Cortina Headlight Bulb Upgrade Advice Needed

[SmokeEm]

As title really. What are my options? I am no sparky so I don't want to take on too much but a decent low cost solution must be available? The std lights are like candles!

Anyone tried uprated bulbs etc? If so which ones?

Thanks in advance

[jpsmit]

Best and nost important thing is relays. Us the power feed in the wire harness to ryn the switch and a feed directly from battery (or solenoid) to lights. You will gat full voltage and should be ale to run halegons.

[bortaf]

What cortina ? there's 4 or 5 differant headlamps used over the years.
Mk4/5 already use halogen (appart from base and L spec Mk4s) but the relay idea is a good one as is fitting new units, the chrome will have faded by now and brand new units will make a differance, check the voltage at the plug with the lights on, any less than 12.5V think about fitting a relay, the looms get tierd after so long and resistances in solder joints and switches sstart to add up by now.
Mk 3 round?
single 7 inch, try a crystal unit
www.powerfuluk.com/products/other-vehicle-lights-headlights---crystal/crystal-halogen-headlight-conversion-ford-cortina-%28pair%29.html

twin 5 3/4 inch, one option is BMW E30 units or even the later projectors but they require mods to the backing plate mounts.

If you need just a decent main beam then fit some spots, that's basicly what ford did with the sierra, fitted headlamp units with built in extra main beam lamps.

[SmokeEm]

Sorry, MK5 Crusader. Even a bulb upgrade might do but there are so many.

[Rich]

Jan 30, 2014 14:53:11 GMT SmokeEm said:

Sorry, MK5 Crusader. Even a bulb upgrade might do but there are so many.

Thing is, if the power just isn't getting to the bulbs then upgraded bulbs won't make much or even any difference over stock..

[andyborris]

Relays will also protect the light switch from wear in the contacts, a much smaller amperage is passed through them.

And if the switches are like poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo, that's a good thing!

[bortaf]

Jan 30, 2014 14:53:11 GMT SmokeEm said:

Sorry, MK5 Crusader. Even a bulb upgrade might do but there are so many.

Doh! i should have known that i just read your other thread as well
New units can make a differance as i said, the chrome/silver piant on the reflectors fades to yellow over the years, if you upgrade the bulbs i would deffo relay the feed as there's no relay as standard even if the workshop manual says there is and the switches can suffer, they are pretty tough with standard bulbs and are not really a known weak point but the could be if over driven power wise.
Best to get a test meter on the bulb plug and see if there is a feed problem first as it's the easyest and cheapest to do, also take the earths off (inner wing just rear of the headlight near the indicator release plastic nut thingy) clean the wing and terminal and reflt with some vas to seal it up

[SmokeEm]

Jan 31, 2014 0:26:04 GMT bortaf said:

Jan 30, 2014 14:53:11 GMT SmokeEm said:

Sorry, MK5 Crusader. Even a bulb upgrade might do but there are so many.

Doh! i should have known that i just read your other thread as well
New units can make a differance as i said, the chrome/silver piant on the reflectors fades to yellow over the years, if you upgrade the bulbs i would deffo relay the feed as there's no relay as standard even if the workshop manual says there is and the switches can suffer, they are pretty tough with standard bulbs and are not really a known weak point but the could be if over driven power wise.
Best to get a test meter on the bulb plug and see if there is a feed problem first as it's the easyest and cheapest to do, also take the earths off (inner wing just rear of the headlight near the indicator release plastic nut thingy) clean the wing and terminal and reflt with some vas to seal it up

They both work ok but I was just wondering if more modern 'White' light bulbs would be worthwhile? Also, how do I relay up the feed? I've never used a relay before? What do they do & how do it?

[Rich]

Feb 3, 2014 15:53:58 GMT SmokeEm said:

Jan 31, 2014 0:26:04 GMT bortaf said:

Doh! i should have known that i just read your other thread as well
New units can make a differance as i said, the chrome/silver piant on the reflectors fades to yellow over the years, if you upgrade the bulbs i would deffo relay the feed as there's no relay as standard even if the workshop manual says there is and the switches can suffer, they are pretty tough with standard bulbs and are not really a known weak point but the could be if over driven power wise.
Best to get a test meter on the bulb plug and see if there is a feed problem first as it's the easyest and cheapest to do, also take the earths off (inner wing just rear of the headlight near the indicator release plastic nut thingy) clean the wing and terminal and reflt with some vas to seal it up

They both work ok but I was just wondering if more modern 'White' light bulbs would be worthwhile? Also, how do I relay up the feed? I've never used a relay before? What do they do &
how do it?

