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The headlights on many Corvettes all suffer from low voltage issues. If you provide the headlight with a full battery voltage they make over 30% more light. Take a peek at one of the headlights in your car and using a multi-meter measure the actual voltage at the light bulb. I have done this and seen 11 volts at the headlights on my 1968 C3. The easiest way is to have your headlight switch activate two relays that apply Full battery voltage to the headlights. It is not hard to do and is required for many headlight upgrades that require more power than our current headlights draw. I had the same issue on another vehicle and I made a beautiful harness that had the new relays installed in it. On that vehicle the headlight switch burned out often so the fix was a permanent solution.
There are so many choices out there for headlights that I have been hesitant to upgrade them. I like the new Holley L.E.D. headlights but they are close to $200 a bulb which makes a 4 headlight change VERY Expensive!
As technology changes I am sure there will be a lower cost for more light down the road.
I apologize for not having actual experience with the newer LED headlights but I thought you should know about the Corvette issue and how to get more light for very few Dollars!
Install relays and upgrade the power wires to a larger gauge to handle increased current and wire directly from a battery source as others have stated. Get that high current out of the switch. This way you can upgrade the bulbs to anything you want to a certain degree. I'm running sealed beam halogens and before I did the relay upgrade with my high beams on the overcurrent protection snap switch inside the headlamp switch would open causing my headlights to blink. Too much current!
And a 79 or at least my 79 and I pretty much had full battery voltage going to the headlights ( i think 0.3v lower) so I don’t think that’s your problem unless there’s a issue with the wires. I was surprised that when I put new headlights on that, it was significantly brighter than the old ones I replaced and there were still halogen. I would try that first. I also find when I turn the bright on it gives plenty of light, even for a car that says as low as it does. I thnk i got them at napa and were wagner.
still wouldn’t hurt to measure your voltage
Last edited by interpon; Oct 20, 2024 at 06:27 PM.
