Gen 2.5 - Headlight failure..sorta?

[nwoods]

What would cause one headlight to go dim? I replaced the passenger side bulb with a new one, but it's still dim. I measured 11.85v at the harness, but I don't know what the good one is reading because the driver side bulb is a real PIA to get to.

I can't think of what would cause it to be dim. The voltage is steady....usually with electrical its either working or not working. Dim is a new one on me.

Thoughts?

 

[NickSchmaus]

What's the voltage from the battery/alternator ? Getting a drop somehow?

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[Pdivizzle0112]

Test the drivers side bulb first. Should be easy to get to if you pop the coolant bottle out. If the voltage is the same, check out the bulb contacts on the passenger side harness for corrosion. strange that it's just going dim, but you never know. While you're at it maybe swap the drivers side bulb over and see if anything changes

 

[Schitzangiggles]

A bad ground is usually the culprit. Those are usually caused by corrosion or a broken wire.

You haven't by chance ever used a "scotch lock" connector or spliced anything into the head light circuit have you?

 

[nwoods]

A bad ground is usually the culprit. Those are usually caused by corrosion or a broken wire.

You haven't by chance ever used a "scotch lock" connector or spliced anything into the head light circuit have you?

No, I don't think so! And yes, I have long suspected a bad ground, but I have replaced everything and the electrical issues persist. I've documented some of them here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ke-a-disco-ball-gone-bad?highlight=disco+ball

Today my rig was in the shop for another issue, and I asked them to check the ground to see if they could find anything. They came back and said my alternator is cranking out too much voltage, over 15 volts to be precise, so they wanted to replace the alternator. I really don't think that's the issue, it would be my 5th or 6th alternator in a year. Something is happening that is zapping the voltage regulators built into the alternators, but what it could be I have no idea.

The electrical issues in this car drive me nuts!

 

[NickSchmaus]

Did u fix the low idle?

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[nwoods]

Did u fix the low idle?

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Yes! a few quick turns of that one particular screw and I'm sitting pretty around 650 RPM at low idle, and 800/900 RPM at fast idle.

 

[PacS14]

Is your passenger side cam seal leaking? That was the cause for my early alternator failure, and yes the bad voltage regulator can kill the head light bulb, in my case it was the driver side. Another sign for a bad voltage regulator I had was the flickering lights everywhere (dash, dome, etc). If you ever had the timing belt replaced and not by you, there is a chance that the engine ground was disconnected (attaches to the ac bracket) and not attached back.

I hope you get it fixed, keep us posted.

 

[nwoods]

Hmmm... by any chance do you have a photo of this particular ground strap?

 

[PacS14]

Hmmm... by any chance do you have a photo of this particular ground strap?

No, but is attached to the ac bracket at the rear bolt. I noticed mine was not attached when I did my timing belt. Maybe you can see it from under the vehicle, not sure if you can, since my ac compressor was un bolted and pushed to the side so that I could remove the bracket and access the belt, that's when I noticed that the ground was not attached to anything. Maybe if it's loose you can just attach it to a different and more accessible bolt... damn it why didn't I think of that.

 

[PacS14]

By the way nwoods do a static test of your battery, I read somewhere that a bad battery can kill an alternator too, and batteries not always go out completely at once. I honestly hope that in my case was the oil leak and disconnected ground that messed mine up.

 

[bryAWD]

No, but is attached to the ac bracket at the rear bolt. I noticed mine was not attached when I did my timing belt. Maybe you can see it from under the vehicle, not sure if you can, since my ac compressor was un bolted and pushed to the side so that I could remove the bracket and access the belt, that's when I noticed that the ground was not attached to anything. Maybe if it's loose you can just attach it to a different and more accessible bolt... damn it why didn't I think of that.

Definitely check this, you may be able to see from underside, but you will have to take your skid plates off. You can probably reach down there and feel for the strap, it's on the back side of the A/C compressor, where it mounts to the beefy (and annoying to remove) A/C bracket with a 14mm bolt.