Driver side headlight keeps going out

silver2004impreza · 09-15-2009, 01:26 PM

My driver side headlight keeps going dark, then coming back on for no apparent reason while I'm driving. There's no pattern as to when it will go out, or when it will come back on. It's been doing this for the past few days. I've checked the connections on the bulb, and they seem tight.

My theory as to why it does this is because the last time I replaced the headlight bulb, I broke the little plastic hook that the retaining wire fits under, so I used some clear silicone to hold the bulb in place. I'm guessing that the silicone has something to do with the bulb working intermittently. I'm almost certain that if I can get my hands on a replacement for the silver plastic piece that I broke, my headlight problem will be solved. I don't know what the piece is called, nor do I know if it is sold separately from the headlight assembly.

I hope the pictures upload properly, I've never had to post pics before.

Side view

Top view (this would be facing forward in the headlight)

The plastic piece is held in here by the two small screws.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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CRAZYHAWK · 09-15-2009, 01:41 PM

Visit the parts department at a dealer.

Charlie-III · 09-16-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRAZYHAWK

Visit the parts department at a dealer.

+1, replace the broken piece. Halogen bulbs get rather hot when on, it is melting the silicone.

silver2004impreza · 09-16-2009, 05:22 PM

Went to the parts department at the local Subaru dealer... They won't sell me just the silver plastic piece, it's apparently only available as part of an entire headlight assembly. I don't have the spare funds to drop $390 on a new headlight because of one little broken piece. Looks like I'm going to have to find a junkyard somewhere around where I live.

You'd think that something like that would be made of metal, or at least be available separately so that when the plastic hook breaks off, you don't have to spend $390 getting it fixed.

silver2004impreza · 10-28-2009, 08:49 PM

I hate to bump up an old thread like this, but I still haven't been able to find a replacement headlight. None of the local junkyards have anything that will work, and so far my searching of the classified sections has proved fruitless.

Does anyone have any idea how I can attach the bulb to the plastic piece in such a way that it won't burn out almost immediately? I attempted superglue, which worked for about 4 days or so before the bulb burnt out. I already know that clear silicone isn't the way to go, since I tried that already and it didn't work either. I really need some help with this, as driving around with one headlight in the rain at night is terrifying.

09-15-2009, 01:26 PM	#1
silver2004impreza Scooby Newbie Member#: 127878 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Little Havana (Manassas) Vehicle: 2004 Impreza 2.5TS 2004 Outback sedan H6	Driver side headlight keeps going out My driver side headlight keeps going dark, then coming back on for no apparent reason while I'm driving. There's no pattern as to when it will go out, or when it will come back on. It's been doing this for the past few days. I've checked the connections on the bulb, and they seem tight. My theory as to why it does this is because the last time I replaced the headlight bulb, I broke the little plastic hook that the retaining wire fits under, so I used some clear silicone to hold the bulb in place. I'm guessing that the silicone has something to do with the bulb working intermittently. I'm almost certain that if I can get my hands on a replacement for the silver plastic piece that I broke, my headlight problem will be solved. I don't know what the piece is called, nor do I know if it is sold separately from the headlight assembly. I hope the pictures upload properly, I've never had to post pics before. Side view Top view (this would be facing forward in the headlight) The plastic piece is held in here by the two small screws. Thanks in advance for your help. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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09-15-2009, 01:41 PM	#2
CRAZYHAWK Scooby Newbie Member#: 198067 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: RAMSEY, NJ Vehicle: 2009 IMPREZA 2.5i 4d WHITE Premium	Visit the parts department at a dealer.

09-16-2009, 05:22 PM	#4
silver2004impreza Scooby Newbie Member#: 127878 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Little Havana (Manassas) Vehicle: 2004 Impreza 2.5TS 2004 Outback sedan H6	Went to the parts department at the local Subaru dealer... They won't sell me just the silver plastic piece, it's apparently only available as part of an entire headlight assembly. I don't have the spare funds to drop $390 on a new headlight because of one little broken piece. Looks like I'm going to have to find a junkyard somewhere around where I live. You'd think that something like that would be made of metal, or at least be available separately so that when the plastic hook breaks off, you don't have to spend $390 getting it fixed.

10-28-2009, 08:49 PM	#5
silver2004impreza Scooby Newbie Member#: 127878 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Little Havana (Manassas) Vehicle: 2004 Impreza 2.5TS 2004 Outback sedan H6	I hate to bump up an old thread like this, but I still haven't been able to find a replacement headlight. None of the local junkyards have anything that will work, and so far my searching of the classified sections has proved fruitless. Does anyone have any idea how I can attach the bulb to the plastic piece in such a way that it won't burn out almost immediately? I attempted superglue, which worked for about 4 days or so before the bulb burnt out. I already know that clear silicone isn't the way to go, since I tried that already and it didn't work either. I really need some help with this, as driving around with one headlight in the rain at night is terrifying.