Easy headlight wiring question...

[William Mapstone]

I am re-wiring my 74 XJ6, and its been so long since the car was on the road I have forgotten which head lights are wired for low beams and which for high beams /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif. The 2 center lights have duel filament bulbs and the outside lights have single filament bulbs. Are the low beams just the outside lights or all four lights? Originally I thought the low beams are all 4 lights, and then the second filament of the inside lights are the high beams, but the low beams seam awful bright.
Thanks

 

[piman]

Hello Mapstone,
the lower wattage of the dual filament inner bulbs are dipped beam, Blue\red cables and the higher wattage filament of the dual filament bulb and the outers are the main beam, Blue\white cables.

Alec

 

[William Mapstone]

Alec,
Thanks for the help. While tinkering in the garage I just noticed that I gave you some wrong info. It turns out the duel filament bulb is the outside lights not the inside lights. So this is what I have;
The outside lights have a Blue/Red wire and a Blue/White wire.
The Inside lights have a Blue/White wire.
I had all 4 Blue/White wires hooked up for the low beams, but everybody was flashing their lights at me. Plus they did seam overly bright.
Should I be using the 2 Blue/Red (outer lights) wires for low beams, and the 4 Blue/White wire for high beams?
Or should I be using the 2 Blue/Red wires (outer lights) and the Blue/White wires (inner lights) for low beams, and then adding the 2 Blue/White wires (outer lights) for high beams?
Thanks and sorry for the wrong info,
William

 

[J. Christian]

I haven't looked at the wiring on my 79 XJ, but when the low beams (outer lights) are on, the high beams (inner lights) are on, but dim. When I flip to high beam, the outer lights stay on, but are dimmed. Is this normal?

 

[piman]

Hello William,
It doesn't matter electrically whether the dip pair is the inner or outer set. It is logical, though, for the dip to be the outers as it gives a better indication of the vehicle width.
As to the connection, blue\red to the outer dip filament (lower wattage) and blue\white to the outer main filament (higher wattage) and also the inner lamp.
Headlights on, dip position you should have the outer lamps on, switch to main beam and you should have all four headlights on. You should also see the beams lift as you select 'main' and the blue main beam warning light on the dash should be lit.

James, that doesn't sound normal at all, on dip the outers only should be on, bright but angled down a few degrees more than main beam which are almost horizontally aligned. All four units should be bright on main beam. I would check the earths or see if you have some crossed wires using the guide I have given William.

Alec

Alec

 

[William Mapstone]

Thanks, that helps a lot!