Mecworks

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So, I was really upset a month ago when one of my headlights in my Jeep Cherokee went out. It’s not the first time and that’s actually the reason why I was upset. I just replaced both of them one year ago and again, a year before that! For some reason I’ve felt that headlights should last longer than one year (apparently, misguided in these perceptions). They seem that they are not made of tissue and therefore one should expect them to not function like a short term, disposable item.

I know, I should actually be putting less faith in the auto industry in America. If they make things that actually last, they would not be selling any new vehicles. But a year? C’mon!

Last night, after spending an evening watching videos with Debbie I said goodbye, left the doorstep, walked to the car which was parked out on the street. It was very dark, no moon was out. Immediately after starting the car and pulling the round knob to turn on the headlight, *plink*, my other last-of-a-redundant-system headlight burnt out.

I spent the next hour traveling at about 15mph on back roads with my hazard lights blinking. They provided me with barely enough light to see the lines painted on the edge of the road and enough warning for other cars to stay away from me.

My theory is that because I bought the super bright Sylvania SilverStar headlights the last two times, which boast “increased downroad viewing up to 25%, increased sideroad viewing and up to 20% brighter, whiter light”, they actually burn hotter and have a shorter life span. In order to test this theory, today I purchased Sylvania XtraVision High Performance Halogen lights which do not burn as bright. I am hoping that their lower brightness is due to lower temp of the element and will result in increased lifetime.

My 1996 Jeep Cherokee up American Fork Canyon, UT