New member question : really poor headlights but ok on full beam !!!

[Tim bench]

Hi , I'm a new member and brought a mr2 mk1 for a bit of fun a few months ago . I have a problem with the headlights . Work fine on full beam but on normal driving they are on but are so poor I can not drive in the dark !!! I have put in decent new bulbs but no joy . I have now put in off road bulbs but still the same ! . The lenses look clear and it has just gone through the mot . Any ideas ? What are these hid kits like ?

Thanks

Tim
Leamington spa , Warwickshire .

[cabbydave]

Try wiring a relay into the dipped beam circuit of each lamp I did that on my mk1 golf and it didnt half improve it. Or buy some raybig lights

[Tim bench]

Try wiring a relay into the dipped beam circuit of each lamp I did that on my mk1 golf and it didnt half improve it. Or buy some raybig lights

Thanks v much . Ill try it .

[Ben]

Are you using the dip/full beam correctly by moving the indicator stalk back and forth while the lights are switched on? Sounds silly, but many people use the dashmounted switch thinking it controls the full beam.

Turn the lights on by flicking the switch up two notches, then move the indicator stalk back and forth to switch between full beam and dipped.

Sounds silly, but this confuses many people (including me when I first got the car!)

[coverco]

There is a difference between brought and bought, which did you do?

[Tim bench]

Thanks , The car is at the garage at the moment but I think you might be right !!!
If i remember It's dull on the first notch up and fine on the second !!! I will try it after its back from its respray .

I Bought the car by the way .....!

[cchrysos]

There is a difference between brought and bought, which did you do?

Helpful comment? Valuable comment? Which was this?

[coverco]

Helpful comment? Valuable comment? Which was this?

Helpful and valuable, it really is simple bought and brought are completely different words as the op has realised, perhaps you didn't realise that :-)

[Ben]

Thanks , The car is at the garage at the moment but I think you might be right !!!
If i remember It's dull on the first notch up and fine on the second !!! I will try it after its back from its respray .

I Bought the car by the way .....!

First notch is just the side lights ;)

[jimi]

First notch is just the side lights ;)
If he has a 1b then he will get headlights as well but only on dim (as in dim/dip) Sounds like that is what is happening, as you said he needs to go to the 2nd position and use the indicator stalk to switch between dip/full,

[Ben]

Yeah, sorry Jimi that's what I meant :)

[Tim bench]

Thats correct , I must have the b version . I presumed that when the lights went up I was on normal dip driving lights !
Thanks v much for the advice .
Spelling corrections not needed in future !!!

[jimi]

I presumed that when the lights went up I was on normal dip driving lights !

You can modify the lights to do just that http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jimilawson/Various/Headlight%20mod.htm and http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jimilawson/Various/Headlight%20mod2.htm

[muckyman]

You can modify the lights to do just that http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jimilawson/Various/Headlight%20mod.htm and http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jimilawson/Various/Headlight%20mod2.htm

I've done this on my 1B, following Jimis instructions. Great easy mod in my opinion (had hated the pop up on side lights only)