Google 'making relay headlight loom'. You can also buy pre-made looms on eBay to just fit without the hassle

[jim]

I know its shamelessly plugging my cortina thread but I have just updated mine to relays it cost about £15 after buying wires relays and holders and took a couple of hours to do including tea breaks

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/121379/1966-mk1-cortina-fuses-relays?page=6

[SmokeEm]

I am so confused. What is a relay & what does it do? How can fitting one improve my headlights? If they are that good, why did Ford not fit them?

[Rich]

Because nothing had relays back then. They were expensive and manufacturers used bigger wires and heavy duty switches. Those parts are now 20-30-40-50 years old in some cases. Relays bypass the high current in the circuit meaning the switches carry less load and the current has a shorter path to flow through.

But honestly, why I am typing out what this bit.ly/LMrAxO could have got you..

[insig]

If your Crusaders headlamps are original, they will have the golf ball like Tungsten bulbs in them (Crusaders don't have Halogen headlamps). These are a lower wattage than H4 halogen bulbs and don't give out as much light. You could try upgrading to Halogen headlamps (they will have the words Halogen or H4 moulded into the glass), which will improve them and you won't have to change any wiring or switches.

[djefk]

When I upgraded to halogens on my Mk 5 they were much better but still not brilliant. I would say relays sound the way to go if the car is being used a lot at night.

[bortaf]

Feb 7, 2014 20:18:33 GMT insig said:

If your Crusaders headlamps are original, they will have the golf ball like Tungsten bulbs in them (Crusaders don't have Halogen headlamps). These are a lower wattage than H4 halogen bulbs and don't give out as much light. You could try upgrading to Halogen headlamps (they will have the words Halogen or H4 moulded into the glass), which will improve them and you won't have to change any wiring or switches.

They already have halogen, they were based on the GL and every Mk4/5 appart from the base models had halogen headlamps

[insig]

I originally thought that, then after a night time trip in my newly acquired Crusader (back in 1996) I thought that the headlamps were a bit poor and removed a pair of blackened Tungsten bulbs. If you look at the Crusader brochures, they don't mention Halogen when specifying the electrics. The Crusader also got a lower output alternator.

Rob, you know me, I helped you get a Cortina from Diss a few years back.

[SmokeEm]

Right guys - Now that the car is back home with me I thought I would re-visit this area. Up until today everything you guys have said meant nothing to me at all but today I got a catalogue from Vehicle Wiring Products which explained to me in laymans terms what a relay is. Problem now is I am a bit more confused as to which type I need. It says I need to upgrade both low beam & high beam (Assuming my car has NO relays) A web page I found said I would need 4no 4pin relays, 2 for each light (hi/lo) I also found how to wire it up & I was comfortable until I started reading about 5pins & I am more confused than ever! Something about 'Make & Break' Would a 5pin type eliminate me needing 2 each side? If so which 5 pin? Also, how do I waterproof them as I don't fancy sticking them inside a take away container on the inner wing as one site suggested!! Sorry for the questions but I am confused

[stealthstylz]

Just bung a cheap Chinese bi-xenon HID kit in. Can get em for about 30 quid now and its all plug and play.

[colnerov]

Hi, don't worry about the 5 pin 'make and break' relays they aren't really suitable in this situation. You can use four relays but it is a bit overkill, I would suggest two relays one for each circuit on one side of the car and run cables over to the other headlight. As far as HID kits are concerned, standard headlights have reflectors and glasses that gather and focus light from a filament of a given size. An HID light source is bigger so you end up with a lot of light scatter thus negating the effect. HID only work properly if in a specifically designed light unit. Most complaints about HID,s being dazzling to oncoming traffic is because of this.

Colin

[SmokeEm]

Mr Colnerov - Does running the cables from the 2no 4 pin relays on one side to the other defeat the object? i.e. shortest run from relay? Would doing that not make one side brighter than the other?