| Author |
Message |
Raymond Sirois
Guest
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 Posted:
Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:12 am Post subject:
Monte Carlo Headlights |
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Okay folks... I feel kinda silly posting this, but I'm kinda
wondering...
Picked up a '98 Monte Carlo (Z34, of course) and noticed that then I
toggle the high beam switch, the high beam lamps come on INSTEAD of
the low beams. I'm used to the high beam lamps lighting along with
the low beams (all four lamps lit). Is this normal for this year
Monte? I haven't really noticed it with any oncoming traffic...
So... if it's normal, great. If it's not... Well I think I'd better
isolate the fault NOW, rather than wait 'til the car pukes out on the
side of the road in the middle of a New York State snow event....
Thanks for your patience.
Raymond Sirois Sr. KU2S
SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/9257
telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6023
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Rick Brandt
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:18 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
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Raymond Sirois wrote:
| Quote: | Okay folks... I feel kinda silly posting this, but I'm kinda
wondering...
Picked up a '98 Monte Carlo (Z34, of course) and noticed that then I
toggle the high beam switch, the high beam lamps come on INSTEAD of
the low beams. I'm used to the high beam lamps lighting along with
the low beams (all four lamps lit). Is this normal for this year
Monte? I haven't really noticed it with any oncoming traffic...
|
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At least not on
any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?) |
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Raymond Sirois
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:12 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
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On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
<rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
| Quote: | Raymond Sirois wrote:
Okay folks... I feel kinda silly posting this, but I'm kinda
wondering...
Picked up a '98 Monte Carlo (Z34, of course) and noticed that then I
toggle the high beam switch, the high beam lamps come on INSTEAD of
the low beams. I'm used to the high beam lamps lighting along with
the low beams (all four lamps lit). Is this normal for this year
Monte? I haven't really noticed it with any oncoming traffic...
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At least not on
any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
|
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned, (counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars had
a wiring fault....
Raymond Sirois Sr. KU2S
SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/9257
telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6023
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Rick Brandt
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
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Raymond Sirois wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned, (counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars had
a wiring fault....
|
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two cars in my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams do NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates all four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model. |
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Raymond Sirois
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:13 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
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On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
<rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
| Quote: | Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned, (counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two cars in my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams do NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates all four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
|
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte Z34?
Raymond Sirois
SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/9257
telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6023 |
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superchuckles
Joined: 21 Oct 2005
Posts: 37
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| Posted:
Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject:
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| one way to know would be to inspect the bulbs themselves. in vehicles with 4 headlights that run all four lights, the "low beam" bulbs are actually both a low beam and a high beam (two elements). thus, these bulbs will have three wires - if either of your headlights have 3 wires, then they should remain on when in the high beam position (all four lights on). if they only have two wires on each bulb, then it's possible that they're supposed to go off in the high beam position. |
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James C. Reeves
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:21 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
|
"Raymond Sirois" <ih8spam@stoned.rr.com> wrote in message
news:c1m8m11l07f49osuf84cq0h7et1ndor9o2@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned, (counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two cars in
my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams do
NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull
back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates all
four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte Z34?
|
I'll crosspost this thread to the GM Newsgroup. Someone there should know. |
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Sharon K.Cooke
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:17 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
|
"James C. Reeves" wrote:
| Quote: |
"Raymond Sirois" <ih8spam@stoned.rr.com> wrote in message
news:c1m8m11l07f49osuf84cq0h7et1ndor9o2@4ax.com...
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned, (counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two cars in
my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams do
NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull
back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates all
four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte Z34?
I'll crosspost this thread to the GM Newsgroup. Someone there should know.
|
All 4 headlights being lit was common back in the days of glass & metal
headlight fixtures. Now, with plastic/plastic headlight fixtures, heat is the
enemy. |
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|
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Hairy
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
|
"Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43657EAC.1AD7827F@cox.net...
| Quote: | "James C. Reeves" wrote:
"Raymond Sirois" <ih8spam@stoned.rr.com> wrote in message
news:c1m8m11l07f49osuf84cq0h7et1ndor9o2@4ax.com...
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned,
(counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that
with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars
had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two
cars in
my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams
do
NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull
back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates
all
four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte Z34?
I'll crosspost this thread to the GM Newsgroup. Someone there should
know.
