Headlights to bright, what can I do?

[path1]

F350 model year 2003. My headlights are too bright. Way brighter than they should to be. I took out the bulbs and exchanged the "super bright" for regular bulbs at Ford dealer. Helped some but still too bright. To many people giving me the high beam headlight flash. When stopping behind someone many flip their rearview mirror to avoid the lights. I've taken my 3/4 ton dodge and f 350 to grocery store to use their side of building in back and measured the lights they don't seem out of adjustment. It as I have a "search light". Wife and I passed on our street and wife made comment that they are still way to bright. One would think this is a good problem, but people flashing their high beams messing up my vision and knowing that I'm way to bright and would like to tune down, any ideas? The only good is reading street signs at night. Those new reflective signs really stand out. Wish I could complaint about to much fuel mileage, but that won't happen. Any ideas? Ford Dealer looked at them and said basically "lucky you".

[gijoecam]

Black7beard wrote:
What the OEM and after market manufacturers have done is very dangerous, but if there's a buck in it, who cares? When one of the folks with these lights jump on my bumper, like they all seem to do if you're not going 15 mph over the speed limit (already 60 on my two lane road), I take my foot off the accelerator until they pass me.

How, exactly, are the OEMs at fault for this? The OEMs build their vehicles to comply with all federal motor vehicle safety standards and set them up as such when they roll out of the factory. What the owner decides to do with it after that is on the owner's shoulders. There's a reason they make the headlamps adjustable and provide the instructions on how to make that adjustment in the owner's manual.

[amxpress]

With that much payload, your rear end is probably low so why not add some airbags to level out your truck and probably improve your ride. Oh, it would correct your "headlights too bright" problem, too.

[Hammerhead]

It's the people who drive around with only their parking lights on. Teh first person to turn off their lights at them is in trouble. :B

gmcsmoke wrote:
flashing headlights is a gang initiation; don't flash back or you'll get beat up.


heard it on the internet

[fj12ryder]

I think it's only the Nigerian gangs. 😉

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

gmcsmoke wrote:
flashing headlights is a gang initiation; don't flash back or you'll get beat up.


heard it on the internet

Aha Bonjour

[gmcsmoke]

flashing headlights is a gang initiation; don't flash back or you'll get beat up.


heard it on the internet

[Yaj]

Black7beard wrote:
I'm glad to see this thread. I live in truck country and every other one has lights that are absolutely blinding. I flashed a couple of them in the past and it looked like an aircraft carrier lit up when they flashed back. I thought I was either going blind or crazy. What the OEM and after market manufacturers have done is very dangerous, but if there's a buck in it, who cares? When one of the folks with these lights jump on my bumper, like they all seem to do if you're not going 15 mph over the speed limit (already 60 on my two lane road), I take my foot off the accelerator until they pass me.

I whole heartedly agree, and react the same way! If they are going to create a unsafe condition I will do my best to reduce the risk. Usually the only way to compensate is to slow down, which usually results in the 1 finger wave as they go by.
Don't get me started on the manufacturers disregard for safety, especially those bright extra driving lights that drivers leave on all the time.

[brokeboater]

I'm glad to see this thread. I live in truck country and every other one has lights that are absolutely blinding. I flashed a couple of them in the past and it looked like an aircraft carrier lit up when they flashed back. I thought I was either going blind or crazy. What the OEM and after market manufacturers have done is very dangerous, but if there's a buck in it, who cares? When one of the folks with these lights jump on my bumper, like they all seem to do if you're not going 15 mph over the speed limit (already 60 on my two lane road), I take my foot off the accelerator until they pass me.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

Kevin you must have the only Ford out there without bright head lamps! Every Ford I ever owned would get flashed, my Ranger was the worst. Maybe it's time to replace the headlamp assemblies with new ones or us the 3m headlight restoration kit. You would be surprised how much a little clouding will dim your headlamps.

Don

[bmanning]

harmanrk wrote:
You could just wipe some mud on them. That will dim them. 🙂

Uncle Si approves of this plan.

LOL

[93Cobra2771]

Your aim is off, whether you think it is or not. That much weight has your front end reaching for the sky. Go to superduty forums and you will find people complaining about their lack of visibility with the stock lights.

You need to adjust the lights down to compensate. Try a little at a time until people no longer flash you.

[dodge_guy]

I wish I had that problem with my Excursion. I have the opposite problem, mine are not as bright as I think they should be. I want to add some aftermarket offroad lights to help out on dark roads.

[APT]

path1 wrote:
Loaded all the time. 10,300 pounds, 24/7. (unable to unload)

Did the dealer adjust the headlights loaded too?

Personally, I would park 10' from a wall, lower the low beam cutoff by 2", take a test drive. Find some compromise between how much road is lit up and how many oncoming flashes you get. Trial and error is probably quicker and more reliable than internet research in this case.

[oldmattb]

Several years ago, I was driving home from a gig about 11PM. Somebody flashed their brights at me and I got really annoyed and flashed them back. Around the next curve there were two black cows in my lane. Arguably, the person who annoyed me actually alerted me and saved my life. Hitting two cows at 70 MPH would have been very bad...

I NEVER flash brights at someone anymore. If I feel the need to alert them, I will flash the lights off. Brights may blind them to hazard, a brief moment without your lights might allow them to see.

Driving at night is not the time to be pissy and retaliatory to strangers.

Matt B

PS Cover the headlight tops with metal duct tape.