Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Electrical Gurus Needed?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-27-2014, 08:21 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RI96Z28M6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Electrical Gurus Needed?

So I have a 98 Formula. When I turn my headlights on, the Drivers side is fine. The Passenger side is dim. When I turn the High beams on, the drivers side works fine. THh Passenger side doesn't work at all. Both Bulbs are off. Replaced bulb, still stays dim when on.

So Im thinking its a grounding issue. Where is the ground that works that side? Any help would be grateful.
Old 07-28-2014, 07:38 AM
  #2  
Ungrounded Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
WhiteBird00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 11,082
Received 259 Likes on 223 Posts

Default

You are probably correct. A bad ground in a lighting circuit will often cause the current to seek ground through the other bulb filament causing both to light dimly. It also causes the symptom of the high beam causing both lights to turn off because power is being applied to both sides of the circuit and there is no ground.

The headlight grounds are on the top of the radiator housing on each side. It wouldn't hurt to check there but it is far more common for the problem to be in the lamp socket (corrosion) or the wiring close to the socket (broken connection due to flexing of the wires with the movement of the headlight motors). If the ground point on the radiator looks clean and secure, clean out any corrosion in the lamp socket and check it with a test light or multimeter. Black is ground, yellow is low beam power and light green is high beam power.
Old 07-28-2014, 10:46 AM
  #3  
TECH Fanatic
 
vikingramair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,034
Received 18 Likes on 14 Posts

Default

Check this connector located under the headlight unit. This connector is known to "corrode" a lot= poor conductivity.

Old 07-29-2014, 12:42 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RI96Z28M6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

You guys were right. The connector had corrosion in it. Cleaned it all up. Works great. Thanks guys.



Quick Reply: Electrical Gurus Needed?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:43 AM.