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Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:51 pm
by Tim M
Hi
I upgraded my front headlight to the Wipac brighter set with new bulbs and have had mixed success. One is really bright but the other is only dim. Could this be a voltage regulator issue?
All the best,
Tim
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 2:01 pm
by twincamman
I'd start by checking the earth on the dim one.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 5:16 pm
by Tim M
OK, thanks will do.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:35 pm
by beero
Also check all the bullets and sleeves in the headlight circuit for corrosion. You can clean the bullets but you will have to get new sleeves if corroded.
Having said that, if the main and dipped beam are equally dim then it is probably the earthing to that side.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:41 pm
by bmcecosse
It is a wiring problem...but do look in at the light when ON - are BOTH filaments glowing ??? This would show that the filament receiving 12 volts is having to 'find earth' back through the non-powered filament...
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:55 am
by tysonn
To clean the bullet holder just wrap wet and dry around a thin screwdriver.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:48 am
by Tim M
Great. Many thanks chaps, looks like a job for the weekend!
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:03 am
by alexmcguffie
Once you've cleaned the connectors wipe some grease over them before pushing them back in. Preventative maintainance...
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:40 pm
by Tim M
All the connectors are clean and bright but the bulb itself looks dim and yellow, so tomorrow its off to Halfords to see if a new one improves the situation. Fingers crossed.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:47 pm
by Tim M
bmcecosse wrote:It is a wiring problem...but do look in at the light when ON - are BOTH filaments glowing ??? This would show that the filament receiving 12 volts is having to 'find earth' back through the non-powered filament...
On the dim light, both filaments are glowing just not as brightly as on the other lamp. All the connectors are fine and the bulb is fine also. Any other ideas?
Of course, I could just live with it!
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:53 pm
by panky
Have you tried swapping the bulbs over to make sure they are both OK?
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 5:34 pm
by Tim M
No but I bought a new bulb this morning and it worked the same as the old one. I didn't swap them over though.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 5:40 pm
by panky
It's got to be a bad earth
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 5:54 pm
by Tim M
Where would be a place to look do you think?
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:26 pm
by panky
Not sure if mine is original but the earth connection for the lights on my traveller is on the inner wing near where the wires to the lights pass through.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:13 pm
by MarkyB
If your car has a fibreglass wing you will need to run an extra earth from the lights to some metal.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:31 am
by alexmcguffie
The earth wire for the head lights should pass through the inner wing and plug into a double bullet receptacle bolted to the inside of the inner wing. Fiberglass wings won't make any difference for headlights but will need an earth wire running for sidelights/indicators.
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:56 pm
by Tim M
Hurray! All sorted now. The earth wire had been attached to the plastic windscreen washer bottle holder...not anymore!
Thanks everyone for your help and patience. Have a good week.
Tim
Re: Headlights: one bright, one dim
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 5:06 pm
by panky
And may all your dark roads be bright