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dim right headlight
Topic Started: May 10 2014, 01:01 AM (1,954 Views)
ptcapboy


man where to begin..a few weeks ago my right headlight would occaisonally be dim (I thought it was out) I would push harder on the plug and it would be bright and then a few days later it would flicker bright and dim as I was driving down the road-I would push it in harder and it would be ok for a few days and then flicker again and so on and so on-now it always stays dim even when pushing on the plug-I have checked all the fuses-all ok-I have put in a new bulb-still dim-I have replaced the right side plug-still dim. today I was messing around the fuse box area and then the lights wouldn't work at all. I figured the ground wire had a bad connection (for some reason it is a very thin wire-like a model airplane antenna) I got the lights to work (left bright, right dim) by jiggling the wire so tomorrow I plan on putting on a new connector-but this still leaves the dim right headlight-also the high beam indicator is very faint when in low beam. do the headlights just have the one thin wire ground connection? oh yes whoever owned the car before me put in an anti-theft system which screwed up my ignition system and high beams at one time (I fixed the high beams myself) any ideas where to look to get my right light bright again?
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Cyborg
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McDumbass

This is just my opinion, but to me it sounds as though there is a loose wire, bad connector or connection somewhere towards that headlight. I know that doesnt narrow it down. Being an electrician, that just sounds like a bad/loose connection somewhere nearby. I would first start by check all grounds, then I would start at the light and trace all wires associated as far as you can, wiggle them as you go, maybe you will see the lights pop on/off and can narrow it down from there.

When I do electrical work and trying to find an issue, I always start at the problem and work my way back.

Just the fact that jiggling the wire made stuff pop off and on tells me there seems to be connection issues already.

Once again, that is my opinion. I have something similar I have to do with mine. My lights flicker occasionally. I'm saving that for a BS lazy day.Good luck.
Edited by Cyborg, May 10 2014, 01:48 AM.
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ptcapboy


Thanks Radioactive-I'll give that a try-
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Memphis metro


http://geometroforum.com/single/?p=880326&t=4464045
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calrenman
Just another wrench.

Rhinos post is applicable. Check all ground Wires and check for any voltage drops across switches, connectors and the fuse box. There is a common problem with Connectors in the fuse box. Replace any melted or deformed wires in the loom or near the connectors.

Make sure that your ground from the battery is clean too.
Edited by calrenman, May 10 2014, 06:03 AM.
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

ptcapboy
May 10 2014, 01:01 AM
I would push harder on the plug and it would be bright and then a few days later it would flicker bright and dim as I was driving down the road-I would push it in harder and it would be ok for a few days and then flicker again and so on and so on-now it always stays dim even when pushing on the plug-



Your solved your own issue! :lol
This is a common problem with lots of our Metro's. Over the years they have had MANY headlights installed. What tends to happen is the connections inside the plug tend to spread apart and make loose connections at the bulb. By pushing the connection on harder, it makes a "better" connection, but after awhile they back off, and your back to loose connections and dim lights.

Pull your connectors off and take a small screwdriver and tighten the connectors back up by bending them inward.

I would try this first, then give Big Rhino's excellent post on checking grounds a shot. ^o)
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Mythstae
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Here's my post from Big Rhino's thread; http://geometroforum.com/single/?p=888236&t=4464045
Mythstae
Mar 25 2014, 11:06 AM
Big Rhino
Feb 23 2014, 08:28 PM
Picked up a new to me metro this weekend. No headlights. No low beams, no high beams. Both headlamp fuses good, fuse panel light switch plug good. Voltage going out from fuse panel, no voltage at headlamps. White/blue and white/red wires corroded off at splices in wiring harness. Harness full of moisture and corrosion. Any future electrical problems I know where to go. Repaired headlamp splices and now lighting the road up.
:hmm
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:smackface
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^o)
Posted Image

Thanks, Dennis.
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calrenman
Just another wrench.

Stiffchezze
May 10 2014, 08:02 PM
ptcapboy
May 10 2014, 01:01 AM
I would push harder on the plug and it would be bright and then a few days later it would flicker bright and dim as I was driving down the road-I would push it in harder and it would be ok for a few days and then flicker again and so on and so on-now it always stays dim even when pushing on the plug-



Your solved your own issue! :lol
This is a common problem with lots of our Metro's. Over the years they have had MANY headlights installed. What tends to happen is the connections inside the plug tend to spread apart and make loose connections at the bulb. By pushing the connection on harder, it makes a "better" connection, but after awhile they back off, and your back to loose connections and dim lights.

Pull your connectors off and take a small screwdriver and tighten the connectors back up by bending them inward.

I would try this first, then give Big Rhino's excellent post on checking grounds a shot. ^o)
:gp
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ptcapboy


Thanks Stiffchezze-I thought that was causing it but I put on a new plug and the problem is still there-I did however finally find a burnt connection on my plug so I will bone up on Johnny Mullet's repair guide and that may fix it-I still however lose BOTH headlights at times which is a new problem which started last night-I jiggle the wires a bit and they come on after a buzzing sound which makes me think it may be a bad ground-the small ground wire which I thought was for the headlights was actually for the anti-theft system which I trashed-does anybody know where the ground wire is for the headlights? i read where the ground may be in the switch, but this is new to me messing with the electrical system-
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ptcapboy


update-it turns out the burnt plug was to the hazard flasher-I put a metal brad into the plug terminal and they work now (don't actually know if they DIDN'T work)-couldn't find any smoking guns-all other plugs and the fusebox look fine-I did find a few wires where the insulation was missing a fraction of a inch- right before the plug which contains the headlight wires which goes into the fusebox-taped those up best I could-actually drove car to work and back putting the light selector on "park" and using the DRL's-ordered a FSM hopefully that will contain better information for me to try to figure this thing out-
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Blown fuse.
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ptcapboy


Thanks Johnny-checked every fuse and couldn't find a bad one-I'll check again..
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ptcapboy


I have a question-and keep in mind that my electrical knowledge is limited-do the 2 bolts that attach the fuse block to the chassis act as a ground to anything or to the fusebox itself? I have left off 1 bolt for now because it is such a PITA to secure-everything else works except the headlights and I can drive with the DRL's-hope to work on it this weekend
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brush
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[ *  *  * ]
fwiw -- i think so, at least in my year, the right connector that has metal ring exposed, should imho be grounded either through the bolt or in some jerry-rigged way with a jumper wire if you don't want to screw it in -- or you busted the corroded screw like i did. :)
Edited by brush, May 21 2014, 02:20 PM.
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ptcapboy


thanks brush-and congratulations on fixing your headlight problem-
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