Headlight Problem?
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From: Chester County, PA
Headlight Problem?
Hi All,
I checked the archives and I found several posts about headlights but I'm not sure the symptoms are the same as mine. Any ideas would be great as the car is still under my dealer used car warranty. I will check p-car.dom to see if there is a DIY but I thought I would ask you experts.
1996 993 TT
Passenger side headlight (low beam only) started flickering today (while driving and while at red lights) and would eventually go out all together. If I shut the lights off (or drove with highbeams only) for about 5 minutes and then turned the lights off and then on again the low beams would work for a few minutes then flicker and go out again.
Is it the ballast? Is it expensive if I choose to do it myself instead of the hassle of a dealership visit?
If it is a battery/alternator issue, wouldn't the symptoms be on both sides?
Thanks everyone for your endless help.
Tony
I checked the archives and I found several posts about headlights but I'm not sure the symptoms are the same as mine. Any ideas would be great as the car is still under my dealer used car warranty. I will check p-car.dom to see if there is a DIY but I thought I would ask you experts.
1996 993 TT
Passenger side headlight (low beam only) started flickering today (while driving and while at red lights) and would eventually go out all together. If I shut the lights off (or drove with highbeams only) for about 5 minutes and then turned the lights off and then on again the low beams would work for a few minutes then flicker and go out again.
Is it the ballast? Is it expensive if I choose to do it myself instead of the hassle of a dealership visit?
If it is a battery/alternator issue, wouldn't the symptoms be on both sides?
Thanks everyone for your endless help.
Tony
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From: So.CA
Tony,
There is no ballast, unless you have HIDs. Otherwise, it's just a bulb. Do as Kelly suggested: swap low-beams bulbs and see if the problem is now on the other side. OR, just replace the bulb and see if that addresses it.
Edward
There is no ballast, unless you have HIDs. Otherwise, it's just a bulb. Do as Kelly suggested: swap low-beams bulbs and see if the problem is now on the other side. OR, just replace the bulb and see if that addresses it.
Edward
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From: Upstate NY
Tony,
It is not a battery or alternator problem.
As Edward says, there is no ballast for the stock halogen lamp system. Doesn't sound like a lamp (bulb), they either work or not. Sounds like a connector, either at the lamp itself (spade connector) or the bayonet connector that the headlight bucket slides in to in the fender well.
Pull the headlight bucket and open up the access door. Check the spade connectors that go to the lamps and check the ground connections as well. Clean the four knife connectors on the outside of the headlight bucket with some very fine sandpaper or pencil eraser and spray with contact cleaner. Do not sand off the "tinning" on the connectors.
In the fender well, locate the white or blue female connector assy and spray with contact cleaner. You'll see where the four male connectors slide in. You can also, and VERY CAREFULLY, slide some emery paper into the female connectors and adjust them for a tighter fit with a tiny jewlers screwdriver. One of the connectors may be sprung or annealed. Spray again with contact cleaner.
Edit Note:
Re-reading your squawk, it sounds like more like a high resistance and annealed connection. The fact that the connection breaks when the connector heats up after a few minutes is a sure sign. The connectors, especially the bayonet ones for the bucket itself, are pretty "dainty", so look here for the problem.
It is not a battery or alternator problem.
As Edward says, there is no ballast for the stock halogen lamp system. Doesn't sound like a lamp (bulb), they either work or not. Sounds like a connector, either at the lamp itself (spade connector) or the bayonet connector that the headlight bucket slides in to in the fender well.
Pull the headlight bucket and open up the access door. Check the spade connectors that go to the lamps and check the ground connections as well. Clean the four knife connectors on the outside of the headlight bucket with some very fine sandpaper or pencil eraser and spray with contact cleaner. Do not sand off the "tinning" on the connectors.
In the fender well, locate the white or blue female connector assy and spray with contact cleaner. You'll see where the four male connectors slide in. You can also, and VERY CAREFULLY, slide some emery paper into the female connectors and adjust them for a tighter fit with a tiny jewlers screwdriver. One of the connectors may be sprung or annealed. Spray again with contact cleaner.
Edit Note:
Re-reading your squawk, it sounds like more like a high resistance and annealed connection. The fact that the connection breaks when the connector heats up after a few minutes is a sure sign. The connectors, especially the bayonet ones for the bucket itself, are pretty "dainty", so look here for the problem.
Last edited by mike cap; Aug 14, 2004 at 10:42 AM.
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From: Brisbane Australia
Hi, ive just had the same problem, the rail that hold the connector in place had bent back over time, leaving a loose connection. Bought a new rail ( very cheap to buy), then easy replaced by removing wheel fender lining , took 15 minutes.
Cheers Lyndon
Cheers Lyndon
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