By Lance Plahn, AUSTRALIA
Florence Nightingale's lamp shone brighter than the lights on a Volkswagen. How many times have you heard a statement like that? You would certainly be justified in saying that the lights on Volkswagen have attracted their fair share of criticism over the years.
Volkswagen did little to improve this problem with the fitting of 6-volt 40/45-watt bulbs. Many owners of 6-volt systems have changed to 12-volts in an attempt to improve the lighting, but there's little gain forthcoming if a standard 12-volt 45/50-watt bulb is used. There are ways to improve headlights but, firstly, to ensure that you are getting the maximum from your lights, a check of the following points would be in order (repairing or replacing where necessary):
LENSES: should be free of damage, such as stone chips. Same lens pattern on both sides. Dust-free inside and out, as dust and some types of headlamp protectors can reduce the light efficiency by up to 25%. Some lenses are marked 'top' and should be installed so that the lens pattern is in the correct position. Note: the pattern lines on the lenses govern the light pattern projected by the headlight.
REFLECTORS: when installed correctly, park light should be to the bottom of headlight bulb. Should be in a good condition, not tarnished or rusty. On 6-volt units, the paint on the metalwork (visible through the lens) between the reflector and the lens should be in good condition. If not, repaint silver. If moisture has entered the light, it may be necessary to replace the seal around the headlight glass. Note: good quality, new headlight reflectors (Bosch or Hella) have a high-gloss mirror-like finish, whereas some used and inexpensive reflectors have a dull tarnished look, resulting the poor reflection of light. Do not touch or attempt to clean headlight reflectors, as this may result in damage to reflectors.
BULBS: installed correctly, the lug on the bulb base should be fitted into the notch provided in the reflector. High and low beam should be working on both sides - if not, check the fuses, bulbs or wiring connections. Light intensity emitted should be equal both sides. With the aid of a voltmeter, check for voltage drops. Check condition of all connections, including the battery, body earth's and fuses..
ADJUSTMENT: naturally, this is of the utmost importance. Before adjusting the lights, the vehicle must be standing on level ground and approximately 5-7 metres from a vertical wall. There should be the equivalent of a driver's weight in the driver seat, the fuel tank should be half filled and the tyres should be correctly inflated. Check that the light patterns projected upon the wall are identical. If not, it may be that one of the above factors has come into play. It may simply be a case of one light on high beam, the other on low. Adjustment should be made on low beam, while covering the light not being adjusted.
After putting your lights in good working order, you may still not be happy with the level of illumination. Now, let's look at ways to improve their performance.
The fitting of halogen bulbs always brings an improvement, producing a much brighter, whiter light when compared with a standard bulb. 12-volt bulbs are available in a range of wattages from 55/65 up to 90/130, with the 90/100 proving to be a popular choice. 6-volt systems lean towards 55/60. However, if poor quality reflectors are fitted, the extra heat generated by these bulbs may cause deterioration of the reflector over a period of time. Some owners report that an extra gain with halogen bulbs can be obtained by removing the tin shields from the reflector. Indeed some H4 lights come without this shield.
Next rung on the ladder is to fit a H4 headlight conversion. A number of manufactures market 7-inch conversions for the purpose of upgrading lights and fitting requires the use of Rossi conversion headlight rims. They are available for both early (6-volt) Beetles and Kombis, or later (12-volt) Beetles, Kombis and all Type 3 vehicles. Rossi conversion for the latter are sometimes supplied with Rossi semi-sealed beams, considered to be marginally better replacements for the original lights.
If replacing Rossi beams with another brand, choose units that provide for parking lights in the reflectors. The Rossi conversion for early Beetles and Kombis has a parking light built into the bottom of the rim, which permits the fitting of a sealed beam available in either 6 or 12-volt. An added advantage is the total exclusion of water.
Those of you who travel frequently at night may discover a pressing need for additional lighting while on the highway: but that's another story.