High/Low beam gremlin
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: I got you a puppy!
High/Low beam gremlin
A couple of days ago, my battery was boiling, ammeter reading very high, voltage 18V across battery terminal when running. Obviously overcharging. Buy a new-crappy 35$ alternator to replace the old crappy 35$ alternator. Install and all is good...except no low beams. All four bulbs light on high beam. Is it possible that I fried the filaments when I was turning electrical devices on to see how it affected charging?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
If you were turning accessories on with an 18V system charge then I would think you fried more than the headlights.
I also would think the battery life was severely diminished by that overcharging. Watch it carefully.
The easiest way to test your headlights is with two new low beam bulbs. If they still don't work, then check the wiring for power, and from there check the switch.
I also would think the battery life was severely diminished by that overcharging. Watch it carefully.
The easiest way to test your headlights is with two new low beam bulbs. If they still don't work, then check the wiring for power, and from there check the switch.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The same question is on c3 tech....
Had this before!
Check the wires at the headlamp bulbs and check the dimmer switch at the switch!
The wires at the bulbs are jumpers. They light up one side and then pass to the other.
If the input wire is broken on the low beam at the left bulb, then this would explain it. You should take your multi meter to the connection at the first bulb and test it. If you have power, you have a blown bulb. If you don’t have power before it hits the bulb then you have a dimmer switch problem or a wire harness problem.
Had this before!
Check the wires at the headlamp bulbs and check the dimmer switch at the switch!
The wires at the bulbs are jumpers. They light up one side and then pass to the other.
If the input wire is broken on the low beam at the left bulb, then this would explain it. You should take your multi meter to the connection at the first bulb and test it. If you have power, you have a blown bulb. If you don’t have power before it hits the bulb then you have a dimmer switch problem or a wire harness problem.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,345
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From: I got you a puppy!
Thanks for the tips. I have juice to the lamps, I changed the bulbs, and am back on the road. I learned a lesson from this... At least I didn't fry anything else. I bet I did damage my nearly new Optima red-top.
