dim lights on the golf

[greenhornet]

Hi all.

Issue with the crap lights on the mark 2 golf. They are crap!!

I've heard of different ways to increase the brightness. Currently using a Jetta front which gives more brightness although not great.

matey-matey suggests surgery on the wiring loom...not sure about this as could lead to more probs.

Friend suggested a number 75 or 76 fuse into the fuse box to brighten lights. better option.

Any ideas?

Cheers

[Veedubgt18v]

there is a guy on here called rustynuts he knows the ins and outs of this!

[greenhornet]

cheers VeeDub.

[JMallows]

Let me know whether changing the fuse works, as i also am dubious about changing the original wiring too much! It would be good if there was really simple, but easy to put back to standard.

I read that it is due to a voltage drop of like 3V. Is this on all cars, or some? The voltage at my lights is 11.2 or thereabouts, but this was with the engine off, and with a battery that only has 12.3V in it anyway, is this good, bad or what?

[Dizzie]

fit crystal ones
much better.

[Blue MK2]

brighter bulbs  

[rustynuts]

Right, taken me a little while to get onto this thread. The only effective way of boosting the light output is to take a direct feed from the battery. This is done by using auto relays and using the original power cable to act as the switch. You have to cut one wire for each main and dipped beams, as they run off different circuits.

Just putting in brighter bulbs will work, however no more than the standard 60/55w units as you will put pressure on an already loaded standard wiring system. I run 130/90w bulbs and the output is excellent now.

Like it has been said, change your light units as the originals will be dirty, chipped and like mine could be suffering from condensation. So new lenses are a good idea or the crystal clear units. The original design are not the greatest for passing light anyway.

[JMallows]

Rustynuts. I think its safe to say you've done this yourself, and know a bit about it!!?! I've read differing ways to do this. Is it necesary to cut the dim dip? Have you done yours the way it outlines in matey-matey? If no, could you explain how you've done it differently. Also, to anyone, how much should the relay cost?

[Blue MK2]

just nick the relays from the scrappy

[rustynuts]

I used Matey-Matey as a guide but have used seperate relays so that each light runs off a seperate loom connection to the battery. All bits can be bought at Maplins electrical stores and the relays I bought were of the 40amp kind and are a very reasonable ?1.50 each.

The dim dip has to be disconnected, this can be done by simply disconnecting the plastic connector where the dim dip coil is located on the inner chassis rail on the drivers side.