Headlight "bright" indicator remains on
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Headlight "bright" indicator remains on
Gents,
new to Forum so apologies up front if I'm in wrong format, spot, etc.
95 coupe, mostly stock, all electrical is factory.
Replaced original headlights with Sylvania 6054ST. No problems with installation or operation EXCEPT... the blue "bright's" indicator light remains on after hi-beam has been selected. In other words; lights come on in low beam - no blue light, hit the switch for bright's and the blue light comes on as per normal. Switch back to low - BLUE LIGHT REMAINS ON. Turn lights off and it re-sets to normal ops until I hit the brights again. I have have seen threads here that talk about a bad ground. Checked the ground wires and all seems ok (no meter, not very educated electrically, more a bolt and wrench guy). All the books and Sylvania state this sealed beam is a direct replacement for this car. Any thoughts?
You guys seem to be the most knowledgeable, polite and genuinely helpful of any I've seen, my thanks in advance.
new to Forum so apologies up front if I'm in wrong format, spot, etc.
95 coupe, mostly stock, all electrical is factory.
Replaced original headlights with Sylvania 6054ST. No problems with installation or operation EXCEPT... the blue "bright's" indicator light remains on after hi-beam has been selected. In other words; lights come on in low beam - no blue light, hit the switch for bright's and the blue light comes on as per normal. Switch back to low - BLUE LIGHT REMAINS ON. Turn lights off and it re-sets to normal ops until I hit the brights again. I have have seen threads here that talk about a bad ground. Checked the ground wires and all seems ok (no meter, not very educated electrically, more a bolt and wrench guy). All the books and Sylvania state this sealed beam is a direct replacement for this car. Any thoughts?
You guys seem to be the most knowledgeable, polite and genuinely helpful of any I've seen, my thanks in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
The Hi beam light is fed downstream from the dimmer switch so changing to low position " should" cut all power to it as it does to the hi beam lights.
If light is remaining on ; only way it could still get power is if power is being back fed from somewhere
In theory ,if headlight ground is bad then power could reverse back through Hi beam filament to Hi beam light;a low enough voltage not to fire up the filament but enough to make dash light glow.
If light is remaining on ; only way it could still get power is if power is being back fed from somewhere
In theory ,if headlight ground is bad then power could reverse back through Hi beam filament to Hi beam light;a low enough voltage not to fire up the filament but enough to make dash light glow.
Last edited by rodj; Aug 3, 2011 at 09:55 AM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Through the bulb itself maybe? Not truly compatable? I noticed on the originals there are three little prongs that stick out the back of the sealed beam that are not present on the sylvania's. Might have to switch back to see if the problem repeats with OEM's.
Thanks for quick reply and input.
Thanks for quick reply and input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
there are three pins that plug into the receptical (high, low, ground)... in addition there are three metal stubs that stick out that appear to be guide pins that do not plug into electrical slots. Don't think they matter but thought I would mention them for info purposes. Additional gounding perhaps?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If you have a poor ground connection at the headlamps, this will cause a measurable voltage on the ground pin and this voltage is fed through the unused low beam filament in the headlamp to the high beam indicator lamp. Use a voltmeter to measure the voltage on the ground wire of each side headlamp, it should be very low, under 0.1 volt. If high, then check the quality of the ground wire to the screw that grounds this wire to the frame. Probably it is rusted, clean it up and oil it and reinstall the screw. Also, if you have a poor ground connection, that side should have a noticeable dimmer high beam than the other side.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Cleaned and checked all ground wires/connections as suggested by jfb and rodj. Problem remained. Re-installed original headlights. Problem went away.
Sylvania 6054 "ST's" are a direct replacement for a 95 vette; they fit and function as advertised and the increased light is amazingly better. HOWEVER apparently enough voltage leaks back through the sealed beam itself that the bright light (blue light) indicator WILL remain on regardless of switch position. if you want the car to function as designed this model of sealed beam will not work.
I elected to return the Sylvania's and leave the originals in place until I can find some that function properly. Any suggestions out there? I think I saw a thread that the XT worked. Will pass on what I find. Thanks to all.
Sylvania 6054 "ST's" are a direct replacement for a 95 vette; they fit and function as advertised and the increased light is amazingly better. HOWEVER apparently enough voltage leaks back through the sealed beam itself that the bright light (blue light) indicator WILL remain on regardless of switch position. if you want the car to function as designed this model of sealed beam will not work.
I elected to return the Sylvania's and leave the originals in place until I can find some that function properly. Any suggestions out there? I think I saw a thread that the XT worked. Will pass on what I find. Thanks to all.
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