# Headlights **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575 "2008-02-12T16:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ooonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a587f6/32.png) [@ooonna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ooonna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/1 "2008-02-12T16:45:34Z")
What can cause both headlights to be dim when the alternator is working properly? ---
**Author:** ![willey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@willey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willey)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/2 "2008-02-12T16:54:12Z")
Poor ground connections. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/3 "2008-02-12T16:58:51Z")
Weak Batter. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/4 "2008-02-12T17:30:51Z")
Clouded lenses. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/5 "2008-02-12T20:34:21Z")
how do you know they are dim? By “dim” do you mean they are in the low beam mode or that they are actually not as bright as they should be? How do you know the alternator is working properly? When does this occur, always? What kind of car, what year, what mileage? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/6 "2008-02-12T20:36:00Z")
I used weak batter in my pancakes this morning. Would that explain why my eyes have been half shut all day? ---
**Author:** ![ooonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a587f6/32.png) [@ooonna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ooonna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/7 "2008-02-13T14:24:00Z")
On the road both are half bright in high beam. The alternator shows about two volts higher than the battery, which is new. The alternator does not let the battery run down. This problem is all the time. Ford Ranger, 1988, 125000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![ooonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a587f6/32.png) [@ooonna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ooonna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/8 "2008-02-13T14:26:29Z")
lenses are new ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/9 "2008-02-13T14:31:27Z")
What are the voltages you are getting? Your statement is a little hard to follow. With the truck running, you should be getting 13.6V to 14.6V at the battery. ---
**Author:** ![JulioC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@JulioC](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulioC)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/10 "2008-02-13T18:39:56Z")
Hi guys! The cover of my headlights feel like sandy and blurred and I think this is the reason why the lights are not strong… Is there any way to sand them clear or do I have to change them? ---
**Author:** ![ooonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a587f6/32.png) [@ooonna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ooonna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/11 "2008-02-13T19:09:22Z")
Correct, that is what I get. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/12 "2008-02-13T19:14:06Z")
This only affects the high beams? Try disconnecting each headlight separately and see how the other light is. It sounds like they are running in series rather than parallel for some reason. Maybe a defective bulb. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/13 "2008-02-13T19:23:05Z")
OK.OK…I forgot the Y… Weak Battery. Is that better… ---
**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/14 "2008-02-13T19:58:48Z")
You can polish them clear. The more expensive way is to use a plastic polish like Meguiar’s PlastX. Just rub on with a sponge, then remove with a soft cloth. Or, the cheaper and almost as effective method is using a small amount of regular toothpaste. Just do the same thing, smear on, rub off (removal seems to work better if you use a bit of water on the lens, either spit or snow or whatever.) Just repeat whatever you do every six months or so, or as needed. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/15 "2008-02-13T22:36:52Z")
Please start a new thread for your question, rather than “hijacking” an existing thread. ---
**Author:** ![ooonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a587f6/32.png) [@ooonna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ooonna)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/16 "2008-02-14T04:34:35Z")
affects low and high beam. I tried one headlight at a time, still dim. ---
**Author:** ![pj1071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@pj1071](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pj1071)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/17 "2008-02-14T04:42:44Z")
Have you had the headlamp aim adjusted? They could be a little too high, keeping them from lighting up the road… ---
**Author:** ![JulioC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@JulioC](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulioC)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/18 "2008-02-14T13:27:17Z")
Hey VDCdriver I don’t think you are serious… at least do this to know 🙂 If you are serious I don’t have the manual that tells me the rules for this chat… We see something, we suggest if we know but if is related to our problems we take the chance to ask, why not? We are all budddies here… I wish you a great great Saint Valentain’s day! ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/19 "2008-02-14T13:50:16Z")
You’ll likely get more responses if you start your own topic with an appropriate title. It also helps to keep the original poster’s thread on topic. ---
**Author:** ![JulioC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@JulioC](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulioC)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights/10575/20 "2008-02-14T16:49:23Z")
Thanks NYBo… That makes more sense to me… I really appreciate it!