Bright Lights

[Sammysam]

I thought that I would try replacing my headlights with halogen ones, which I did fairly successfully, however one is slightly brighter than the other, any guesses? Will I need to get them re-aligned so the beam of light goes in the right direction?

Thank you

[Gareth]

You ought to check the alignment of the lights, although they shouldn't have slipped much.

One thing to check, would be to clean up the earth-mountings for both sets of lights: these might be causing the current to 'leak away' so it's not doing its job at the light unit. Is it the passenger-side light that is dimmer?

[bigginger]

I had problems with one not working at all, solved by cleaning all the bullet connectors with a bit of wet and dry.

[lowedb]

these might be causing the current to 'leak away'

Sorry to be a pedant, but bad earths don't leak current. They resist it's flow. That means some of the voltage drops across the earth point, and then current flowing in the bulb (and through the earth) is lower so the power is less.

[Sammysam]

No it's the drivers side, bullet connectors, are they the metal sticky outy bits - technical terms!

[bigginger]

Just inide the inner wing, there's a black/grey wire connector. The wires are joined by bullet connectors, bullet shaped (!) plugs on the end of the wires that fit into metal sleeves inside the plastic. They pull apart, revealing the connectors, which will probably be pretty corroded but will clean up easily.

[Gareth]

these might be causing the current to 'leak away'

Sorry to be a pedant, but bad earths don't leak current. They resist its flow.

You are, of course, quite correct. Those were the correct terms that I couldn't quite get a grasp on, so I typed the nearest thing I could think of... which was totally opposite, and rather confusing.... Don't fear being pedantic: people correcting me when I put my foot in it is the only way I'll learn!

It sounds like it could be the bullet connectors causing problems - especially as the affected unit is on the shorter wire run. I'd get the alignment checked, as well, just in case there is an anomaly causing the beam to refract in an odd direction, thus appearing to be dimmer...

[Sammysam]

You were right, it's all sorted now! 2 bright lights!

[bigginger]

Who was right, out of interest - was it alignment or connectors? 10p says Gareth was right and I was wrong...

[Sammysam]

It was the dogdy earth thingy, ummm think I might try and do a basic car maintence course, might come in handy, lots of girls are doing them now, so with a bit of luck I won't be the only girly in the class. Would like to know more about the car and do a few more bits myself.

[bigginger]

Go for it - you can only win.
a

[minor_hickup]

I had exactly the same problem on the passenger side and it was the bullet connector as well

[Pyoor_Kate]

It was the dogdy earth thingy, ummm think I might try and do a basic car maintence course, might come in handy, lots of girls are doing them now, so with a bit of luck I won't be the only girly in the class. Would like to know more about the car and do a few more bits myself.

To rip off a phrase; "you go for it girl" (probably with some kind of hand gesture that I can't do, being neither hip, nor cool ;-) ).

Seriously, minors are dead easy to work on, and once you've got basic skills it all fits into place; then it's just getting over the fear and doing it. When I started doing car maintainance (again*) I knew the basics, I could do a really simple service, I just took the opinion that if it was in the haynes manual I could do it and now I'm not worried about any job on the mog...

Hence I just changed the engine in my Mog - which was a bit terrifying, and involved borrowing a crane (thankyou thankyou thankyou Andrew) - but now I'm running around in my mog which I've done everything to**

* I was 'taught' by my dad, as was my sister, because we were too po' to get the e-scrote serviced by a garage... and having two extra pairs of hands in the garage was handy!

** apart from welding, that's next on my list

[Matt]

I have just noticed your location.... I am in sw/w london during term time if you need a hand with stuff....

[Multiphonikks]

It was the dogdy earth thingy, ummm think I might try and do a basic car maintence course, might come in handy, lots of girls are doing them now, so with a bit of luck I won't be the only girly in the class. Would like to know more about the car and do a few more bits myself.

To rip off a phrase; "you go for it girl" (probably with some kind of hand gesture that I can't do, being neither hip, nor cool ;-) ).

Seriously, minors are dead easy to work on, and once you've got basic skills it all fits into place; then it's just getting over the fear and doing it. When I started doing car maintainance (again*) I knew the basics, I could do a really simple service, I just took the opinion that if it was in the haynes manual I could do it and now I'm not worried about any job on the mog...

Hence I just changed the engine in my Mog - which was a bit terrifying, and involved borrowing a crane (thankyou thankyou thankyou Andrew) - but now I'm running around in my mog which I've done everything to**

* I was 'taught' by my dad, as was my sister, because we were too po' to get the e-scrote serviced by a garage... and having two extra pairs of hands in the garage was handy!

** apart from welding, that's next on my list

Not it I beat you to it first ;D

You go Sammy! We need more girlpower on this list !:D

Nikki.