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One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

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Old 08-16-2009, 09:57 PM
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Default One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Well apparently my passenger side headlight is brighter than my drivers side and I can't seem to figure out why. I'm pretty sure they where both the same at one point... noticed it pulling into the garage tonight.
Anyone have any ideas?

Headlights.jpg
Passengers is brighter

driversheadlight.jpg
Drivers side

passengerheadlight.jpg
Passengers side - it appears to produce more light further down as well.
 
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Old 08-16-2009, 11:01 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

In my opinion i would start with the ground, make sure you have a good clean connection.

Good luck,

Dave
 
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Old 08-16-2009, 11:02 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Since the lamps are wired in parallel, it can only mean that one of the bulbs is ready to blow. The brighter side, oddly, is probably the one - its getting ready go to super-nova on you. But from a standpoint of pure technical knowledge and proven experience, I have no reliable idea; just a wildass guess.
 
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Old 08-16-2009, 11:10 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Originally Posted by AZSUN
In my opinion i would start with the ground, make sure you have a good clean connection.

Good luck,

Dave
Dave, How would I go about checking the ground? Just make sure there isn't any crud at the grounding points? I'm no electrician.

Originally Posted by dwightdmagee
Since the lamps are wired in parallel, it can only mean that one of the bulbs is ready to blow. The brighter side, oddly, is probably the one - its getting ready go to super-nova on you. But from a standpoint of pure technical knowledge and proven experience, I have no reliable idea; just a wildass guess.
And if that's the case I'll keep an eye on it... it's such a pain to put a new one in there.
 
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Old 08-17-2009, 05:32 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Had a similar issue and the bulb on my passenger side was just not exactly in place. It was making my driver side look really bright only because it was not projecting as straight as it should have been. If you look close at the headlight there is a little dark shadow right below the light (in your picture you can see it on the passenger side, little dark dot towards the grill). I do not see it on the driver side picture, when both bulbs were in correctly the dot was in the same spot on both sides (mirror style). Might want to pull the driver side out and pop it back in, might end up looking like the passenger side.
 

Last edited by Airscape; 08-17-2009 at 05:34 PM.
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Old 08-18-2009, 10:57 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Originally Posted by Airscape
Had a similar issue and the bulb on my passenger side was just not exactly in place. It was making my driver side look really bright only because it was not projecting as straight as it should have been. If you look close at the headlight there is a little dark shadow right below the light (in your picture you can see it on the passenger side, little dark dot towards the grill). I do not see it on the driver side picture, when both bulbs were in correctly the dot was in the same spot on both sides (mirror style). Might want to pull the driver side out and pop it back in, might end up looking like the passenger side.
Airscape you nailed this one!! The drivers bulb was actually loose... I mean as in broken away from the metal surround the clip holds down. I'll post a pic up soon as I just got in after 2.5hrs of work. Had to remove the whole headlight assembly to get the bits that broke off inside.

Thanks Again!
 
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Old 08-19-2009, 08:16 AM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Originally Posted by 04Fire
Airscape you nailed this one!! The drivers bulb was actually loose... I mean as in broken away from the metal surround the clip holds down. I'll post a pic up soon as I just got in after 2.5hrs of work. Had to remove the whole headlight assembly to get the bits that broke off inside.

Thanks Again!
I knew this-just wanted to see if someone else could get it!

Good call.
 
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Old 08-21-2009, 06:53 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Here's just a pic of the bulb...
lightbulb.jpg

Thanks again guys! They're now both evenly bright!
 
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Old 08-21-2009, 07:26 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Good.

How is the brightness with those bulbs?
 
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Old 08-21-2009, 08:17 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Sweet! Lucky guess for the win Just happy I could finally give something back, felt like I was robbing this place blind of all its info lol. Crazy that it was completely broken off though, take it easy on those speed bumps next time
 
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Old 08-21-2009, 08:57 PM
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Default Re: One headlight's brighter than the other? Ideas?

Originally Posted by maxcichon
Good.

How is the brightness with those bulbs?
They're a tad brighter but the man reason I bought them is they let out just the right amount of white light without looking blue.

Originally Posted by Airscape
Sweet! Lucky guess for the win Just happy I could finally give something back, felt like I was robbing this place blind of all its info lol. Crazy that it was completely broken off though, take it easy on those speed bumps next time
haha well you certainly did!
And I think your right about the speed bumps... well sort of. The roads down in Savannah can really mess things up. I have to have the koni's on the lowest setting!
 
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