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> Wonky headlight..., back again (post 17)
VaccaRabite
post Apr 13 2010, 07:45 AM
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Last fall, the drivers side headlight went out. it was miswired - I am not sure how it was working to begin with. Fixed the wiring, and everything worked great.

Saturday I washed my car.

Today, I decided to drive to work, even though rain was threatening, weather said I would be clear. But it was cloudy this morning, so I put the lights on. I got no beam from the drivers side light, again.

Also, I noticed that the charging system was right at 12 volts, where it is usually at 13. May be unrelated.

I know that the wiring at the light is correct. Any idea where to start trouble shooting?

Zach
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tradisrad
post Apr 13 2010, 07:49 AM
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I also see a voltage drop when my lights are on from about 13.5 to 12.5.
Did you check the fuse and fuse panel wiring? Since you fixed the headlight wiring I would work backwards from there to the fuse box and onto the switch.
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underthetire
post Apr 13 2010, 11:11 AM
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I've had a problem with my old sealed beams before I removed them. The filament was broken off the stud, and turning the beam 90 degrees all the time, sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't.
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jsayre914
post Apr 13 2010, 12:07 PM
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dont woory about the voltage drop zach, it isnt a true reading, the meter is on a circuit that always shows a huge drop whenever you turn somthing on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) as far as your headlight... i am pretty sure i have a spare, i will bring it over after i pick lila up from school. will you be home around 4pm??


is mike over there too?
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 13 2010, 12:10 PM
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Mike may be over today. He was planning on being over as of last night.

I am using H4 bulbs, and have a spare at home - no worries there. But come over and wish Theo a happy birthday. he's 2 today!

My guess is that the other headlight is miswired and causing some weird issue. I'll have to look into it.

I'll be home ~ 4ish - in a conference right now, though - so its hard to say. maybe earlier, maybe later.

Zach
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TROJANMAN
post Apr 13 2010, 12:20 PM
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Did you check the relay?
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 13 2010, 12:24 PM
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Not yet. Noticed the light was out when I pulled into my office parking lot - and it was raining. Not a great time to start chasing wires. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) it will be something that I check tonight though.
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Drums66
post Apr 13 2010, 12:43 PM
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QUOTE(TROJANMAN @ Apr 13 2010, 11:20 AM) *

Did you check the relay?


ECHO echo(also headlight ground) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)
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Spoke
post Apr 13 2010, 02:32 PM
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Start checking voltages right at the light.

If you can touch the terminals on the light with the socket on, check here for 12V.

If no voltage here, check each pin to ground to see that you have 12V and a good ground.

Work your way back to the light switch.
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 13 2010, 07:03 PM
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When I got home tonight I took a few minutes to troubleshoot int he drive way - but then the next squall came in and I got the car under cover with a quickness.

The low beam is out, and the high beam is really dim. Pass side works perfectly. I could go out and trouble shoot now, but I am supposed to be doing homework right now, and not posting on the World... And, its really cold out right now. I have a feeling that I am going to be fixing this in Mikes driveway next Friday.

Zach
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Dave_Darling
post Apr 13 2010, 09:10 PM
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Sounds like the brighter light is grounding itself through the dimmer one. I had that problem on my car at one point; I fixed it by providing a better ground for the bright light.

--DD
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 14 2010, 06:06 AM
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Dave, I considered this. I think it is probably the most likely possibility. After all, if I miswired one headlight - and it worked for a while - stands to reason that I could miswire two headlights, and have them work for a while.

Zach
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 16 2010, 08:41 PM
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Okay, so new puzzle.

I fixed the first problem. The headlight that was working was mis-wired (but working - weird...).

Put it back together, and I get light on both sides again! But, the low beam voltage is only 6 volts on the drivers side headlight (and is predictably dim). The high beam voltage is correct, and the headlight is bright. Passenger side voltage is correct on both high and low.

I tried a different headlight, and that was not the problem.

So. What would cause me to loose 1/2 voltage to the drivers side low beams?

Zach
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Dave_Darling
post Apr 16 2010, 09:20 PM
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How did you measure the voltage? Between which and what? If you measured the wires at the headlight, you could still have one light feeding back through the other. Or the ground could be messed up.

If not that, then look for lots of resistance somewhere. But I'd bet that the one light is still grounding through the other.

--DD
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 17 2010, 06:52 AM
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I measured voltage at the headlight terminals.

Where else should I check to make the problem more clear? How do I check resistance?

Zach
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VaccaRabite
post Apr 19 2010, 08:08 AM
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Well, Mike helped me chase the problem, and we found it was shorting inside the fuse panel. I am going to swap panels for Hershey, while mine get fixed.

Zach
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VaccaRabite
post May 24 2010, 09:47 PM
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So, this problem still exists.

I had been letting it slide and just driving my car during the day, but I got caught after dark last week and had a scary drive home

So far this is what I have done:
Replaced all the headlight relays - at the motors and on the fuse panel.
Replaced the high/low relay.
Soldered on new H4 sockets at the ends (I had no sockets, just spades)
replaced fog light switch
Tried running a new wire (test wire) that acted the same for low beams.

High beams work as expected (though they are aimed low as they are my only lights)
Low beams are only getting 6 volts at the bulb.
Driving Lights are not working at all. Need to puzzle that one out.

So I am back at my original question.
What causes a circuit to go from 12 volts to 6 volts?

Anyone got a headlight switch I can borrow to see if that solves the problem?

Zach

Possibilities:
bad headlight switch.
bad ground somewhere between the fuse box and the light.
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Dr Evil
post May 24 2010, 11:06 PM
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Maybe I can help you out sometime (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
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VaccaRabite
post May 25 2010, 06:29 AM
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QUOTE(Dr Evil @ May 25 2010, 12:06 AM) *

Maybe I can help you out sometime (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Didn't want to ask. I know you are swamped right now with the last tranny builds, fixing your own vehicles and getting stuff ready to move.

By the way, I found a snipped off red and white wire, and a snipped off yellow wire under the fuse box - I am guessing from the work done at hershey. any idea what they came from? I can't find any wire missing ends.

Zach
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Dr Evil
post May 25 2010, 09:41 AM
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I remember nothing. I would have to start at it somewhat fresh. If you drove up here, you would be doing me a favor. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)
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