Bronco Headlights in Snow

[swamp2]

Also, to be clear, and not that one wants/should need to spend $500 per light to fix something that should work from the factory, but, higher power LEDs like the Baja Designs LP6/LP9 produce enough heat to melt off snow/ice (LP6 in low ~80W).

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[Valhalla]

Also, to be clear, and not that one wants/should need to spend $500 per light to fix something that should work from the factory, but, higher power LEDs like the Baja Designs LP6/LP9 produce enough heat to melt off snow/ice (LP6 in low ~80W).

Do temperature and or speed effect this melting point?

 

[swamp2]

Do temperature and or speed effect this melting point?

Of course, both.

 

[f3d]

A guy on the FJ forum retrofitted headlight washers. He just teed off the windshield washers. This would save finding space for a tank/pump if the Bronco's pump volume is sufficient.

The only thing I need to figure out is where to best mount the nozzles. My best guess is somewhere on the black plastic grill, but the bumper might work if the nozzles can be aimed properly.

This is my prob... the angles dont really seem to work well unless im shooting water in front of the headlamp... theres no clear spot to "blast the headlamp". My kit came in and is dead simple to install. tank is pretty small but comes with bracket, pump, lines, tee's and mounting hardware and a trigger button... its lacking in enough wire though and I have heavier gauge from a boat project so may be buying some stuff... testing it all out in a few. im thinking heating it isn't really necessary (the low temp washer fluid wont freeze) and should be able to clear enough accumulation off provided its not crusted on. I just dont want to drill my grill or bumper yet.

anyone know where i can tap power from under the hood? i dont have upfitter switches but ill run the stupid kit's trigger switch to somewhere hidden in the cabin (or may tuck it away in the sunglass holder where the upfitter switches would go)

 

[Scedwin]

Seems like a lot of work fabricating questionable solutions for this. What about just buying a couple of DOT compliant and bulletproof heated LED headlight pods that are used in the snowplow industry, mounting them on the front bumper and wiring them to an aux switch so that when the Bronco's headlights frost over you just flip these on and problem solved. Has anyone explored this?

 

[Valhalla]

Slowly decaying radioactive isotope!!! no outside power source needed!!!

 

[crenca]

Seems like a lot of work fabricating questionable solutions for this. What about just buying a couple of DOT compliant and bulletproof heated LED headlight pods that are used in the snowplow industry, mounting them on the front bumper and wiring them to an aux switch so that when the Bronco's headlights frost over you just flip these on and problem solved. Has anyone explored this?

Not that this is a problem where I live, but this is a solution I would go for...either that or something like @Valhalla utilizing not quite depleted uranium...

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Count me in as quite surprised the there isn't a FMVSS covering the performance of LED headlights in very snowy conditions. Of course, the manufacturers should do it themselves, but sometimes the big hand of gov't needa to push.

Mainly because FMVSS 108 and its standards were drawn up around halogens. SEALED BEAM is still mentioned in there, if that gives any indication of how up-to-date the regs are.

This is my prob... the angles dont really seem to work well unless im shooting water in front of the headlamp... theres no clear spot to "blast the headlamp". My kit came in and is dead simple to install. tank is pretty small but comes with bracket, pump, lines, tee's and mounting hardware and a trigger button... its lacking in enough wire though and I have heavier gauge from a boat project so may be buying some stuff... testing it all out in a few. im thinking heating it isn't really necessary (the low temp washer fluid wont freeze) and should be able to clear enough accumulation off provided its not crusted on. I just dont want to drill my grill or bumper yet.

anyone know where i can tap power from under the hood? i dont have upfitter switches but ill run the stupid kit's trigger switch to somewhere hidden in the cabin (or may tuck it away in the sunglass holder where the upfitter switches would go)

Mounting a sprayer on a super low profile OEM bumper is probably not going to be fun to easily find a spot and the right angle.

The wider mounting surface area of a winch bumper would give you more options. I'd recommend heating the reservoir, too, just because heat always works better, but I know that's going to add some complexity for sure.

As someone who lives in AK, and sees this slush and ice buildup from time to time, I'm interested to see what you come up with.

