# Old car and state of the art headlights

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-car-and-state-of-the-art-headlights/50355>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, toyota\
**Created:** [June 15, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-car-and-state-of-the-art-headlights/50355 "2010-06-15T06:27:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-car-and-state-of-the-art-headlights/50355/1 "2010-06-15T06:27:13Z")

</div>

I’ve been restoring my Dad’s 87 Toyota Corolla FX-16 Hatchback and I’ve hit a snag.  
  
 The problem is the headlights. I noticed the car had weak hadlights, even on high-beam setting, and so I went ahead and replaced the bulb with Sylvania Silverlight bulbs.  
  
  
  
 The bulbs work great on low setting. I czn see the road in a clear and penetrating light I have never experienced before.  
  
 But when I try the high-beams, the light actually dims, and to sub-standard levels. I can’t see twenty feet ahead.  
  
 Any ideas what is going on? thanks gg

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 10:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-car-and-state-of-the-art-headlights/50355/2 "2010-06-15T10:36:19Z")

</div>

I suspect the original problem (weak headlights), and your current problem are one in the same. I suspect there is a high resistance connection somewhere. That could be anywhere from the battery to the lights and it includes both the positive and negative wires, any relays and switches etc.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/old-car-and-state-of-the-art-headlights/50355/3 "2010-06-15T13:04:04Z")

</div>

Thanks, I thought it might be electrical too, but didn’t think to look for resistance. I even have the meter.