Headlights doing weired things...

[cds]

Firstly, I already posted this once but I titled it wrong so probably no one looked at it, been days.. so hopefully someone looks at this thread.

Basically in my VT my headlight's are doing strange things and I cant work out whats up.

Running normally, with headlights on the right appears noticeably a lot bright then the left ones (and yes I have changed globes). When I activate High Beam the left headlight turns off and the right high beams only come on (and yes tried new globes), ive in fact even tried another pair of headlights to make sure it wasn't housing issue.

Anyone had this issue before? Common issue on VT.. relay broken.. or something like that? Could of been an issue for awhile as I never really noticed it before, and nothing has been changed electronically wise to cause this, I did change my headlights from VT standard ones to VX Aftermarket one's but even putting my original's back in did it still do the same thing.

all help is appreciated, as this ones bugging me

[Tasmaniak]

I would probably guess a poor ground connection on the left hand side.

[cds]

I would probably guess a poor ground connection on the left hand side.

Thats great to know... lol so were would I look to check (can I use a multimeter to somehow check? to a pin or something..)

[Tasmaniak]

find the main plug for the left hand headlight behind the actual headlight somewhere, find the common ground in it and work backwards...yes, use your multimeter, you want the ground to show .05 ohms or less

[cds]

bump... still haven't been able to work it out. Any ideas anyone?

[Wombles]

Or it could be the wrong voltage lights...
Sometimes higher voltage gobes play tricks on the car.

[cds]

I just went outside to look at it again with a friend... Here's exactly whats happening.

Legend as follows.
[LOW BEAM] [HIGH BEAM] /// Center of Car \\\ [HIGH BEAM] [LOW BEAM]

With car lights on low beam:
[ON - But Dimmed] [Glowing Dark] /// Center of Car \\\ [Glowing Dark] [On - Normal Brightness]

With car lights on high beam:
[OFF] [OFF] /// Center of Car \\\ [On - Normal Brightness] [On - Normal Brightness]

Any idea's to what could be doing it... Someone who could direct me somewhere specific to look would be good.

[pablo]

Take a note of your battery voltage.
Remove the socket/s and globes and, with light switch ON, check socket positive pin voltage, using battery neg to earth multi meter, so as to complete circuit. This should be the same as battery voltage. If not, you have a bad connection between battery/ relay/ globe socket.
If voltage is OK, check the earth. If that is OK, you may have a weak conection that breaks down under load.

[VT_sleeper]

I had this exact same problem.. I only issue it happened in the middle of the country!. It was caused by a faulty relay. It got to the point that I'd put high beams and then all my lights cut out, in pitch darkness while i was driving to the *cough* speed limit. I now carry a small pack of spare relays with me, especially on long trips.

there only about $5.

[mynameisearl]

i had the same problem ended up being the fuse, i dont know how the right hand high beam still worked with a stuffed fuse but the left hand high beam wouldn't work

[cds]

argh i hope it something simple, i'll take a look tomorrow and get back to you guys

[Wombles]

i had the same problem ended up being the fuse, i dont know how the right hand high beam still worked with a stuffed fuse but the left hand high beam wouldn't work

I think it would work because the electrical circuit it was on was a parallel not a series.
A series would cut out instantly if there was a break in the circuit a parallel would still have a circuit going even with a break in the circuit.

[moose man]

Ok, here's what I want you to test for.
12V is suplied at the headlight through the black/white wires to both high and low beam on both sides. There should be 2 of these wires per hadlight (one high beam, one low). These wires are always live with the engine on due to the system being negatively earthed.
Then I want you to check for voltage at the tan and light green wires. There should be 0.1 or 0.2V max. If there is 12V at either of these wires, there's a break in that wire, a bad earth point on the body or a relay that's not closing properly.

The headlights are fused separately, that's why one will work with a blown fuse.
Let me know how you go.

[cds]

Ok, here's what I want you to test for.
12V is suplied at the headlight through the black/white wires to both high and low beam on both sides. There should be 2 of these wires per hadlight (one high beam, one low). These wires are always live with the engine on due to the system being negatively earthed.
Then I want you to check for voltage at the tan and light green wires. There should be 0.1 or 0.2V max. If there is 12V at either of these wires, there's a break in that wire, a bad earth point on the body or a relay that's not closing properly.

The headlights are fused separately, that's why one will work with a blown fuse.
Let me know how you go.

Surprise surprise it ended up just being a fuse, I never checked them because I thought that if it was the fuse it wouldn't work at all, guess I was wrong. I figured it out because I tested the voltage coming from the Lighting 60A fuse I was expecting a voltage of ~12V but was only getting ~8V so then I decided ill check all the fuses and yeah the left one was blown, replacing made the Lighting 60A giving a solid 12V again.

Sorry to waste time! Wrapped it fixed though.

[Wombles]

Surprise surprise it ended up just being a fuse, I never checked them because I thought that if it was the fuse it wouldn't work at all, guess I was wrong. I figured it out because I tested the voltage coming from the Lighting 60A fuse I was expecting a voltage of ~12V but was only getting ~8V so then I decided ill check all the fuses and yeah the left one was blown, replacing made the Lighting 60A giving a solid 12V again.

Sorry to waste time! Wrapped it fixed though.

It worked cause it's in a parallel electrical circuit... As I stated before..
Well done that you figured out the problem and fixed it.

[phatvtcom]

Man i've got the same problem as we speak. Every time i turn my high beams on, only the left one works and as soon as it turns on it blows the fuse so then no lights work Is it shorting somewhere, where the hell do i start to look? And whats wrong with the right one the globe, fuses etc are fine????