Lighting problem, help plese.

popnGEAR · 01-28-2003, 09:07 PM

Since October my driver side headllight bulb hasn't been lighting up very very dim and I just assumed the bulb was half dead or something. One of my friends saw it and told me that it probably wasn' the bulb and that it was most likely a melted harness. I got that checked at a dealership and they saw no visible electrical problems and said they required further diagnosis (I coudln't do it because i had to leave and get back to work). When I got home today I swapped driver side bulb with passenger and vice versa and here's what happens..

If both of the bulbs are in their original position then:
driver = dim
passenger = ok

If I swap then:
driver = dim
passenger = dim

If only one bulb is in on either side then it won't light up period.

Now I've put the bulbs back to their original position and driver side doesn't light up at all now.

I'm using PIAA H4 Superwhites.

Thanks in advance.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

BillJC · 01-28-2003, 11:45 PM

dim lights suggest a bad ground some where. check to make sure the system is properly grounded.

Mulder · 01-29-2003, 08:17 AM

Check both bulbs carefully for a blown filament (there are two in each bulb) and also check your headlight fuses, there is a separate fuse for each side.

SubbyRS · 01-29-2003, 08:23 PM

Check fuses, check ground wiring....

popnGEAR · 01-29-2003, 08:34 PM

any online tutorials on how to check ground wiring? i don't really know anything about it

rory-wrx · 01-30-2003, 10:36 AM

Do you have a voltmeter (or can you borrow one)? If so, measure the voltage of all three headlight wires (on each side) relative to the battery negative terminal (attach the black probe to the battery negative, attach the other probe to the wire being measured) with the low beams on and then with high beams on. Also, measure the voltage across the battery. Report the results (all 13 voltage readings) back to this thread and we'll try and diagnose the problem.

BillJC · 01-30-2003, 03:27 PM

You can check the voltage but, it would probably read normal. Check the ohms. If the reading is too high that means there is too much resistance in the wire and that is where your problem is. Set the scale to 0-20. If you have more than 20 ohms resistance then you have major problems.

rory-wrx · 01-30-2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BillJC
You can check the voltage but, it would probably read normal

It won't if the problem is too much resistance in the circuit. Not only that, but it will tell you whether the problem is on the ground side or hot side of the circuit. Plus, it tests the whole circuit all the way back to the battery. Another bonus is that you don't have to disconnect the battery.

voltage lower than battery (+) on the hot side or voltage greater than battery (-) on the ground side is directly related to the resistance of the circuit.

HndaTch627 · 01-31-2003, 03:44 AM

sounds like a melted harness to me. the bulb sockets always melt. Check to see if the pins are loose inside the connector.

jeremy

BillJC · 01-31-2003, 04:12 PM

Quote:

It won't if the problem is too much resistance in the circuit.

That is why you test for OHM's. Ohms are the measurement of resistance. The voltage could be down for a number of reasons. Weak battery, bad regulator. bad alternator. But, resistance should be constant.

WRX-U · 02-10-2003, 11:55 AM

..PopnGear, did you ever figure out if it was a melted harness? If so how did you fix?

Guys I have a huge problem as I have a melted drivers side harness and I think two of the positive wires touched cause now the bulb that the melted harness fits in is always dim!
Is there something really messed up, or can I fix this issue pretty easily?
Also if I order a HID kit can I solve this problem?

PLEASE HELP!!!! cause I don't have a driver side light and can't drive the car at night..

Thanks Brian

Alan · 02-10-2003, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WRX-U

Guys I have a huge problem as I have a melted drivers side harness and I think two of the positive wires touched cause now the bulb that the melted harness fits in is always dim!
Is there something really messed up, or can I fix this issue pretty easily?
Also if I order a HID kit can I solve this problem?

You need to replace the socket on the driver's side, it's just a $6 part and you just cut off the old one and splice in the new one. If you get the generic BLUE aftermarket one that NAPA/Pep Boys sells it's a bit better quality than the OEM one, and cheaper.

And you need to fix this, even if you go to a HID kit.

WRX-U · 02-10-2003, 03:10 PM

...So even though all of the bulbs that I have tried are dim in the drivers side, all I have to do is replace the harness and everything should be fine?

