Fiber optics seem dim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Fiber optics seem dim
Hey Guys
Never had the fiber optics in the car when I got it so I never real saw them to begin with or in a working car for that matter.
All new stuff in my fiber optics (harnesses, console parts, everything is in place and setup). Just old headlights. But they work and have the vacuum nipple on the back of the bulbs (which I cleaned).
My question I guess is were these things ever really that bright to begin with. (High beams are definitely brighter) They just seem dim at best and my guess is they were meant to really show up better a night? I have led lights in my gauges that don't dim and so that maybe causing the lackluster results.
I don't really have anything to go by and really have no way of measuring the brightness just curious what you guys experience with them is.
Never had the fiber optics in the car when I got it so I never real saw them to begin with or in a working car for that matter.
All new stuff in my fiber optics (harnesses, console parts, everything is in place and setup). Just old headlights. But they work and have the vacuum nipple on the back of the bulbs (which I cleaned).
My question I guess is were these things ever really that bright to begin with. (High beams are definitely brighter) They just seem dim at best and my guess is they were meant to really show up better a night? I have led lights in my gauges that don't dim and so that maybe causing the lackluster results.
I don't really have anything to go by and really have no way of measuring the brightness just curious what you guys experience with them is.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 778
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
mine are a "glow" not what I would call bright but one headlight optic was 1/2 as bright as the other I assume might is dirty or cut somewhere but after lots of putzing with it it is still that way.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
These are one of the gimic things I like to work on the car just like the wiper door. My car had to have these things completely resurrected so I had no previous standard to go by.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,631
From: Draper Utah
I have no problem seeing my fiber optic lights day or night. A casual glance is all that's required to see which lights are on. If you have trouble telling if they are on or not I'd say something is not right.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
The amount of light being transmitted through those F/O cables is dependent on:
How clean and clear (polished) the little plastic 'lenses' are that fit inside each bulb housing; how clean and well polished the end of the F/O cable is that fits inside those lenses and in the interior console; and whether the bulb in the (outside) light housing is correct, clean, and is still bright enough to do its job.
It's like trying to see clearly out of a dirty window. More dirt and smudges means less light gets through.
How clean and clear (polished) the little plastic 'lenses' are that fit inside each bulb housing; how clean and well polished the end of the F/O cable is that fits inside those lenses and in the interior console; and whether the bulb in the (outside) light housing is correct, clean, and is still bright enough to do its job.
It's like trying to see clearly out of a dirty window. More dirt and smudges means less light gets through.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Txs guys... I know this is a hard one to put a standard to as there is no way to measure it. However, if you guys can truly see yours in the daylight with the top down then I must needs some new headlights or something.
Maybe my old bulbs are just that. Txs for the input.
Maybe my old bulbs are just that. Txs for the input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
You could have a few potential issues. First I would make sure the ends of the harness are clean where they attach to the headlight bulbs. If you have issues with all of them check all the bulb connections to make sure they are clean and properly attached.
For the front headlights there are also some small rubber pieces that go between the bulb and harness. You also need the correct bulbs with a sealed glass tube on the back. New halogen bulbs have no provision to transfer light.
If both of those items I mentioned first are corrected and you still have issues you could have a broken harness.
For the front headlights there are also some small rubber pieces that go between the bulb and harness. You also need the correct bulbs with a sealed glass tube on the back. New halogen bulbs have no provision to transfer light.
If both of those items I mentioned first are corrected and you still have issues you could have a broken harness.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
You could have a few potential issues. First I would make sure the ends of the harness are clean where they attach to the headlight bulbs. If you have issues with all of them check all the bulb connections to make sure they are clean and properly attached. For the front headlights there are also some small rubber pieces that go between the bulb and harness. You also need the correct bulbs with a sealed glass tube on the back. New halogen bulbs have no provision to transfer light. If both of those items I mentioned first are corrected and you still have issues you could have a broken harness.
All my harnesses are new as well as all the fiber components . A pen light makes them show bright... Seems the old headlights just aren't up to the task.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I can't find the same Wagner bulbs that you converted with fiber... All I get are full glass sealed beams can't find the wagners with the adapted bulb like yours.
All my harnesses are new as well as all the fiber components . A pen light makes them show bright... Seems the old headlights just aren't up to the task.
All my harnesses are new as well as all the fiber components . A pen light makes them show bright... Seems the old headlights just aren't up to the task.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Some PO put 4000's in the low beams (which I believe have a higher wattage element than the 5006 but not sure if that the low or high element) .. but they have the 3/8" long glass vacuum seal nipple on them... i cleaned them real good. I don't have the foam rubber jobs on there but instead put my own 7/16" vacuum hose adapters on. Cant see them being any worse then those foam jobs plus they cant fold in on themselves or crush easy. Black really doesnt conduct light my guess is they are more to keep the fiber and glass nipple clean?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
They were used to stop the light coming out the sides and increase the brightness coming out the back of the nipple. The 4000 bulbs would be the ones to have, but are hard to find. I modified the halogens because finding 4000s was hard.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
Whatever headlamp bulbs you are using must have a way for light to escape at the rear of the bulb at the socket. The F/O cable is inserted in that socket along with the power wires, and some light must be directed at the end of the F/O cable for light to be transmitted to the console display.
That little black tube that fits between the lamp surface and the power plug is important also. It does keep dirt out, but also eliminates external light from being picked up. Mine were gone, so I used some large diameter black shrink tubing pieces to substitute for the factory pieces. Worked fine.
That little black tube that fits between the lamp surface and the power plug is important also. It does keep dirt out, but also eliminates external light from being picked up. Mine were gone, so I used some large diameter black shrink tubing pieces to substitute for the factory pieces. Worked fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
As 7T1vette stated, you should have a rubber tube to seal the headlight glass nipple. It should not be foam rubber. In the past, I remember having to scrape the end of that nipple clean on a new lamp, to make it work correctly. The bulb had some sort of coating on it, from manufacturing. Lou.