brightness

XxKHxX · 10-01-2005, 08:11 PM

hey,

i put in new bulbs into my 944 and i saw that the passenger side lamp was dimmer than the drivers side. I was wondering if it was a connection problem. If so, what parts would i need to clean to get to the bottom of the probleM? thanks

XxKHxX · 10-01-2005, 08:54 PM

*bump

Eldorado · 10-01-2005, 08:56 PM

which lamp? the headlights? fogs? ...?

AaronM · 10-01-2005, 09:04 PM

Aim them first. Then worry about how dim they seem.

Aaron

XxKHxX · 10-01-2005, 09:13 PM

they're both the same height. i focused em on the garage (white) and can still see a difference int he lamps. They're the headlamps. the fogs are fine they're both the same brightness

XxKHxX · 10-01-2005, 11:06 PM

are there any grounds i should clean? if so where are they?

AaronM · 10-02-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by XxKHxX
are there any grounds i should clean? if so where are they?

Grounds are right near the headlamps on the frame members. Pretty easy to see of you look around in that area.

XxKHxX · 10-02-2005, 11:27 AM

i just went outside to check out the grounding wires. is it just a bolt screwed into the frame with 4+ copper wires attached to it? about 10 inches away from the headlamp assembly? thanks

AaronM · 10-02-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by XxKHxX
i just went outside to check out the grounding wires. is it just a bolt screwed into the frame with 4+ copper wires attached to it? about 10 inches away from the headlamp assembly? thanks

Yup, that's it. Easy to see why it gets corroded often.

XxKHxX · 10-02-2005, 12:13 PM

yeah i checked it out and they're all brown and dirty. why does baking soda + water work? is there anything else i could use? and do i have to unbolt the bolt and clean it, or could i leave it attached? thanks

Eldorado · 10-02-2005, 12:27 PM

unbolt it....
you can use steel wool, or any other abrasive scrubber like sandpaper... and just scrub the corrosion off... i used steel wool on mine, shined it right up...
make sure you clean each contact, as well as around the bolt hole where they all connect.

XxKHxX · 10-02-2005, 01:35 PM

any other connections i should watch out for?

Eldorado · 10-02-2005, 01:37 PM

clean anything you can... it's good practice...

XxKHxX · 10-02-2005, 08:37 PM

could the ground wire from the battery affect the brightness of the headlamps?

Eldorado · 10-02-2005, 09:47 PM

probably not the one headlight, no.. if anything it would affect both.
but you may as well clean those grounds too... you're going to have to do it at one point..

XxKHxX · 10-02-2005, 10:20 PM

anyone think there could be any other problems besides just grounds? it seems like an ez fix..

Eldorado · 10-02-2005, 11:31 PM

you're positive the bulbs are the same?
did you have this problem before you installed the new bulbs? are your high beams the same?

XxKHxX · 10-03-2005, 01:22 PM

same bulbs same housings (hella h4's) passenger side is significantly dimmer. im guessings its the ground wires...can anyone explain why bad grounds affect the lights? Are there any other problems ic ould be overlooking? and high beams the passenger side is a little dimmer. not so much

Eldorado · 10-03-2005, 04:25 PM

your grounds are what complete the electric circuit.
if they're rusty or otherwise gunked up, they're not completing the circuit well enough..

have you cleaned them yet? did it help at all? have you tried switching the bulbs in the housings? as in, left to right and right to left.... see if it's still the passenger side that's dim..

and did you experience this problem before changing the bulbs?

VINMAN · 10-03-2005, 05:04 PM

Take the ground wires off, clean the coonnectors and the surface around the bolt holes real good, get em nice and shiny. Before u put them back on, get some electrical anti corrosive compound and wipe it on the connectors and bolt holes. It will definately be a big improvement and will keep them from corroding again