2003 2500 diesel has always had poor lights is this typical if so what is the fix

 

Maybe they just need replaced.

As lights age, particularly noticeable on headlights, they dim and yellow.

If you have cloudy lens they could be polished.

You can try a better light bulb.

 

I don't think there is one.

 

Yes it is typical.
I can drive my "03" with my Hi-Beams on all the time and hardly ever get flashed.

 

how about an HID conversion?

 

Factory fog lights. Run them in conjunction with the headlights.

They illuminate better than my brights.

Of course make sure they are aimed properly.

 

Where exactly is the switch for the fog lights. I thought they came on with the light switch. I don't see any other switch but I do have them in the bumper.

 

You may not have the switch with the fog light setting. Fog lights come on when you put the headlight switch in the parking light position (in the middle of off and on). If the truck came with factory fogs that should already be programmed. If adding fogs to an unfog lit truck you may need a switch and update the tipm.

 

Turn your lights to park or ON, then pull the **** to turn on the fogs....

 

You are correct that 3rd gen oem headlights pretty much s*ck.

The easiest way to correct for them is to install Phillips Xtreme Vision or Xtreme Power halogen bulbs in them… these are NOT simply a gimmick "white" light that claims to be brighter then regular 9006 bulbs... they use a redesigned filament with a better gas mixture that offers MUCH better forward lighting then any other bulbs do in a standard yellow/whitish light color. I almost retrofitted HID projectors into the oem housing to improve my headlights until I installed these in the headlights, and then also added Warn dual beam foglioghts into the oem bumper. While Warn no longer makes the dual beam fog/drving lights, you could also add the Xtreme Vision bulbs to your fog lights and then,. like others have said, you can drive with the fog lights on as well for better lighting at least right in front of the truck. The last thing I did to improve the oem headlights was a "poor mans Britebox" which is a modified multifunction switch that allows you to easily and readily use your high, low and fog lights ALL at the same time. Of course you DO need to turn off the brights when there is oncoming traffic!!

Here is a link to the MFS modification…it is NOT hard, though it is detailed oriented, so I would suggest being mechanically oriented if you are going to do it.

BOMBed Multifunction (high beam) Switch

All that begin said, the only thing you should NOT do, no matter what anyone says, is to simply replace your headlight bulbs with HID "plug n' play" bulb systems from ebay or other suppliers… while YOU might be able to see better, you WILL end up blinding oncoming drivers even on low beams…HID bulbs are ONLY designed to be used in proper projector housings, and when not used that way scatter light EVERYWHERE. If you DO want HID lights, you will need to retrofit in some projectors into the oem housing like I almost did. If you are interested in that, check out parts and techniques at--

Retro-Solutions Store

 

Check your grounds!

 

changing to L.E.D.'s or hid is the best, you have to change the lense to a projector for hid, some kits claim otherwise but when you get the kit the box will say off road only, they can not make the low beam cutoff good enough to meet D.O.T. requirements. i did my convirsions in 08 before kits were available or led's were out, i used projectors from honda acord's. here is the led link
Lifetime LED Headlights 70 Watt