Thanks again ~B

02-14-2003, 02:22 PM

Oh this one is easy.. Replace the fuse for the dim side headlight located in the engine bay fuse compartment..

MO$

01-28-2003, 09:07 PM	#1
popnGEAR Scooby Specialist Member#: 4616 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bellevue, WA Vehicle: 1999 2.5RS RBP	Lighting problem, help plese. Since October my driver side headllight bulb hasn't been lighting up very very dim and I just assumed the bulb was half dead or something. One of my friends saw it and told me that it probably wasn' the bulb and that it was most likely a melted harness. I got that checked at a dealership and they saw no visible electrical problems and said they required further diagnosis (I coudln't do it because i had to leave and get back to work). When I got home today I swapped driver side bulb with passenger and vice versa and here's what happens.. If both of the bulbs are in their original position then: driver = dim passenger = ok If I swap then: driver = dim passenger = dim If only one bulb is in on either side then it won't light up period. Now I've put the bulbs back to their original position and driver side doesn't light up at all now. I'm using PIAA H4 Superwhites. Thanks in advance. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

02-10-2003, 11:55 AM	#11
WRX-U Scooby Specialist Member#: 8555 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Lurkin	Huge Problems here.... ..PopnGear, did you ever figure out if it was a melted harness? If so how did you fix? Guys I have a huge problem as I have a melted drivers side harness and I think two of the positive wires touched cause now the bulb that the melted harness fits in is always dim! Is there something really messed up, or can I fix this issue pretty easily? Also if I order a HID kit can I solve this problem? PLEASE HELP!!!! cause I don't have a driver side light and can't drive the car at night.. Thanks Brian

02-10-2003, 03:10 PM	#13
WRX-U Scooby Specialist Member#: 8555 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Lurkin	Thanks.... ...So even though all of the bulbs that I have tried are dim in the drivers side, all I have to do is replace the harness and everything should be fine? Thanks again ~B

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01-28-2003, 11:45 PM	#2
BillJC Scooby Specialist Member#: 31002 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sonoma, CA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Blue	dim lights suggest a bad ground some where. check to make sure the system is properly grounded.

01-29-2003, 08:17 AM	#3
Mulder Trust no one Moderator Member#: 11170 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 02 WRX 05 GTO/11 Sonata(!)	Check both bulbs carefully for a blown filament (there are two in each bulb) and also check your headlight fuses, there is a separate fuse for each side.

01-29-2003, 08:23 PM	#4
SubbyRS Scooby Newbie Member#: 17193 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Vehicle: 1991 Legacy RS White	Check fuses, check ground wiring....

01-29-2003, 08:34 PM	#5
popnGEAR Scooby Specialist Member#: 4616 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bellevue, WA Vehicle: 1999 2.5RS RBP	any online tutorials on how to check ground wiring? i don't really know anything about it

01-30-2003, 10:36 AM	#6
rory-wrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 26303 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Niwot, Colorado Vehicle: 2003 WRB GGA w/ 5MT I can see clearly now...	Do you have a voltmeter (or can you borrow one)? If so, measure the voltage of all three headlight wires (on each side) relative to the battery negative terminal (attach the black probe to the battery negative, attach the other probe to the wire being measured) with the low beams on and then with high beams on. Also, measure the voltage across the battery. Report the results (all 13 voltage readings) back to this thread and we'll try and diagnose the problem.

01-30-2003, 03:27 PM	#7
BillJC Scooby Specialist Member#: 31002 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sonoma, CA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Blue	You can check the voltage but, it would probably read normal. Check the ohms. If the reading is too high that means there is too much resistance in the wire and that is where your problem is. Set the scale to 0-20. If you have more than 20 ohms resistance then you have major problems.

01-31-2003, 03:44 AM	#9
HndaTch627 Scooby Guru Member#: 6551 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Carol Stream, IL Vehicle: '01 GC8 Dinged STM '09 Concours 14 ABS Black	sounds like a melted harness to me. the bulb sockets always melt. Check to see if the pins are loose inside the connector. jeremy

02-14-2003, 02:22 PM	#14
momoney627 Guest Member#:	Oh this one is easy.. Replace the fuse for the dim side headlight located in the engine bay fuse compartment.. MO$