headlight overdriven?

bcwang · 02-03-04, 01:08

Just wondering if anyone knows if it is safe to drive dual filament headlight bulbs (9003, 9007, etc...) with both filaments on for extended periods of time. Normally when switching to high beam mode, the low beam turns off. However, when flashing someone with high beams, the low beam stays on. So theoretically it's possible to leave both on simultaneously.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it's safe to operate the bulbs in this manner for extended time or if will create too much heat on them causing them to blow?

kempie · 02-03-04, 01:17

I very sure that the additional heat is going to shorten the bulb life. I have used high watt bulbs w/high power harness and they just dont last long. Heat gets them. Probably isnt too good for your mulit-function switch either.
Sounds like you may need some fog or driving lights.

gb387 · 02-03-04, 03:26

kempie is correct I too had an upgraded harness and higher watage headlights and they got very H O T at $30 everytime they burned out, 3 months or so. I went back to the stock harness and bulds not as bright but the stock bulbs lasted years not months and who knows don't want to melt the expensive headlight housing.

Another problem you might have is as kempie said it might burn up your switch or worse yet the wire harness in the car. Its a very good idea to get an "upgrade harness" or something similar if you are going to be drawing more power than the car did from the factory by having both low and high beams on. I have heard of people doing something like what you want to do.

My upgraded harness did not run through the stock headlight switch or the stock wire harness. There was a small relay the got power from the headlight switch once it was turned on and the relay then turned the headlights on and pulled power directly from the battery thus providing more voltage to the lights, more heat and more light it was nice while I had it.

bcwang · 02-03-04, 06:33

I don't care about bulb life much, even at half life it is still pretty cheap to buy new bulbs. I just don't want premature failure after 15 minutes.
I'm just afraid the bulb might blow when I'm out in the middle of nowhere. Or even worse would be the wiring catching fire.

I don't plan on running higher wattage bulbs, I just sometimes use both low and high beams to see better when driving on dark roads with no other cars.

Corey Bit Spank · 02-03-04, 06:59

my low beams stay lit when i turn on my high beams.

4DSC · 02-03-04, 09:50

I wouldn't do it for the reasons already stated by gb387. The bulbs and electrical system probably aren't designed to operate that way for extended periods, even if it is only a few minutes who knows if it's harder on the steering column contacts for instance?

Maybe look at upgraded bulbs like Silverstars - I've heard good things about those.

bcwang · 02-03-04, 10:24

I'd like to get a relay kit for 9007 headlights to solve the wiring overheating issue. Does anyone know a good kit?

However, what I still don't know is if the bulbs themselves are designed to run this way. I know some people's low beams stay on when their high beam is on, but those could be run off two separate bulbs.