Dim lights

[plee4139]

My parking lights are very dim on my 12 volt Sky Hawk. I don't suppose it would be something simple like replacing the bulbs?

[TWChamp]

I'd turn them on and check the voltage at the bulb.
Also check voltage on the ground side, and if you get any reading, then it has a poor ground.

[Skip Lackie]

If they light at all, there's nothing wrong with the bulbs, unless they're the wrong ones for the application. The owner's manual will tell you what number is supposed to be there. It's almost certainly bad grounds.

[StudeRich]

Your Parking and Tail light Bulbs should be the 1157 replacement for the Original 1034 Dual Filament Bayonet Base Bulbs.

The newer 1157 ones do have a few MORE Lumens.

[Xcalibur]

Oh, I see... I thought this thread was about a couple of my relatives!

[plee4139]

Oh, I see... I thought this thread was about a couple of my relatives!

No, that's my post headed "Spent a lot of money and still doesn't work."

[gordr]

Could be the lenses and/or reflectors are coated with dust or rusty.

[52-fan]

Could be the lenses and/or reflectors are coated with dust or rusty.

That's one of the things I thought of too. I know my tail lights looked much better after I painted the dull reflective part with a good chrome paint.

[rockne10]

I painted the dull reflective part with a good chrome paint.

You would be surprised how much brighter they would be with white paint instead of chrome or silver. Even chrome must absorb SOME wavelengths; while white reflects them all.

[52-fan]

You would be surprised how much brighter they would be with white paint instead of chrome or silver. Even chrome must absorb SOME wavelengths; while white reflects them all.

All I know is that it worked. This was also the best chrome paint I had ever used.
Years ago I glued the shiny side of aluminum foil in the housings of my Champion and it improved the 6 volt shine a bunch.