Headlight question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Headlight question
I notice the driver's side headlight is, at times, yellower/dimmer than the passenger side light. Sometimes when this happens I the high-beam indicator on the instrument panel will light up. If I quickly flick the high-beam control this will correct the situation. Does a dim bulb necessarily mean the bulb is bad or could it be something as simple as a bad contact? On the other hand, both headlights are the original ones so they are 10 years old and probably in need of replacing.
Any suggestions as to replacement bulbs that are brighter than the originals?
Thanks,
Any suggestions as to replacement bulbs that are brighter than the originals?
Thanks,
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Titletown WI
sounds like a bad connection, I own a CJ, so I know all about bad connections. 
You could even swap headlights to prove it. The dim indicator is most likely the bad ground "feeding back" through the bright circuit.
It could be at the light, or at wherever the ground point is, or even where the battery grounds, although more likely the first two.
I like to use silicone grease on connections and De-oxit or other contact cleaner to clean connections.
As far as brighter headlights, there are many companies that offer "brighter", but still legal, plug in headlight replacements. Most auto stores have them in stock.
Some, like Hella, even offer "borderline" units that have "legal" dims, but super bright hi beams. I think wiring capacity could be a concern if you go too far, though.
Speaking of wiring, not sure if this is available for vets, but I know for chevy trucks I've seen kits that upgrade the size of the wire that powers the lights for brighter lights, they also often allow full four-beam lights on high, but C4's only have two bulbs, so that would not be part of it.
HTH, »keith
You could even swap headlights to prove it. The dim indicator is most likely the bad ground "feeding back" through the bright circuit.It could be at the light, or at wherever the ground point is, or even where the battery grounds, although more likely the first two.
I like to use silicone grease on connections and De-oxit or other contact cleaner to clean connections.
As far as brighter headlights, there are many companies that offer "brighter", but still legal, plug in headlight replacements. Most auto stores have them in stock.
Some, like Hella, even offer "borderline" units that have "legal" dims, but super bright hi beams. I think wiring capacity could be a concern if you go too far, though.
Speaking of wiring, not sure if this is available for vets, but I know for chevy trucks I've seen kits that upgrade the size of the wire that powers the lights for brighter lights, they also often allow full four-beam lights on high, but C4's only have two bulbs, so that would not be part of it.
HTH, »keith
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse Utah
I agree with the above. Most lighting problems come from a bad ground. Ten year old headlights are also most likely burned up and putting out much less light than a new light would. I suggest replacing them with an H4 setup which will give you a lot of flexibility in low cost lighting options. Reasonable wattage will not require any new wiring.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Titletown WI
Originally Posted by DougSilver
Where would I start looking to hunt down a bad ground that would be isolated to the one headlight and not the other?
To find out which wire to follow, use a VOM(multimeter) to measure +12 volts, check for voltage at high and low beam(you'll need to unplug the head light and check at that plug end), the one wire left that has no voltage is the ground wire you need to follow. The connection at the light itself could be bad too.
The light has 3 prongs, high +, low +, and a common ground.
Buying a service manual makes it much easier. A factory helm will even (likely) show you a picture of right where the ground wire is. I don't have a corvette helm manual, though.
In the case of my jeep, I cleaned up the light connection with some abrasive or wire brush(don't remember which), filled it with silicone to keep water out, and so far - so good. I think I also bend the clips a -little- tighter.
»keith
