What do you use for the 9004 Headlight Bulb?

[DeepPower]

9004 headlamp bulbs are known for splotchy light patterns. It's a 65W/45W (65W high beam 45W low beam ). I never gave it any mind until I moved to Texas and saw how poorly my headlights light these country roads.

Searching the internet has been inconclusive as the crown for Best 9004 Bulb is too subjective. Right now I'm using Silvania SuperStar Ultra bulbs and they are okay, not great but okay. I've seen some 100W/80W 9004 bulbs but I've read that they get so hot they melt some lighting housings. I'd like to go LED but none of the 9004 LED bulbs on Amazon have any decent ratings.

Before I decide to investigate an HID conversion I want to try one more 9004 bulb replacement. Is anyone using anything they'd like to recommend?

 

[luigisho]

Nothing that works adequately. All the replacements I have used in last dozen years are garbage. The problem is super old plastic housings and poor initial design. A well done conversion still might look a little funky but probably will really improve driving in the dark

 

[itwonder]

New Sable aftermarket headlight housings with standard 9004 bulbs are the best investment, IMHO. The fish bowl pieces transfer over to the new housings. A sometimes overlooked factor is headlight alignment. Shops may be very conservative when they align them, and they are set lower then optimum. That has a big negative effect.

 

[DeepPower]

New Sable aftermarket headlight housings with standard 9004 bulbs are the best investment, IMHO. The fish bowl pieces transfer over to the new housings.

So for my '89 SHO, are you suggesting 1989 Sable headlight housings then?

BTW, in the meantime I am replacing my 9004 plastic plugs with ceramic plugs. Better heat dissipation and they won't melt.

 

[SHOdded]

You can always try the LEDs in EBay item 111527893922. Still need proper alignment.

 

[TimboSHO]

So for my '89 SHO, are you suggesting 1989 Sable headlight housings then?

BTW, in the meantime I am replacing my 9004 plastic plugs with ceramic plugs. Better heat dissipation and they won't melt.

No, the Sable housings only work for the Gen 2 crowd. Only 89-91 Taurus Housings will work. New housings make a world of difference, I did it on my 87 Sable, and had more than twice the output, still with the same standard bulbs! There is also a harness upgrade available if you want to run higher wattage, but I can't remember the vendor anymore.

 

[itwonder]

My apologies for failing to notice you have a gen 1! If you can't replace your housings, then I suggest the 3M brand headlight refinishing kit; the one that includes the drill attachment. I've had good luck with that particular kit.

 

[DeepPower]

I've been trying to buy the Hella 100W/80W 9004 bulbs off Amazon, but twice they sent me the 65/45W instead.