Weird problem after replacing headlights UPDATE

[FirebirdHatesRice]

I'm completely stumped as to what could be causing this. I recently had one of my bulbs go out. So, I went over to the local Autozone and picked up two new Sylvania Cool Blue sealed beams, I figured why not replace them both at the same time. Make a long story short, after installing the sealed beam on one side, I turned the lights on and they worked great. Off, and on again, and the new one I put in was just weak, dull, and very dimly lit.

I suspected a poor connection, so I did it again with the other new bulb I got, same results on that side. I just said screw it and started to drive...after awhile, it has regained it's strength and started to work great, it's been fine ever since.

Here's where the weird part comes in. Today, I decided to replace the other side with the new bulb I got. Upon the installation of the new sealed beam...exact same results as the other side, worked fine for 10-15 seconds and dimmed out after that. It hasn't regained full strengh like the other one, but I haven't been out driving very long and given it a chance.

My question is, does anyone have a clue as to what could be the cause of this...some sort of computer issue? is it trying to readjust itself to the new bulb? Is there some sort of resistor inline preventing the bulb from getting the right amount of voltage?

[ December 16, 2003: Message edited by: FirebirdHatesRice ]</p>

[John D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by FirebirdHatesRice:
My question is, does anyone have a clue as to what could be the cause of this...some sort of computer issue? is it trying to readjust itself to the new bulb? Is there some sort of resistor inline preventing the bulb from getting the right amount of voltage?<hr></blockquote>

LOL, the computer thing is definately not the problem....... [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

Sorry I can't help any further than that.

[Blazzin Joe]

maybe you have a wire shorting out or grounding out... check all your wires that run to the headlamps and the foglights to make sure that you arent having any electrical problems like that.

Edit: another thought, maybe one of the wires is routed funny and is getting pinched with the light is up.. The pinching action may be causing a slight grounding throuhg the rubber insulation... just pull stuff out of my *** that could cause a problem like this.. hope maybe some of it helps

[ December 12, 2003: Message edited by: Blazzin Joe ]</p>

[FirebirdHatesRice]

Just fixed the problem...I don't know why it worked, but it did. All I did was flicked the high beam/low beam on and off really fast a few times and now the lights work great...must have been a bad contact or something.

[FirebirdHatesRice]

UPDATE: that same headlight is back to its old tricks. Tonight, I tried aiming the light correctly since the first time I tried replacing the bulbs I messed up the aim instead of the mounting screws. After aiming the lights, they were still on, I turned them off and back on again, the bulb is back to what it was doing before. High beam symbol weakly lit in guage cluster and bulb is very dim. When it first turns on, it seems like the bulb is getting full power, however almost immediately after it dims down again. At this point, I think it must be something to do with contacts?

[FirebirdHatesRice]

TTT