Your solution is better already, because the other headlight enemy unmentioned in this thread is road grime, which a heated LED will do absolutely fuckall about.

 

[RichWpg]

I feel like Bi-Xenon was the sweet spot for headlight tech. Had none of these issues, and had about the same brightness. Longevity was “good enough”.

Or what am I missing here? What problem did the LEDs solve that outweighed the negatives?

 

[Big Norwegian]

Seems like a lot of work fabricating questionable solutions for this. What about just buying a couple of DOT compliant and bulletproof heated LED headlight pods that are used in the snowplow industry, mounting them on the front bumper and wiring them to an aux switch so that when the Bronco's headlights frost over you just flip these on and problem solved. Has anyone explored this?

This seams like a good idea to me. The lights on my Boss snow plows are heated led and I never have any problem with ice build up. Maybe contact a snowplow dealer

 

[Oldhippie]

We ran ”heat strips” on the Caltrans snowplows but that was 20+ years ago…no idea what they got now…I‘m not fan of snow except for bronco playing around in a couple/four times a year…

 

[WarthogJr]

I feel like Bi-Xenon was the sweet spot for headlight tech. Had none of these issues, and had about the same brightness. Longevity was “good enough”.

Or what am I missing here? What problem did the LEDs solve that outweighed the negatives?

I’m guessing light output per amperage draw.

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

Just drove from CO to MN and back for some family business. Can confirm the Bronco signature LED headlights are prone to icing over in true MN style winter conditions.


Also, just for fun I’ll add this ancient proverb….”Never trust a Minnesota ditch in winter”.

Ha ha ha. I pulled over at a gas station to fill up, then decided to park out of the way so I could go inside and use the restroom. I saw what I thought was a flat section of ground and thought “oh I’ll just park there”. So yeah…that was a fairly sizable ditch that the wind had filled with snow. The flat light got me. I knew I was boned immediately. Put the truck in park and suddenly I realized there was a tow truck guy sitting in his truck right next to me. I looked over and he waived, and we both laughed. 10 mins later I was back on the road. This is why I always carry cash. Ha ha ha.

 

[SydRoo]

As many have found out, the Bronco headlights become worthless in a snow storm. Sunday morning I was making my weekly Milwaukee-Chicago trip leaving the house around 5:30 in the morning. I was only getting around 20 miles until the headlights became worthless.

My led fog and driving lights in the modular bumper were equally worthless with the pockets completely filled with snow, ice and slush.

I have tried RainX before without luck. That morning I tried Remington oil. That made it easy to remove the ice but did not prevent buildup that rendered the lights useless after approximately twenty miles.

In a first for me, I filed a safety complaint. https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#/. I need to travel to Manitoba several times per year and this would be terrifying with the long distances between exits and few places to pull over on the two lane highways.

I am considering @ORACLE Lighting's heated LED headlights. I am having trouble stomaching the price plus an only two-year warranty. In comparison, Quadratec offers Wrangler JK heated LED headlights made by JW Speaker for approximately half the price and a three-year warranty. That would be a no-brainer. (See https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/heated-led-projector-beam-headlamps-jeep-wrangler-jk)

It would be nice if someone would make an electrical adapter to use a standard headlight along with an adapter ring/marker light. (Not the best option if you love the Signature Light look but I hate it personally.)

At this point I am considering adding heated LED plow lights above the hoop on my winch plate, or bumper mounting a set of old school Hella halogen fog lights. For me it will be impossible to avoid driving in snow during the hours of darkness.

I should note this is a problem on my Volvo semi as well. It wont melt ice. The slope prevents buildup when driving most of the time but it doesnt prevent it completely. A DC heating wire adhered to the back of the housing will work. But its not exclusively a Bronco issue. We just like jeep have essentially vertical and flat lenses.

A convex lense design would greatly reduce the issue. Possibly that will be in a face-lift design. Or some aftermarket headlight option if someone wants a million dollar idea

 

[h2sxse]

Had a similar issue; I used Plexus on the head lamps / fog lamps. I use it on my motorcycle helmet face shield to prevent bugs from sticking and disperse rain water. Not a permanent fix, but did the trick for what I was looking to achieve.

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