How to restore the headlamp level if the headlamp light intensity is severely reduced

New headlights almost always give bright light. However, over time, many drivers notice that the road ahead is lightened up worse than before, the eyes get tired more quickly when driving at night, and assessing the traffic situation requires considerable alertness. Here we tell why this happens, how to fix the problem, and what can aggravate it.

7 simple steps to solve the problem if headlamp light intensity severely reduced

1. Headlight cleaning. Dirty lights illuminate the road very poorly. When they are soiled severely, visibility can significantly deteriorate. In fact, the driver sees only 10% of what is happening in front of the car.
   To wash the lights, use a soft cloth or a sponge. Make sure that they are clean: dirt and sand, when getting on the surface to be treated, act as an abrasive. As a detergent, use a car shampoo.
   Traces of insects and bitumen stains can be removed with special cleaners. Organic impurities are very persistent, so it is better to eliminate them immediately after they appeared.
   A tip from AUTODOC: Never clean the headlight lenses with dry cloth: this may cause scratches on their surface.

2. Headlight polishing. New headlights have a special coating that protects the lens itself from mechanical damage and ultraviolet rays. Over time, it wears out, microcracks and scratches appear on the surface of the headlight, the lens gets cloudy and yellow. This problem can be solved by using special headlight restoration kits for polishing the lenses. Usually they consist of sandpaper of various grit, polishing wheel and paste.
   Polishing is done in several stages. The car body around the headlight cluster should be covered with painter’s tape to avoid damaging the paintwork. An even better idea is to dismantle the headlight completely. Then it should be cleaned of dirt and degreased. After that, polish the surface with a coarse grain sandpaper soaked in water, to a uniform haze. Then go over it with a finer sandpaper and proceed to finish polishing. The latter is best done with a grinder: this will ensure quickness and higher quality.
   A tip from AUTODOC: Please note that during the polishing process the factory-applied protective layer is completely destroyed. You will have to repeat the procedure once a month. For a longer lasting result, we recommend that you cover the headlight with a special automotive lacquer afterwards.

3. Replacement of lamps. Xenon lamps fade over time. As for halogen bulbs, burnt deposit is formed on their surface in case of incorrect installation. If you noticed that the headlight intensity reduced, try to remember when you last replaced the lamps. Usually the average service life of standard incandescent bulbs is 500 hours, halogen - 1,500, xenon - 3,000, LED - over 10,000 hours.
   A tip from AUTODOC: When replacing halogen bulbs, do not touch their glass with bare hands. Fatty spots on the surface very quickly turn into carbon deposits. To ensure uniform road illumination by xenon lamps, replace them in pairs.

4. Cleaning of breathers. Their function is to let air in and out from the headlight to equalize the internal pressure to that of the atmosphere. If the valves are clogged, the condensate will accumulate inside the headlight housing, which will result in fogging of the lens and deterioration of visibility.
   A tip from AUTODOC: If the lights get fogged, it is advisable to check the condition of the sealing elements, and whether the rear covers fit the housing tight.

5. Restoring the supply voltage. Low-quality repair of the car wiring, corroded terminals, alternator or battery malfunction lead to the fact that the lamp socket is fed with a lower voltage. Often the latter is not sufficient to ensure proper lighting. Therefore, it is necessary to replace old and worn wires in due time, and to use a special non-conductive grease to protect the terminals from external exposure.
   A tip from AUTODOC: If possible, give preference to wires in a silicone sheath. They can better withstand thermal exposure, are resistant to mechanical damage, aggressive chemicals and temperature changes. They are characterized by low flammability.

6. Painting the reflector. With the help of a special chrome paint you can restore the reflector glare and eliminate its tarnishing. To do this, you should disassemble the headlight, sand the reflector with sandpaper, completely removing the chrome layer, degrease the surface, apply a coat of primer to the plastic, and then spray two layers of the paint on the surface.
   A tip from AUTODOC: Do not use paint to repair a cracked reflector. In case of severe damage, this element should be replaced immediately: it will not last long.

7. Headlight beam adjustment. It is recommended to do it on average once a year, as well as after each replacement of bulbs, installation of new wheel rims or tyres, any repair in the front part of the car body. To that end, you need to park the vehicle on a flat horizontal surface strictly perpendicular to a wall. Then make the appropriate marks on the wall. For the order in which the lines should be drawn, the distance between them and between the car and the wall, see the car user manual, since the requirements for each particular car model may vary.
   A tip from AUTODOC: Do not forget to prepare the car for this procedure. Check the tyre pressure: it must match the prescribed value. Fill the fuel tank partially or fully. Try to simulate the daily load on the suspension: if most often you drive alone, ask a person with the body constitution similar to yours to take a front seat, or place any load corresponding to your weight on the driver's seat. If your car is constantly occupied by passengers, you will need more assistants.

3 errors when trying to increase the headlights intensity car

1. Replacing the standard halogen lamps with gas discharge lamps. Such a procedure is not only inefficient, but illegal in most countries. Xenon lamps installed in halogen headlights can dazzle the oncoming drivers and cause a rapid tarnishing of the reflector. In addition, they are very contamination-sensitive: when using them, availability of the washer and the self-leveling system is mandatory.
2. Installing more powerful lamps than the vehicle’s standard ones. Despite the apparent improvement of the light intensity, such a solution may result in tarnishing and shedding of the reflector, melting of the lens and wires. In the end, all this entails an expensive replacement of the headlight.
3. Connecting the headlights to the battery via an additional relay. This kind of tuning allows to increase the voltage supplied to the base of the light source to 13.5-14V, which has a positive effect on the light intensity. However, any alterations of the car electrical system which are not authorized by the automaker are dangerous and, therefore, unacceptable.

Conclusion:

Driving safety and comfort largely depend on the headlight intensity. Therefore, every car owner must monitor their condition. It is not difficult to do this. You only have to adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the car units and assemblies maintenance schedule, to avoid altering the lighting equipment structure, to follow our advice, and to buy high-quality components, tools, accessories and automotive chemicals at AUTODOC.

A useful video on this topic:

How to restore headlights