Headlight ground? dim light
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Headlight ground? dim light
Does anyone know where the ground wire is for the passenger headlight? Mine takes fits of being dim. Also makes the hi-beam indicator light up when it does it :crazy:
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (dburgjohn)
I found a heavy ground wire on the frame by the headlights. Removing it to clean I tried turning the lights on, no difference. They must ground somewhere else. Anyone know?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (drvette85)
Did you try a new light or switching lights? Verify connection to the headlight on the dim side is good? Grounds are on the frame near the park lights. The only other ground is for the high beam indicator which is through the display and spliced to a bunch of other stuff and then grounded in the drivers side footwheel. If main grounds are good, check voltage at the headlights which is through the dimmer switch on the steering column below the ignition switch (dropping the column makes it easier to access if you need to trace it that far). On my '89, tan is the low beam; light green is the high. Make sure there's battery voltage on each wire. Wires are routed through the big connector behind the battery. Water can sometimes weep in there causing connection problems so that's another possibility.
[Modified by SunCr, 8:26 AM 12/5/2003]
[Modified by SunCr, 8:26 AM 12/5/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (dburgjohn)
You definetely have a poor ground. I am at work and away from my electrical shop manual, but I will post the ground location when I get home.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (jfb)
The black wire on the headlight socket is ground. The LH light ground is on the harness behind the LH park/turn light and from there it is grounded on the frame LH park/turn lamp. The RH ground is associated with the RH park/turn lamp. Since there is a black wire connecting the ground connections in each sides wiring harness, the headlamps actually have two grounds and I think your problem lies in a corroded connection at the plug that plugs into the headlamp. Unplug the headlamps and look at the condition of the socket and the terminals on the headlamps.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (jfb)
Thanks, I will do that today. Since the ground on the frame is good, your idea seems very likely. I got a look at a wireing diagram. Eventhough there are two grounds, the look like they tie together in the harness. The only way just one light could go dim would be at the plug.
What did I do with all my spare time before I bought a Corvette?
What did I do with all my spare time before I bought a Corvette?
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Re: Headlight ground? dim light (jfb)
Well actually since I started driving: 7 Trans AMs, 3 non Trans AM firebirds, 1 Z-28, 3 Chevelle, 4 pickups, 2 Fiats, 1 Grand AM, 1 Mustang, 2 Cutlass 'S', 1 Pontiac Ventura and A VW bug. Most of these ran at least 75% of the time I owned them. Finally now a Corvette (it runs about 98% of the time).
