Found out why my lights not working. Part of the loom melted, it was an upgrade type from about 15 years ago. Where is the best place to get one now - any recommended suppliers? And do they only go on the headlamps, not the inner spots? Thanks Matt
Can be either or both, when I make them I use 3 relays, one for heads, one for dips, one for spots. They are often on the likes of eBay.
Why use a relay for spots? There is already one on the fuse box, not a big deal if the voltage drops on them.
I think the biggest problem on the Mk2's was how poor the dipped beams were due to voltage drop and more often than not you're generally driving on dipped beams rather than the full beams. If you upgrade/rewire to get the dipped beams sorted you should be good - I agree with you regarding the spots they're not really the problem
I’ve always wondered about these and considered fitting them. But question is, do they really work and make an appreciable difference? Ta
Rustbuster its literally light and day. I could not believe the difference it made to dipped and main beam.
Yes indeed they make a big difference - one issue I've noticed with my upgrade is the fact that I can no longer just have the parking lights (and they did indeed indicate that on the paperwork with the loom) - doesn't happen with all the Mk2's but it has on mine.
Cheers guys. Is any particular make/supplier better than the other. I’ve seen them on eBay and Heritage stock them. I’ll have to get some organised as we plunge into another deep, dark winter.
RJ used to make them himself at one point but I think he has stopped that, I went straight to e-bay myself for my one and the quality seems bang on - the seller was called paradox engineering see the link: https://www.ebay.ie/itm/vw-golf-mk1...895796?hash=item442c882434:g:a7gAAOSwaNBUeNlq
Because I could, and because I Iike driving at night, and because any voltage drop is bad. Any of the cars I fitted looms to had fantastic light afterwards. One in particular, the owner was daily-ing a mk7R with full Xenon, and reckoned the mk2 had better lights.
Its illegal to have them on if there is no fog in Romania. Did not pay much attention to them, but got a pair of aftermarket ones just for the extra option, i mean the wiring was almost all there and the button, got the fog lights and made a loom for them. I dont use them much, unlike dipped beam witch is almost always on. I will measure the voltage drop someday, just for curiosity! I have doubled the thick wires on the battery/alternator/starter this too was a big improvement. The charging voltage on the battery and cranking speed much improved. But voltage drop is everywhere, these are old cars. Even 10-15 years newer cars have voltage drop.
By spots, I meant the inner pair on the grille, that come on with heads, not the (laughably useless) lower fog lights. @Costel, haha, not quite, I'd be anal about focusing them properly with my beamsetter, and I still use 60/55 watt bulb. Osram Nightbreaker being my bulb of choice.
On my old 16v it had 100/80's high beams (I didn't install them myself but they were relayed separately) but I'm pretty sure I permanently blinded all kinds of wildlife at night when she was on full beam.
Much better to make them yourself, and quite likely better quality too. A couple of decent relays, fuses, cable and a few connectors. ....and much more satisfying! oh, and measure the voltage before and after to convince yourself.
How the hell did I manage to put my reply into your post ...old age sucks anyways that's why I bought a loom for mine
