Patti,

I think the issue here is whether  you have round head lights or
rectangular head lights. We all know there are round sealed beam
headlights. but I suspect that most of us have never seen an aftermarket
rectangular sealed beam headlamp that fits the Vanagon based vehicles.
What we are used to dealing with - most US vanagons have - are the
rectangular lamps that are not sealed except in the sense that the bulb
has a seal on it where it seals to the glass housing. To find a
rectangular sealed beam light that works for the Vanagon is a bit
extraordinary - thus all the discussion. Doesn't mean they don't exist -
just that most of us in our experience have never seen one. Commonly on
that model van you have the outboard lamps are the dim/low-beam and take
a 9004 bulb which fits to the back of the lamp and seals with an
"O"ring. The bright/high-beam light is a square, and takes a very, very
small halogen bulb. But both must be installed through the back of the
light fixture. No sealed beam to it. This is why there are instructions
on how to clean the insides of your light fixtures in the archive

Hope this helps.

John Rodgers
'88 GLx2, '91 Carat

On 12/1/2012 8:28 PM, PB wrote:
> Hi, everyone and happy holidays.
> The headlight went out on my 1990 Westy automatic.  I've had it since 2007,
> so I guess it's about time.  Will I need to replace the whole headlight
> unit or just a bulb.  Whatever it is, can it be found in a local Pep Boys?
>   I plan to replace both lights (for good measure!)  Can someone please give
> me a make and model # of headlight that I should buy.  I'd appreciate any
> pointers you send my way.
> Thanks.
> Patti
>