dim lights

Old Feb 19, 2025 | 11:36 AM
  #1  
statusfraction's Avatar
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Default dim lights

I own a 1984 244 turbo. I've owned many 240's over the years and always transferred my hella headlights from car to car. Have owned this one since 1998. Notice recently night driving the headlights are not as bright as in the past and the indicator guage shows the voltage is close to the red. I have changed the alternator, bought a new battery, cleaned the connections throughout the headlight system, and also the tailight connections. Still the lights are nearly too dim for night driving. I understand that the lights may ask for a lot of power. Maybe it's me. I've had these lights since 1980 when they were in my new Bertone. Feedback welcome.
 

Last edited by statusfraction; Feb 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM.
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Old Feb 19, 2025 | 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by statusfraction
the indicator guage shows the voltage is close to the red.
What's the alternator charging rate (voltage) measured at the battery with your $10 volt ohmmeter? Should be about 13.4 (I seem to remember the voltmeter in my 1981 240 turbo was not accurate) - Fun car, it was a manual, I put the factory intercooler kit on and found some canadian spec large rectangular H4 headlamps!

If the charging rate is ok you might have a bad ground. The standard H4 bulb is ~55 watts, so that's only about 5 amps (each) What condition are the chrome reflectors? (had several pairs (marchals and cibies) back then that the reflectors were no longer shiny after xx years)
 
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