Bad Ground?

seph

seph

New member
So when I get home I'll see if I can't get some pictures of the issue.

So I have one low beam headlight that keeps shorting out on me. The connector keeps overheating and melting/cracking the plastic around the connectors and corroding the connectors so my light goes out randomly. The bulb is still good, but the connector keeps crapping out on me.
default_biggrin.png
So does it sound like maybe a bad ground in the wireing harness, or what?

 
A lot of newer Subarus do this. Usually you can get away with just crimping the connectors inside the socket a little more so they fit tightly onto the prongs on the bulb. They get hot and then get loose, which allows them to get even more hot from arcing etc. I simply did as I stated above and have not had a problem since. If the socket is too brittle, you may have to get a new one, and make sure it fits tightly when you put it onto the bulb

 
This happened to me too, the last person to change the bulb didn't get the low beam connector in the crimp, just sitting next to it touching it. And eventually the arcing melted the harness into a glob of plastic and shorted everything out... I just rewired it with new crimps and some electrical tape, and it is better.

 
yeah, I've crimped on new connectors a few times now, and last time I had to add another piece of wire because I didn't have much slack.... I've probably replaced the connectors on this side four maybe five times. No known solution besides putting on new connectors?

 
yeah, I've crimped on new connectors a few times now, and last time I had to add another piece of wire because I didn't have much slack.... I've probably replaced the connectors on this side four maybe five times. No known solution besides putting on new connectors?
Click to expand...
Did you sand or wire brush the inside of the connectors, and the connectors on the bulbs? This will get rid of the oxidization from arcing and give you a better contact.

You may want to look for the cause of the connectors coming loose, maybe the wires are jiggling around a lot pulling on the connectors causing them to loosen. Or something silly like that. Just taping it up better might help.

 
Did you sand or wire brush the inside of the connectors, and the connectors on the bulbs? This will get rid of the oxidization from arcing and give you a better contact.
You may want to look for the cause of the connectors coming loose, maybe the wires are jiggling around a lot pulling on the connectors causing them to loosen. Or something silly like that. Just taping it up better might help.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the second time it happened I put in a new bulb and new connectors. The last time, I put on a new harness because the wires were so short. I cut off the old ones and put on a new harness w/ new connectors inside.

 
the RS has had this issue, had to replace both sockets. kept heating up and the lows would go out, at the same time!!!!!

splice the wires and replace the socket!

 
those who are having this prob, have you upgraded bulbs? every time i've tried to stick in more powerful headlight blubs, the result has been ugly--melting, blobbing, eeew eck etc. this happened in my 98 LGT, 00 RS, and a bugeye...guess I am a slow learner.
default_tongue.png


evidently the suby headlight harness simply cannot handle heavier loads than stock bulbs.

have concluded that only way to improve sheety stock lighting is add'l Hellas, etc

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top