
loop connector, there is a bad connection there.
You can do the same for the positive probe while leaving the negative
probe on the battery post. Even just see if there is a drop between the
battery posts and the battery cable clamps. The drop or bad
connection can be there even.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
7h95g wrote:
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:55 AM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Replacement sealed beam units?
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:55 AM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Replacement sealed beam units?
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:55 AM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Replacement sealed beam units?
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 09:55 AM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Replacement sealed beam units?
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
"7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>
> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Tony
07-04-2007, 12:24 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Yeah I vote for old Sealed Beam Headlights. I have replaced sealed beams
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>
07-04-2007, 12:24 PM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Yeah I vote for old Sealed Beam Headlights. I have replaced sealed beams
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>
07-04-2007, 12:24 PM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Solution for Dim Headlights - 97 Cherokee Sport
Yeah I vote for old Sealed Beam Headlights. I have replaced sealed beams
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>
with brighter ones and it made a remarkable improvement.
Not sure what the 1997s have. <:-)
Hook up the lights directly to a battery to see if that improves the
brightness.
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1
88 XJ 4.0 auto
"Matt Macchiarolo" <matt@nospamplease.com> wrote in message
news:Q6WdnbeCuZYTOxbbnZ2dnUVZ_qemnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Replacement sealed beam units?
>
> "7h95g" <gtrsg@fds.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns996353524CFChg789fe4f4e8com@216.168.3.44.. .
>> Can anyone suggest an inexpensive, effective remedy (that a novice could
>> install) for the really dim headlights on our 97 Cherokee Sport?
>>
>> Driving at night in rain+fog is very difficult and I don't think it's
>> because of poor headlight alignment - they're just not bright enough.
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>>
>> Tony
>
>