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Messed up Headlights?

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Old 07-30-2004 | 11:40 PM
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From: Huntsville, AL
Messed up Headlights?

I was looking at the car infront of me the night I got the car and noticed that one head light looked alot brighter in color. I just ignored it for a while and then was told last night that while I drive down the street, one head light is alot brighter. I took it to the dealership to just see if it was aligned wrong. They said nothing was wrong but I took it out tonight and drove directly towards a few friends of mine and they were saying the passenger side bulb goes from bright blue to drim yellow and back again while I drive. Has anyone had something like this or is it just my bulb is going out.
Old 07-31-2004 | 06:18 AM
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Your driver side is aimed lower than the passanger side so that it does not shine into oncoming traffic, thus it will appear a different brightness when looking at both lights from the same angle/distance.
Old 07-31-2004 | 06:44 AM
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From: Vegas Baby!
Pull you'r 8 up to a wall and see if one light is low or high. You just may need to move it up a lill.
Old 07-31-2004 | 12:10 PM
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Look at Lights against garage door, it should look like this ( _____/-------). Have the car in newtral or park with engine running and race motor a little, 3000 rpm shoud be enough. If light output changes use the same method to show the dealer what is happening. Xenons due take a few seconds to stabilize if that is what you have.
Old 07-31-2004 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by ezrider55
Look at Lights against garage door, it should look like this ( _____/-------).
Correct, but to clarify for those who aren't familiar with this beam pattern..... That zigzag is on EACH light - ezrider55 isn't saying that the low portion is the left lamp and the high portion is the right lamp. Lay a heavy towel over the left and you'll see this pattern from the right lamp, and vice versa.

The zigzag is to reduce glare to oncoming cars to your left, while illuminating the shoulders/sidewalk/pedestrians/road signs to the right

That said... the left lamp SHOULD be aimed *slightly* lower than the right, to further help with the glare reduction.

Obviously, in right-hand-drive countries, the beam pattern and the explanation are reversed. The rest of the world besides the US has has this type of beam pattern all along. The DOT/NHTSA had their head firmly up thir @$$ about this issue until recently, and even so, many automakers aren't taking advantage of the improved regulations here yet.
Old 07-31-2004 | 09:12 PM
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I noticed that while i drive up a hill and look into the back of a trunk at my lights that when i first start up it the right one isnt as bright then they even out. On the straight aways the driver is noticeably brighter and bluer. Then a little later while sitting at a light to turn, I see a car comming and the headlights are messed up, looks like one is Xenon and the other isnt. As it passed, I noticed it was an rx8. Is this just something with the rx8s in general?
Old 08-01-2004 | 12:45 AM
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I havent notice this existence, however I will check. Since I m not a techican and remember even if u looked at the head light in day time u still see rainbow color with it no matter how many times I use Windex to clean it the color still there.

Please keep us inform the result.

Cheers
Old 08-01-2004 | 12:29 PM
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My lights are ah ok.
Old 08-01-2004 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by R888
u still see rainbow color with it no matter how many times I use Windex to clean it the color still there.

Please keep us inform the result.

Cheers
Don't use windex to clean clear plastic. You can claybar if you want to remove stubborn stuff or Plexus clear plastic polish the rest of the time. (Plexus is available at boating supply stores becuase it is used on plexiglass and flexible vinyl windows which boats use)

Also, don't look at the lenses while wearing polarized sunglasses or you will always be seeing rainbows.
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