Headlight or electrical problem?? Please help
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Headlight or electrical problem?? Please help
Help!! Please help? My driver's side headlight bulb started malfunctioning.
Here's the situation so far:
Whenever I turned my headlights on, the driver's side bulb would turn off after 5 minutes.
Replaced both bulbs
Drivers side bulb stayed on for about 20 - 25 minutes at first then started going off after just a few minutes
Replaced ballast (new) on drivers side but same results as above where light stayed on for about 20 - 25 minutes at first then going off again after a few minutes. Each time light stayed on for a shorter period of time
Bought 2 more bulbs and replaced both again in case first set was bad. Same thing still happens and bulb tends to flicker at times.
I am at a loss as to why the drivers side light will not stay on after changing the ballast and the bulbs twice. Also, I've noticed that the drivers side bulb is noticeably dimmer than the passenger side bulb even though both bulbs are brand new.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? I'm at a loss now and not sure what to do next.
Last edited by mike6873; Nov 4, 2014 at 07:07 PM. Reason: add more detail
I will admit this sounds pretty odd. Initially it sounds like a bulb or ballast problem... but things just don't add up.
Did you use oem or aftermarket ballast replacements?
Did the replacement light bulbs actually ever burn out or do they just continue to turn off, or flicker?
Did you use oem or aftermarket ballast replacements?
Did the replacement light bulbs actually ever burn out or do they just continue to turn off, or flicker?
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 468
Likes: 28
From: ON
Hm, sounds like a possible ground problem to me. Perhaps check all the contacts and clean off the ground points for the ballast...
Also, what bulbs/ballast did you use? Did you get the Phillips (OEM replacement) or just a set of cheap 4S bulbs off feeBay?
Also, what bulbs/ballast did you use? Did you get the Phillips (OEM replacement) or just a set of cheap 4S bulbs off feeBay?
Intermediate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 488
Likes: 57
From: NE
What year ES?
Swap left and right bulbs and ballasts one at a time. If the problem follows the swapped item then you have found the cause. If the problem stays with the drivers side then the problem lies elsewhere, ground, dirty connection, wiring, switch, etc.
Any recent repairs that might effect the wiring?
Swap left and right bulbs and ballasts one at a time. If the problem follows the swapped item then you have found the cause. If the problem stays with the drivers side then the problem lies elsewhere, ground, dirty connection, wiring, switch, etc.
Any recent repairs that might effect the wiring?
Last edited by Nelexus88; Nov 5, 2014 at 05:11 AM.
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