Replacing stock headlights?

[Bobelvago]

Hello, I was wondering if it was possible to replace stock headlight bulbs in a 1997 Camry that isn't HID. I am looking for white bulbs because I do not like night driving and stock lights are terribly dim.

What do I look for?

[iovaykind]

Search. There's plenty of threads on upgrading the crappy headlights.

[P3VZ]

yeah, im look for some new lights too, i think you can get white halogen bulbs that would work with the stock housing and is way better than the dim yellow light.

[Bobelvago]

Yah that's what I'm looking for, white halogen bulbs really.

I don't want silverstar bulbs, isn't it like 50 for a pair? I'm looking for something quick and cheap (under 20 really).

I don't know what to get, should I just drive by Autozone or Autobarn or whatever?

Something like this http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=778466_0_0_

I got to find out how many watts can be in the bulb for the camry

[Vooduguru]

You get what you pay for.

[Bobelvago]

That's true, but I'm sure anything is a bit brighter/nicer than stock, no?

[Vooduguru]

How cloudy are your lenses?

[Bobelvago]

Originally Posted by Vooduguru

How cloudy are your lenses?

Somewhat in the middle, I can see through them but they are nothing like the high beam lenses. Are they supposed to be identical or are the headlight lens supposed to be a bit more dull?

I used the toothpaste trick it somewhat worked...not really.

[Vooduguru]

Go to Oreily's or Kragen or some auto parts store. Meguiars makes a lens cleaner/polish. Start there. Follow the instructions.

The bottle will look suspiciously like this

[Bobelvago]

So therefore, the lights are good for night driving, but the lenses are the problem?

Do you need a drill for this or how does this work? *googles*

It's $25 at autozone, is that the price it goes for?

[iovaykind]

Don't waste your money on those kits. Just get rubbing compound, and a polishing compound.. use the rubbing compound first, then polishing compound to get rid of the scratches. I even waxed mine, but I don't like it waxed anymore, so I finish off with polishing compound, good as new. Use something like an orbital sander with cloth for best results

[Bobelvago]

Well, are the high beam lenses on the side supposed to be identical to the headlight ones? Because mine are clear...just dull/dim? I guess that's my question for now because I really don't know if it's just the bulbs or not, it's a 13 year old car, I'm sure they were never replaced because the owner barely touched the car.

[Vooduguru]

Originally Posted by iovaykind

Don't waste your money on those kits. Just get rubbing compound, and a polishing compound.. use the rubbing compound first, then polishing compound to get rid of the scratches. I even waxed mine, but I don't like it waxed anymore, so I finish off with polishing compound, good as new. Use something like an orbital sander with cloth for best results

A somewhat good quality rubbing compound bottle is about 8 bucks, then a good polish compound is about 8-10 bucks, then the tools needed to buff and polish, looks like it's 6 in one hand, 1/2 a dozen in the other.

[Bobelvago]

Well this is what mine currently looks like (this pic is old, it was right after I did the toothpaste trick a week ago):

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4879/lensb.png

It's still dim looking but you can see through it at least...so I don't think it's the lens but the bulbs themself.

[Vooduguru]

The bulbs are made of glass. So they're not going to get dim, unless you're not getting the correct amount of power to the headlight itself. The bezel could use an actual polishing, but if they're still dim, hook up a volt meter, and check it against what the output should be. You could have a bad ground somewhere, or a somewhat weak battery, or perhaps your alternator isn't pumping out enough amps.