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I bought a 2002 Arc Sedan back in February with the Xenon headlamps. Had much the same experience. When my 1990 900 with 9004 bulbs was brighter, I knew something was up.
I bought replacement HID Capsules (bulbs in incandescent terms) from a chap on eBay, installed them, and the difference was literally like night and day. The old capsules had a thick white coating on the inside of the arc chamber, preventing a lot of light from getting out.
Probably your car, like mine was, is riding with the original HID Capsules.
Cost for these can range quite a bit. EEuroparts has (had?) them for about $130 each, you can find them usually in new condition on eBay for about $90 each. I bought some off eBay for $45 each, because they have a cracked ceramic insulator on the return wire. Some say that dire consequences await anyone using capsules like these, but for the last 8 months, I haven't had any problems at all.
ALL HID CAPSULES will grow dim over the course of their use. Probably to keep them in best condition would be to replace them every 3 or 4 years, more if you use them as your Daytime Running Lights.
_______________________________________
Current:
2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue
2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red
1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto
Past:
1999 9-5 LPT Combi
1999 9-5 LPT sedan
2002 9-5 Arc
1990 900 5-speed
1986 900 turbo Convertible
1991 9000 turbo
1980 99 GLi
1986 900 turbo
1986 900 S
1991 900 turbo
1984 900 turbo
1976 99 GL
Posts in this Thread:
- HID Xenons seem a little weak, expected more - Options?, Matt S., Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:03:52
- You need new HID Capsules., Larry West
, Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:05:44 <-- Viewing This Message - Re: HID Xenons seem a little weak, expected more - Options?, elbastardocalvo, Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:07:54
- Well, they die slowly, as opposed to regular ones that, Wasabi, Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:33:47
- Xenons do lose brightness after a while..., Indiana Saab, Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:46:48
- Re: HID Xenons seem a little weak, expected more - Options?, LM, Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:31:21
- pretty much the same experience here, sylvainqc, Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:00:46
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