Dim head lights
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 2
From: Northern Maine
Dim head lights
My Dad has a 2001 F-150. He has noticed lately that his head light are getting very dim. (My Mother has a similar truck that has bright head lights) The truck has a new battery (load test is good) and the alternator tests at 14.2 volts. The lenses are not yellowed. He has a set of aftermarket auxiliary driving lights that work fine. Anyone have any ideas of what to check first?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
From: Hernando Ms
Before you spend alot of time troubleshooting,I would try a new lamp in one of the headlights(If you havent already).Lamps can dim over time.If the new lamp fixes it,get the second,and your good to go,If it doesent,you now have a spare when one goes out.
Otherwise I would check the ground circuit for the headlights.
If you have access to a DVM(Digital Volt Meter) you can also check the voltage at the headlight socket pins.
With the headlights on there should be around 13 Volts on the "hot" side of the socket. Initially measure the voltage from Frame ground,and then socket ground.Both voltage readings should be pretty close to the same.If there is a noticeable difference between ground points(Frame and socket) then the ground circuit indeed has high resistance,and is likely the problem.
Try this on low beam,and then high beam.
Otherwise I would check the ground circuit for the headlights.
If you have access to a DVM(Digital Volt Meter) you can also check the voltage at the headlight socket pins.
With the headlights on there should be around 13 Volts on the "hot" side of the socket. Initially measure the voltage from Frame ground,and then socket ground.Both voltage readings should be pretty close to the same.If there is a noticeable difference between ground points(Frame and socket) then the ground circuit indeed has high resistance,and is likely the problem.
Try this on low beam,and then high beam.
Last edited by n5926g; Nov 28, 2010 at 06:58 AM. Reason: additional info
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Likes: 45
From: Central NY
i used the brightest Sylvania bulbs they made for my truck....loved them.
then i swapped them into a new set of headlights...see my gallery.
then i did my fog lights...also in my gallery.
all from ebay.
then i swapped them into a new set of headlights...see my gallery.
then i did my fog lights...also in my gallery.
all from ebay.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 20
I thought I was loosing my night vision driving my 2001 F-150. Got a pair of Silver Stars, problem solved. Especially great for the on-coming drivers that are too lazy to dim their lights. The Best grade on a Silver Star pair is around $35 with rebate.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 292
Likes: 3
Sometimes it helps to just pull the headlamp housing out to pull the plugs off the bulbs then plug them back in several times. This tends to clean up the the connection and the inside of the plug . It does not cost anything only takes a couple of minutes and it just might fix it.
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fresh2prince0
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Mar 6, 2006 12:20 PM
