Dim Headlights in 96' Legacy

Did you double check to see if you were actually running the headlights, not just parking lites & daytime running lights?

Is the "glass" of the lights clouded? SOA and a number of less reputable car companies (FORD - clean ur mouth out) used headlights with polycarbonate "glass" well known to decompose in the stronger sunlight of the southern latitudes. Not much you can do about it - there are magic potions on the web, buffing off the surface, paintbrush cleaner, or new (after market) headlights($$$)

The car is an US car and does not have DRL's. Good suggestion though, it is not that dark but close to it. Thank you for your suggestions.... I guess I will try the sylvania bulbs and see if I can clean the lenses

Bad idea to buff the surface - especially so with abrasive plastic cleaners. The plastic lens material is usually treated with a scratch resistant UV coating. Once you start using any kind of abrasive, the coating will deteriorate faster and the haze comes back quickly. Once you've damaged the coating, only a replacement of the reflector/ lens assembly is going to help.

The best thing to do is to clean the lens normally (car washing detergent and a chamois or soft cloth) and avoid using anything harsh on it that will kill the UV coating.

Some US Subarus *do* have DRLs. My 2000 Legacy wagon does. And, I drive around only with DRLs plus the parking lights. I have never used the "headlights" per se. Find them too bright.

Live in New York city,y_p_w ? D'oh It is a decomposition of polycarbonate in intense sunlight. Simple cleaning is useless + I didn't say I recommended buffing! Just that it was one of the "magic potions" on the web.

Well, my WRX is a US car and does have DRLs...I'd say oh, maybe once or twice a month, I'll start out driving and nite and go for a minute or two, before realizing I'm working with the DRLs.

Daniel Stern has a informative site for vehicle illumination, with a lot of useful items.

That's just great, your car has too bright of headlights. lol The car does not have DRL's, and I turn the lights on by turning the stalk on the left. I am going to try the Sylvania bulbs and see if I can clean the lenes a bit. Thank you again for all of your help. This is my first time on this forum, and I am glad that people are so willing to give advice.

I've had good luck with a Meguiar's product, Plastx. Guys who write the local paper's car Q&A section recommend Brasso (the brass polish.) True, you don't want to remove any scratch resistant coating if you can help it, but once the lens starts to cloud, scratches are less of a worry than overall loss of light IMO.

Rick

Nah. San Francisco Bay Area. Polycarbonate will yellow when exposed to UV, hence the coating. Almost makes me long for the days of glass headlight assemblies instead of the capsule/reflector combo - NOT!