Honda Car Forum

Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98 Rodeo.
I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still cannot
see any better at night.

I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?

Thanks.

I added a pair of Sylvania Xenarc 1010 auxiliary low beams to my '94
Civic. These are true HID lights and DOT compliant. Works really well.
See http://www.sylvania.com/xenarc/prodinfo.htm

"Mike S." wrote:
>
> Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98 Rodeo.
> I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still cannot
> see any better at night.
>
> I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
> some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
>
> Thanks.

Mike S. wrote:
> Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98 Rodeo.
> I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still cannot
> see any better at night.
>
> I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
> some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?

I know the HID replacement was suggested. However - they're rather
expensive and might not be easy to install. The cheapest legal
option would be a Sylvania XtraVision bulb, which should come in
the 9006 capsule that your car takes. It produces about 20% more
light than a standard 9006, and it uses the same 55W. Are these
the ones you installed?

<http://www.sylvania.com/auto/xtravis.htm>

BTW - even a new ordinary replacement bulb will likely be brighter
than one that's been used extensively.

Just a few clarifications. The '94 Civic takes 9003 bulbs, not 9006 (in
the US model at least). I replaced my stock 9003 with 9003XV and saw
some improvement. Just stay away from 9003ST (SilverStar). Twice the
price of XV for the same exact light output and much shorter rated life.

The Xenarc lights I mounted do not replace the stock headlights, they
are mounted in addition to the regular headlights, much like fog lights
are. And yes, quite a bit of work is involved. For one, the generic
brackets that come with the Xenracs wouldn't do on my Civic.

y_p_w wrote:
>
> Mike S. wrote:
> > Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98 Rodeo.
> > I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still cannot
> > see any better at night.
> >
> > I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
> > some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
>
> I know the HID replacement was suggested. However - they're rather
> expensive and might not be easy to install. The cheapest legal
> option would be a Sylvania XtraVision bulb, which should come in
> the 9006 capsule that your car takes. It produces about 20% more
> light than a standard 9006, and it uses the same 55W. Are these
> the ones you installed?
>
> <http://www.sylvania.com/auto/xtravis.htm>
>
> BTW - even a new ordinary replacement bulb will likely be brighter
> than one that's been used extensively.

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 04:37:41 GMT, Randolph <trash@junkmail.com> wrote:

>I added a pair of Sylvania Xenarc 1010 auxiliary low beams to my '94
>Civic. These are true HID lights and DOT compliant. Works really well.
>See http://www.sylvania.com/xenarc/prodinfo.htm

DOT compliant? I don't think so. Where the Xenarcs replace a sealed beam
they apparently conform to FMVSS; where they are added as an auxiliary
lamp, the DOT is not involved - individual states have rules which regulate
their legal use and mounting.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 03:46:59 GMT, "Mike S." <jmsjunkmail@comcast.net>
wrote:

>Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98 Rodeo.
>I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still cannot
>see any better at night.

That may just illustrate how stupid the U.S. headlamp beam aiming
regulations are: truck/SUV headlamp aim is based on beam angle and not the
distance the beam reaches... and the mount height is effectively
unregulated. This is why all us car drivers are always being blinded by
SUVs etc. BTW it also explains why so many SUV drivers use their foglamps
all the time - the stupid beam regulation, with high mount, leaves a "black
hole" right in front of the vehicle.

>I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
>some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?

My eyes have a few years on yours and I don't have a problem with the use
of a good xenon doped halogen bulb like the Sylvania Xtravisions or Philips
Hi-Visibility. You might start by checking the voltage at the bulb
connector with the lights on and the engine running. Then check the lens
and the reflector to see if either is damaged.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

I would suggest a check of the light pattern and adjust as necessary.

CaptainKrunch


"Mike S." <jmsjunkmail@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:T8gYb.201949$U%5.1107115@attbi_s03...
> Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98
Rodeo.
> I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still
cannot
> see any better at night.
>
> I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know of
> some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
>
> Thanks.
>
>

I would have to look at the lamp itself as it was 2-3 years ago. I will
check out the Sylvania XtraVision though.

Thanks!

"y_p_w" <y_p_w@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:P6iYb.7053$WW3.7038@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
>
>
> Mike S. wrote:
> > Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98
Rodeo.
> > I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still
cannot
> > see any better at night.
> >
> > I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know
of
> > some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
>
> I know the HID replacement was suggested. However - they're rather
> expensive and might not be easy to install. The cheapest legal
> option would be a Sylvania XtraVision bulb, which should come in
> the 9006 capsule that your car takes. It produces about 20% more
> light than a standard 9006, and it uses the same 55W. Are these
> the ones you installed?
>
> <http://www.sylvania.com/auto/xtravis.htm>
>
> BTW - even a new ordinary replacement bulb will likely be brighter
> than one that's been used extensively.
>

Will do - thanks, George!

"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message
news:83j330tsn9rmau9ll6l200fvinbfs0st7p@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 03:46:59 GMT, "Mike S." <jmsjunkmail@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98
Rodeo.
> >I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still
cannot
> >see any better at night.
>
> That may just illustrate how stupid the U.S. headlamp beam aiming
> regulations are: truck/SUV headlamp aim is based on beam angle and not the
> distance the beam reaches... and the mount height is effectively
> unregulated. This is why all us car drivers are always being blinded by
> SUVs etc. BTW it also explains why so many SUV drivers use their foglamps
> all the time - the stupid beam regulation, with high mount, leaves a
"black
> hole" right in front of the vehicle.
>
> >I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know
of
> >some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
>
> My eyes have a few years on yours and I don't have a problem with the use
> of a good xenon doped halogen bulb like the Sylvania Xtravisions or
Philips
> Hi-Visibility. You might start by checking the voltage at the bulb
> connector with the lights on and the engine running. Then check the lens
> and the reflector to see if either is damaged.
>
> Rgds, George Macdonald
>
> "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who,
me??

Been there, done that, at least the Honda dealer has twice indicated they
were aimed properly. I would aim them higher but it appears that a special
tool is required.

"CaptainKrunch" <nothing@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:9NOdnQBWopgL1a_dRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> I would suggest a check of the light pattern and adjust as necessary.
>
> CaptainKrunch
>
>
> "Mike S." <jmsjunkmail@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:T8gYb.201949$U%5.1107115@attbi_s03...
> > Our '94 Civic EX headlights shine about half the distance as our '98
> Rodeo.
> > I have replaced the lamps with the latest Sylvania halogens but still
> cannot
> > see any better at night.
> >
> > I know part of the problem is my 41-year old eyes, but does anyone know
of
> > some good replacement lamps or headlights for this vehicle?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>