Strange Headlight Problem!

[DenverCurmudgeon]

It seems as though my driver's side low beam is dim. How dim, you ask? It's as dim as that odd first headlight setting, where the interior gauge lights are on and the headlights throw enough light to be seen by others, but not bright enough to illuminate anything. That setting is what I refer to as "dim."

The truck is a '95 D1 with Sylvania Superwhatever bulbs. The bulbs are three years old

Facts:
- High beams (both sides) work perfectly.
- When the regular low-beams are on, the passenger side operates fine, and the driver's side is dim.
- That weird first headlight setting works fine. The headlights are dim when they are supposed to be dim.
- the four headlight fuses are fine (high/ low for left/right)


Questions:
- If the low-beam filament is burnt-out, then why is the headlight dim instead of dead?
- should I be looking elsewhere for the problem, a harness perhaps?
- Do I simply need new bulbs?
- if I get new bulbs, are there any significant differences between the Sylvania bulbs and those $12/piece Hella bulbs?
- Should I consider the $85 IPF bulbs?
- Are the IPF bulbs too bright for the street?
- Do the IPF bulbs require a new wiring harness?
- Will someone please talk me out of the IPF bulbs?
- I've also read that upgrading the wiring harness will get more light out of whichever bulbs I happen to use. Is that true?


HELP! I'd rather not order expensive IPF bulbs unless they are much brighter, but I suspect my headlight desires have more do with the light pattern my headlights throw then a problem with lumens. The Sylvania bulbs are bright enough; I just wish they threw light further down the highway. I'd also rather not order, and consequently wait for, Hella bulbs when I can go down to the store, grab another set of Sylvanias and install them ten minutes later.

Any advice or suggestions?

Mark

[Rovin4life]

replace the harness end.

not carrying enough current.

if you can wiggle the harness and it brightens up thats your culprit.

[p76rangie]

Also suggest that you check the plug on the back of the bulb. Just sounds like you have a poor contact somewhere.

The IPF "X" range of bulbs are excellent and well worth the money. I have a set in the wife's car and on my motorbike.

[Adam in NYC USA]

Thank you P76rangie.

There are several solutions for your problems. Costs are from zero to $90.

*Zero solution (but sweat equity).

Pull the headights and switch them. Turn them on. If the same side has the problem,
it is not the bulb. Inspect and clean the harness and power connector.

Those H4 headlight connectors on the 96 as wel as the import cars are not waterproof
and corrode at the drop of a penny. If yours is corroded, get the replacement
heavy duty connectors and do the swapout. If you want pain, then get the metal brush
and try to clean those power connectors.

The replacement plugs are heavier duty looking and in a pinch, they are the same
as the ones with the lights out fibre-optic hole with it.

*$30 solution: Cheap wiring harness. They sell drop-in harness that go between the
bulbs and do the direct to the battery connection and supersede the old wiring.
They only use one of the bulb connections for the switching and do everything else.
I have seen them from $25 to $45 on eBay.

Look around and it is a good compromise

*$90 solution.

Pull all the wiring and get a replacement wiring harness into the truck. Lots of work
but you get all the additonal wiring for additional lights.

[floridadiscoI]

i kno that in some cars, that "dim" light is actually still on when u turn on the normal low beam, so maybe the low beam is burnt out nd all u r seeing is the "dim" light

[onslow]

Originally Posted by DenverCurmudgeon

It seems as though my driver's side low beam is dim. How dim, you ask? It's as dim as that odd first headlight setting, where the interior gauge lights are on and the headlights throw enough light to be seen by others, but not bright enough to illuminate anything. That setting is what I refer to as "dim."

The truck is a '95 D1 with Sylvania Superwhatever bulbs. The bulbs are three years old

Facts:
- High beams (both sides) work perfectly.
- When the regular low-beams are on, the passenger side operates fine, and the driver's side is dim.
- That weird first headlight setting works fine. The headlights are dim when they are supposed to be dim.
- the four headlight fuses are fine (high/ low for left/right)


Questions:
- If the low-beam filament is burnt-out, then why is the headlight dim instead of dead?
- should I be looking elsewhere for the problem, a harness perhaps?
- Do I simply need new bulbs?
- if I get new bulbs, are there any significant differences between the Sylvania bulbs and those $12/piece Hella bulbs?
- Should I consider the $85 IPF bulbs?
- Are the IPF bulbs too bright for the street?
- Do the IPF bulbs require a new wiring harness?
- Will someone please talk me out of the IPF bulbs?
- I've also read that upgrading the wiring harness will get more light out of whichever bulbs I happen to use. Is that true?


HELP! I'd rather not order expensive IPF bulbs unless they are much brighter, but I suspect my headlight desires have more do with the light pattern my headlights throw then a problem with lumens. The Sylvania bulbs are bright enough; I just wish they threw light further down the highway. I'd also rather not order, and consequently wait for, Hella bulbs when I can go down to the store, grab another set of Sylvanias and install them ten minutes later.

Any advice or suggestions?

Mark

The dim light is (or should be) a seperate low wattage bulb so sounds like your low beam filament is burnt out take the bulb out and test it,

[Rovin4life]

you can buy the same connector ends at napa for really cheap.