All 4 headlights being lit was common back in the days of glass & metal
headlight fixtures. Now, with plastic/plastic headlight fixtures, heat is
the
enemy.
|
One bulb on each side was a high beam bulb. The other was a 2 filament bulb,
high and low. Therefore, all four were lit only on high beams.
Dave |
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Sharon K.Cooke
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
|
Hairy wrote:
| Quote: |
"Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43657EAC.1AD7827F@cox.net...
"James C. Reeves" wrote:
"Raymond Sirois" <ih8spam@stoned.rr.com> wrote in message
news:c1m8m11l07f49osuf84cq0h7et1ndor9o2@4ax.com...
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on. At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned,
(counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury, 1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that
with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those cars
had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two
cars in
my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth highbeams
do
NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can pull
back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that illuminates
all
four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte Z34?
I'll crosspost this thread to the GM Newsgroup. Someone there should
know.
All 4 headlights being lit was common back in the days of glass & metal
headlight fixtures. Now, with plastic/plastic headlight fixtures, heat is
the
enemy.
One bulb on each side was a high beam bulb. The other was a 2 filament bulb,
high and low. Therefore, all four were lit only on high beams.
Dave
|
And there are few vehicles that have that configuration any more, now being only
two high/low dual filament fixtures per vehicle, or four headlights per vehicle,
with discrete low beam outboards and inboard high beams. The official
justification for the low beams going off when the highs were engaged was that
high levels of foreground light from the low beams being left on with the highs
diminished the effectiveness of the high beams, but I still think it's the heat
from 4 bulb filaments burning at the same time in those plastic housings with
plastic reflectors and plastic lenses. |
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|
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Hairy
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:12 am Post subject:
Re: Monte Carlo Headlights |
|
|
"Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43659DD1.B045B3F4@cox.net...
| Quote: | Hairy wrote:
"Sharon K.Cooke" <scooke@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43657EAC.1AD7827F@cox.net...
"James C. Reeves" wrote:
"Raymond Sirois" <ih8spam@stoned.rr.com> wrote in message
news:c1m8m11l07f49osuf84cq0h7et1ndor9o2@4ax.com...
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:58:03 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
Raymond Sirois wrote:
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:18:21 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
rickbrandt2@hotmail.com> was heard to say:
You're incorrect. High beams never mean all four lights on.
At
least not on any car I've ever seen. (maybe really old ones?)
Well, of the cars with a four headlamp system I HAVE owned,
(counting
on my fingers) a 1963 Buick LeSabre, 1971 Fury III, 1974 Fury,
1985
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1988 Lincoln Towncar, 1969 Dodge
SuperBee, and TWO 1984 Pontiac Sunbirds, I seem to remember that
with
the highbeams on, the lowbeams would also be lit. I know it for
a
fact, because I have always done my own maintenance, including
headlight alignment. Guess it IS possible that all of those
cars
had
a wiring fault....
My bad. I couldn't remember any instances of that, but of the two
cars in
my
garage currently (94 Dodge Stealth and 02 RX300) the Stealth
highbeams
do
NOT
leave the low beams on, but the Lexus does. On the Stealth I can
pull
back on
the turn signal stalk to "flash" the headlights and that
illuminates
all
four
lamps at once, but only as long as you hold the stalk back.
So to the OP...apparently it depends on the model.
Not a problem. Anyway, the question remains (but is somewhat
answered
by Rick as being possible) is this setup normal for a 1998 Monte
Z34?
I'll crosspost this thread to the GM Newsgroup. Someone there
should
know.
All 4 headlights being lit was common back in the days of glass &
metal
headlight fixtures. Now, with plastic/plastic headlight fixtures, heat
is
the
enemy.
One bulb on each side was a high beam bulb. The other was a 2 filament
bulb,
high and low. Therefore, all four were lit only on high beams.
Dave
And there are few vehicles that have that configuration any more, now
being only
two high/low dual filament fixtures per vehicle, or four headlights per
vehicle,
with discrete low beam outboards and inboard high beams. The official
justification for the low beams going off when the highs were engaged was
that
high levels of foreground light from the low beams being left on with the
highs
diminished the effectiveness of the high beams, but I still think it's the
heat
from 4 bulb filaments burning at the same time in those plastic housings
with
plastic reflectors and plastic lenses.
|
You are probably correct that the plastic housings and reflectors wouldn't
stand up to the heat produced by both filaments, but the old glass sealed
beams wouldn't have had that problem, yet they only burned one filament at a
time. I suspect filament life would be drastically reduced if both were on
at the same time.
Dave |
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