2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

[SIMON]

Hello Everybody,
Hopefully you all can give me a hand on what I consider a problem with my new Bird (well, new to me anyway). I just purchased a low mile 2002 T-Bird Blue bird and just drove it back from Thousand Oaks, CA to Nashville, TN. where I live. It was a 2100 mile drive and truly a great trip. It gave me a chance to bond with my new ride and it was a flawless ride, for sure. The first leg of my trip back home I drove 1400 miles straight to get to Oklahoma City to stay with family for a few days before driving the other 700 miles home. Since I drove all night the first leg of my trip I had a chance to check out how good the headlights worked and I must say I am very disappointed in the brights. The dims work great but when I use the brights they seam to be "dull" looking for lack of a better word. I could hardly see anything with them but when I changed back to the dims, they were very bright but aimed down where dims are suppose to be so I used them all night. I am getting older so on a very dark night on a winding road I really like to see up ahead of me. Some good working brights would come in handy. Anyone experience this with their T-bird? If you know of a fix without melting the plastic headlight encloseures, please share with me.
Other than that the T-bird is one fun ride and the wife and I are really enjoying it, for sure.
Thanks in Advance, Simon

[wtxbird]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Your lights need to be adjusted, plus there is a clouding problem on the inside of the assembly, that can not be cleaned on any of them. Im sure many other members will give some more info on this problem. Enjoy your new toy

[SIMON]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

There does not appear to be any clouding in the lenses. Can you adjust the brights and dims seperately cause the dims work great. I wouldn't want to re-adjust them trying to get the brights to work right. The brights seem to be adjusted properly, it's just they are not "BRIGHT". Thanks

[Leroy]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

SIMON, Check this out Ebay Item #120303890456 PIAA Xtreme White Headlights. Might be a quick fix? Leroy

[5bird7]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Simon, redbirdsal had a problem with her lights this past fall, her low beams seemed to point too high (we were driving in front of her at night & they were like high beams) and her high beams pointed to the sky and made it appear she had them on low. - do have those lights checked at night so you can see where each hit the road and follow the procedures in the manual for adjusting the lights.

you might also want to check the mounting brackets to see if those have broken.

[SIMON]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Now that may be why the dims seem to work so well and the brights not. Both could be pointing up to high which makes the dims work great but the brights could be aiming high which makes them seem dull when looking at the road. I will readjust them and see.
Thanks, Simon

[SugarDaddy]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Cracked mounting brackets for the headlights were a common problem on the 2002's. Your local dealer should be able to order replacement brackets (2003 or newer) that are stronger and less prone to breaking. You probably would want your local dealer to replace any cracked brackets.

Good Luck with your new T-Bird!

[MikeB]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

I agree with all that's been said about aiming problems, cracked light pots, etc., but I was still unhappy with my headlights. They seemed slightly yellowish and not very powerful. I purchased some Sylvania "SilverStars" (I believe) headlights and I really can see a difference with them. I also have a 2002.

[Ski]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

I don't drive at night - don't have bug juice to clean off the car that way :).

[DavidA]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Simon: I was not happy with the lights when my car was new back in 2001, so I chenged the bulbs to Sylvania Ultra-Brites. That should solve your problem for about $50.00.

[NRALifer]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

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[MikeB]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Simon: I was not happy with the lights when my car was new back in 2001, so I chenged the bulbs to Sylvania Ultra-Brites. That should solve your problem for about $50.00.

David,

This is what I was talking about in my previous post.

[DonnRic]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Just a head-up but I have a 2004 Bird and yes, the lights leave something to be desired. However, Sylvania has developed a new bulb which is only slightly less bright than the HID without the blue tint and they are a true white light. The part number from O'Reilly is
Sylvania SilverStar® zXe - Headlight

Part # 9007SZ/2BP

Line: SYL
and they can be installed without any modifications. Hope this might help you out but I didn't look at how old your post was so sorry, if I am outdated. By the way, the price at the stores is slightly less than the on-line price.

[Rondor]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

The lites on all of them leave a lot to be desired. My parking lites were really yellow compaired with head lites so I replced with a bright bulb but a little too blue for me. I will try the Sylvainia's mentiomed here in headlights as they look yellow now.
I still wish somebody like Arron would come up with a new lens with a chrome top.

[HKS]

Re: 2002 HEADLIGHTS (NOT SO GOOD)

Mine are the same way. It seems that the low beams are good for high beams. High beams just light up the trafic signs ahead. I will have to see about adjusting mine too.

HKS

P.S. Checked the brakets a long time ago. Maybe I need to check again.

Your lights need to be adjusted, plus there is a clouding problem on the inside of the assembly, that can not be cleaned on any of them. Im sure many other members will give some more info on this problem. Enjoy your new toy