I dunno what happened, a few nites ago my right headlight just went dim. its not broken, its just very dim. i did a search and someone suggested cleaning off the grounds. they were behind the headlights (hopefully the correct grounds) bolted to the metal frame next to the intercooler. i unbolted both, cleaned everything, and rebolted them. no luck. i checked the wires, and everything seemed to be in working order (well, no wires aparts, missing wires, elves instead of wires, no funny bussiness). i really hate driving at night, and i am out of ideas. i bought another headlight, haven't installed it yet but i dont think it will work. they don't just go dim do they? anyone have an idea?

 

eighter the ground wire is split somewhere or you bulb came loose from your harness take headlight out and push hard i put custom bulbs in my truck i had to hot glue the harness in in goodluck

 

Sporkdevil,

Why guess about the problem?

You need a voltmeter (DVM).

You can measure the bulb connector contacts to see if you are getting the correct voltage and the quality of the ground connection.

Measure the voltage across the "dim" lamp's contacts, it shoud be ~12v.
(Compare to other side if you want)

If not, then place the DVM's negative lead to a known good ground (such as battery neg. [-] terminal). If it is still not 12v. then you know it's not the ground. Reverse the process to test the pos. [+] terminal.

Rarely is it a chassis ground problem. Most likely the bulb connector contacts are to blame.

XLT_D

.

 

My 97 lariat had the same problem on the left headlamp. I have been using white lights Xenon and had my headlamp go dim. I have had the special bulbs in for almost two years and was worried that the heat from the bulbs damaged the wiring. I found out that the termials in the lamp plugs became corroded sort of a brass patina growing. I sprayed the terminals with CRC and worked the plug in and out for a bit to create a better contact. It works now no problem yet. I am not sure if CRC is going to effect the plastic plug for the lamps. Try an electrial contact spray cleaner it may be safer on the plastic.I also switched back to the stock "yellow bulbs" YUCCCH!!! Anybody know of wire problems from the whits bulbs?? I would love to switch back.
Roger