[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/ac...&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=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]

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]

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. :thumbsup:

 

[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.

 

[Bobelvago]

I'm going to take a whack and say it's the bulbs, I'm sure my headlight lens are clean now, if you can see through them pretty much 100%, they should be fine...

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-9003-SU-BP-TWIN/dp/B0012ETJ1O/ref=au_pf_ss_1?ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&carId=001[/ame]

Is this what I would order? It's got great reviews, I heard Sylvania was $50 but this is only $25!

(these ain't high beams or fog lights or whatever...right?)

Or should I go with another brand or just stop at Autozone and ask which is best?

 

[Vooduguru]

Check your charging system first.

 

[Bobelvago]

Well a mechanic looked at it before I bought the car a few weeks ago and only noticed the lights now because I never really drove at night, he said everything was fine and hooked up great. So I assume it's the bulbs, I just got to figure out if 9003 is what I truly need, the sylvania site and amazon say it is...so I assume it is.

I'm just confused in the whole light bulb thing.

Is it that there are 2 bulbs, and on the bulbs, you can make 3 settings (fog, high, and normal headlights)? or does each setting have it's own bulb >_>?

 

[peshwa]

Just back from cleaning my headlights...they were as cloudy as Seattle skies..lolz...I used Sand Paper and Nu Finish Scratch Doctor and what a difference...I can at least see the bulbs from outside I replaced my 16 year old OEM bulbs with GE Halogens for $12/pair. Difference should be obvious at night though... If you want better than OEM and not the expensive HIDs then HIR are the best choice. I actually came close to ordering HIR 9011 and 9012s today.
From what I gather HIRs are way better than Silverstars or any similar stuff. They are next best to the HIDs. And the wattage for the bulbs is 65 Watt max. Anything more and you will burn something.

 

[Nebbuchanezzar]

Well, I can say that I cleaned my lenses right when I got the car, and replaced bulbs with silverstars, and no, the regulars are NOT $50/pr, the Ultras are...and it isn't like they are a perfect set of HIDs, but they are PLENTY bright at night...the bulbs I think were $20-30 for the pair