Low beam problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Low beam problem
I notices a while back my passenger low beam seems to not be as bright as the driver side. I installed a pair of 6000 K 35 watt and still no difference. Has anyone ever experienced this problem. Need some suggestions please. I wonder if may it could be the directional setting is off maybe.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 294
From: West of Burlington, Ontario Canada
I notices a while back my passenger low beam seems to not be as bright as the driver side. I installed a pair of 6000 K 35 watt and still no difference. Has anyone ever experienced this problem. Need some suggestions please. I wonder if may it could be the directional setting is off maybe.
Last edited by GMJim; Feb 16, 2018 at 11:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Well I cleaned the ground which is forward of the fuse box on the frame but didn't seem to fix the problem. Any other suggestions to check? Does anyone know where the ground is located for right side headlight (low beam)?
Last edited by Ghost Vette; Feb 17, 2018 at 07:58 PM. Reason: Adder a question.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Thanks for your response but I changed the lights with the ballast out and still the same thing. I was told to check the ground but I am fairly new from my C5 to the C6 and do not know the location for the right low beam ground to make sure I clean the correct one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Ghost: Just for hell of it replace the low beam relay (Cheap from parts store) or take it out and clean the prongs with a piece of sandpaper or a file....BTW: What year and miles?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 425
From: North Georgia, USA
I'm not sure which bulbs you have. Are they marked as DOT Compliant? On the base of the bulb, it should say "D1S" (the bulb type), "35W" (the wattage rating), "DOT" (signifying compliance with USDOT regs and FMVSS safety standards), and "E" with a number enclosed in a box or circle (indicating it's tested and certified to meet ECE standards in the country indicated by the number, 1=Germany is most common). The manufacturer's name and/or trade mark should also be present.
If your bulb(s) lack any of those markings, they are junk. Buy some good bulbs from a reputable source.
The ground wire is the one that goes to a screw in some metal "chassis" section up front. It's typically black on most Chevrolets, and I'm pretty sure that's the case on the C6. Seems like the power for the low beam on the RH side is Tan with a white stripe, and the high beam is light Green with a black stripe, and the ground is black. That's from possibly faulty memory. Make sure you've got battery voltage (or really close) across those wires when the light is in the circuit and lit (not when it's unplugged).
If your bulb(s) lack any of those markings, they are junk. Buy some good bulbs from a reputable source.
The ground wire is the one that goes to a screw in some metal "chassis" section up front. It's typically black on most Chevrolets, and I'm pretty sure that's the case on the C6. Seems like the power for the low beam on the RH side is Tan with a white stripe, and the high beam is light Green with a black stripe, and the ground is black. That's from possibly faulty memory. Make sure you've got battery voltage (or really close) across those wires when the light is in the circuit and lit (not when it's unplugged).
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,419
Likes: 2,302
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
If you want to try your ballast from your drivers side on the passenger side I did a write up on how to change these out, you can find it here. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-ballast.html I wrote this dealing with my 05, the ballasts are different from a 06 up so be sure to read the whole thread.
Last edited by madsonp; Feb 18, 2018 at 12:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
If you want to try your ballast from your drivers side on the passenger side I did a write up on how to change these out, you can find it here. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-ballast.html I wrote this dealing with my 05, the ballasts are different from a 06 up so be sure to read the whole thread.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
I'm not sure which bulbs you have. Are they marked as DOT Compliant? On the base of the bulb, it should say "D1S" (the bulb type), "35W" (the wattage rating), "DOT" (signifying compliance with USDOT regs and FMVSS safety standards), and "E" with a number enclosed in a box or circle (indicating it's tested and certified to meet ECE standards in the country indicated by the number, 1=Germany is most common). The manufacturer's name and/or trade mark should also be present.
If your bulb(s) lack any of those markings, they are junk. Buy some good bulbs from a reputable source.
The ground wire is the one that goes to a screw in some metal "chassis" section up front. It's typically black on most Chevrolets, and I'm pretty sure that's the case on the C6. Seems like the power for the low beam on the RH side is Tan with a white stripe, and the high beam is light Green with a black stripe, and the ground is black. That's from possibly faulty memory. Make sure you've got battery voltage (or really close) across those wires when the light is in the circuit and lit (not when it's unplugged).
If your bulb(s) lack any of those markings, they are junk. Buy some good bulbs from a reputable source.
The ground wire is the one that goes to a screw in some metal "chassis" section up front. It's typically black on most Chevrolets, and I'm pretty sure that's the case on the C6. Seems like the power for the low beam on the RH side is Tan with a white stripe, and the high beam is light Green with a black stripe, and the ground is black. That's from possibly faulty memory. Make sure you've got battery voltage (or really close) across those wires when the light is in the circuit and lit (not when it's unplugged).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,419
Likes: 2,302
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
The ballast is only on the low beam, the high beam has a separate halogen bulb that doesn't use a ballast.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Good to know. I have checked the grounds and put in new bulbs. I think I am going to change the ballast. Can a ballast just cause a dim light instead of going out totally in your opinion?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
If you want to try your ballast from your drivers side on the passenger side I did a write up on how to change these out, you can find it here. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-ballast.html I wrote this dealing with my 05, the ballasts are different from a 06 up so be sure to read the whole thread.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,419
Likes: 2,302
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
I myself can't say with a 100% certainty, I don't have a whole bunch of experience with them as they're not used on a lot of vehicles, but if you've checked everything else......
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,457
Likes: 325
From: Houston TX
When you say a completely new light, you mean the bulb right? The other member that mentioned the reflector housing might have found the issue, but you cannot fix that without removing your headlight lenses and getting into the housing from my understanding.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 756
Likes: 5
From: Griffin Ga.
Yes I changed the bulb. I also checked the Ground G102. I will know try to replace the ballast. I was given info from a company that sells them that a DC ballast will act different than an AC. Corrosion can cause a power drop causing the bulb not to reach full brightness. I hope it is the ballast in lieu of the reflector coating.