Headlights are crap!!

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Tgam, Oct 30, 2019.

  1. Tgam

    Tgam Bobtail Member

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    We have a 2016 KW T-680 and the headlights are a joke! We have gone through six sets of H11 bulbs in less than six months, tried several different varieties of bulbs and nothing makes a noticeable difference. Looking at the assembly itself, the lens over the bulb is fogged. Does anyone know how to take it apart so it can be cleaned? Or do we have to get new headlights? Is it true that the LED lights with the converter can fry the wiring? If not, would they be a good option? Every mechanic we've spoken to had a different answer. Any advice is most welcome. Thanks in advance!
     
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  3. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    in the bush somewhere
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    Is the lens fogged from the inside? If it is on the inside, and you're going through bulbs, chances are there's moisture getting in somewhere. Which would call for a replacement lens.


    I know this may sound dumb, but are you replacing both bulbs at the same time? This truck I'm driving, and the last two, used the rectangular sealed beam bulbs, and when one would burn out, I'd replace both because doing one at a time just caused the other to burn out a day later.

    If the fogging is on the outside of the lens, maybe try a headlight restoration kit. They're like $20 on Amazon.
     
    Mike250rs Thanks this.
  4. LDLWells

    LDLWells Heavy Load Member

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    I've tried cleaning headlights with every trick there is. The only thing that helps is to replace the entire thing. LED might help a little depending on how bad the plastic on the headlight assembly is. The thing with them is you're going to have to angle them much further down than with normal headlights otherwise you're blinding oncoming traffic
     
    D.Tibbitt Thanks this.
  5. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

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    How about adding some driving lights?
     
  6. jammer910Z

    jammer910Z Road Train Member

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    No... please don't.
    My eyes can't take it.
    They buy those off road HID bars and zip tie them nonchalantly to the front and light up the entire Pacific Coast Highway like a UFO.

    But, as long as THEY can see...
     
  7. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    Maybe off topic , I had a brand new 2016 680 we bought from Whiteford South Bend , the unit was delivered to us with major electrical problems.
    If you hit a decent size bump the dashboard and headlights would shut down , also the Bluetooth or GPS did not work.

    I went to a lot of dealers to get this fixed with no luck , I finally went to Palmer Indianapolis and they fixed it with a new wiring harnesses , service manager was pretty sharp.

    I've always been a big fan of KW , not so much with the 2016 680.
     
  8. boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    https://deepspacelighting.com/shop/kenworth-t680-bi-xenon-headlight-upgrade-kit/
     
  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Don't buy anything that is super bright, blinding people.

    Replace the units.
     
  10. Oor

    Oor Road Train Member

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    Paccar put out a lot of bad wiring harnesses. I'd replace the works.
     
  11. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Its even better when the road is wet and its raining or nice and foggy,. All that light being reflected, love it.
     
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