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CJ Headlights - Passenger Bright, Drivers Dim?
Jeep and Willys Vehicles Discussions on Jeep and Willys vehicles. (rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys)
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#11
 
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Re: CJ Headlights - Passenger Bright, Drivers Dim? -
02-08-2007
, 11:56 AM
| Just a note: Users should be careful about metering problems like this without the proper load attached. A crappy ground connection can let you read full voltage at no load (leading you to think that it is OK), but the voltage evaporates when you plug the lamp back in. |
current flow under load
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| On Wed, 7 Feb 2007, Highcountry wrote: Step by step? A) Swap the headlamp bulbs and see if the problem travels with the bulb. This would also be a good time to upgrade to a new set of Wagner Tru-View lamps, you will be amazed how much better they are than stock plus they don't overload the stock wiring and switch! B) If "A" didn't do the trick, take a Digital Multimeter (voltmeter) and check the voltage at each headlight connector. Be sure to turn on the lights and don't forget to switch them from "DIM" to "BRIGHT" and check both circuits. Should be almost the same as checking between the battery posts, without the engine running around 12.3 to 12.6 volts. If they check good voltage, check the resistance of the Ground Circuit of the headllight connector using the "Ohm meter" feature of the Multimeter, it should be virtually "0.00". Sometimes each headlamp has it's own ground circuit, you may have loosened one during your mechanical adventure so trace the ground wires to see what you have. Good luck, Bruce -- "We began to realize, as we plowed on with the destruction of New Jersey, that the extent of our American lunatic fringe had been underestimated." Orson Wells on the reaction to the _War Of The Worlds_ broadcast. |
#12
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OK - 1983 CJ7, essentailly stock as least in terms of the electrical & wiring. I took the grill and radiator out recently while replacing on the PS gearbox which meant disconnecting headlights, turn signals and etc and pulling the front harness. All of the lights (headlights, turn signal and etc) were working correctly before working on it. But when I re-installed everything, the drivers headlight is very dim (VERY dim) and the passenger headlight is pretty normal brightness. Turn signals work as well as before --- that is to sday , they work good. The harness was left connected to the bulkhead connector while I was working on the Jeep - which still starts and runs like it should I'm thinking a bad or loose ground, but can't see any loose wires or ?? Any suggestions on where to start? Diagnostics? Haven't tried swapping bulbs side-to-side yet - but will when I get back into the shop. Thanks Lynn in Vancouver WA |
#13
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Sounds like a bad ground on one side unless the ground wire inside the light broke loose. lynnhow... (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote: OK - 1983 CJ7, essentailly stock as least in terms of the electrical & wiring. I took the grill and radiator out recently while replacing on the PS gearbox which meant disconnecting headlights, turn signals and etc and pulling the front harness. All of the lights (headlights, turn signal and etc) were working correctly before working on it. But when I re-installed everything, the drivers headlight is very dim (VERY dim) and the passenger headlight is pretty normal brightness. Turn signals work as well as before --- that is to sday , they work good. The harness was left connected to the bulkhead connector while I was working on the Jeep - which still starts and runs like it should I'm thinking a bad or loose ground, but can't see any loose wires or ?? Any suggestions on where to start? Diagnostics? Haven't tried swapping bulbs side-to-side yet - but will when I get back into the shop. Thanks Lynn in Vancouver WA- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#14
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Turned out to be a not just loose or bad - but completley missing - ground wire. Broken off flush with the 3 prong socket tht the bulb plugs into and thus was hard to see. Replaced the plug and now all is well. Thanks for everyone's input. On Feb 8, 7:53 pm, "carn... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com" <carn... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote: Sounds like a bad ground on one side unless the ground wire inside the light broke loose. lynnhow... (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote: OK - 1983 CJ7, essentailly stock as least in terms of the electrical & wiring. I took the grill and radiator out recently while replacing on the PS gearbox which meant disconnecting headlights, turn signals and etc and pulling the front harness. All of the lights (headlights, turn signal and etc) were working correctly before working on it. But when I re-installed everything, the drivers headlight is very dim (VERY dim) and the passenger headlight is pretty normal brightness. Turn signals work as well as before --- that is to sday , they work good. The harness was left connected to the bulkhead connector while I was working on the Jeep - which still starts and runs like it should I'm thinking a bad or loose ground, but can't see any loose wires or ?? Any suggestions on where to start? Diagnostics? Haven't tried swapping bulbs side-to-side yet - but will when I get back into the shop. Thanks Lynn in Vancouver WA- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - |
#15
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OK - 1983 CJ7, essentailly stock as least in terms of the electrical & wiring. I took the grill and radiator out recently while replacing on the PS gearbox which meant disconnecting headlights, turn signals and etc and pulling the front harness. All of the lights (headlights, turn signal and etc) were working correctly before working on it. But when I re-installed everything, the drivers headlight is very dim (VERY dim) and the passenger headlight is pretty normal brightness. Turn signals work as well as before --- that is to sday , they work good. |
bench.
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The harness was left connected to the bulkhead connector while I was working on the Jeep - which still starts and runs like it should I'm thinking a bad or loose ground, but can't see any loose wires or ?? Any suggestions on where to start? Diagnostics? Haven't tried swapping bulbs side-to-side yet - but will when I get back into the shop. Thanks Lynn in Vancouver WA |
#16
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Almost CERTAINLY a bad connection (it could be ground, ... or it could be power source i.e. corroded plug contacts etc.). There's no bulbs to swap ... per se .... except the sealed units themselves ....... but sealed units are (generally speaking) either working, ... or not working ..... i.e. with proper connections, the light is either on or off. A dim light indicates bad current flow ....... My guess would be bad plug connection lynnhowlyn (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote in message news:1170827306.277337.237830 (AT) h3g2000cwc (DOT) googlegroups.com... OK - 1983 CJ7, essentailly stock as least in terms of the electrical & wiring. I took the grill and radiator out recently while replacing on the PS gearbox which meant disconnecting headlights, turn signals and etc and pulling the front harness. All of the lights (headlights, turn signal and etc) were working correctly before working on it. But when I re-installed everything, the drivers headlight is very dim (VERY dim) and the passenger headlight is pretty normal brightness. Turn signals work as well as before --- that is to sday , they work good. The harness was left connected to the bulkhead connector while I was working on the Jeep - which still starts and runs like it should I'm thinking a bad or loose ground, but can't see any loose wires or ?? Any suggestions on where to start? Diagnostics? Haven't tried swapping bulbs side-to-side yet - but will when I get back into the shop. Thanks Lynn in Vancouver WA |
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