head light issue

[fergy4]

so i recently had some head light issue last time i went wheeling both of them worked great now just my drivers works for hi beam snd low but the passnger side is half on i changed both head lights to see if that was the issue but i don't know elctrical at all any sugestions ?????????

[wecoyote]

check your grounds

[oriontaco]

Start with checking the grounds if the light is half on, also if you have a digital multi meter make sure that there is atleast 12 volt on the low beam wire. If there is not then start working backwards

[fergy4]

would cleaning out the connections work or do i have to start tracing wires casue i don't have a multi meter i useally have my buddy do the electrical stuff seeming i know nothing about it but i want to startlearning so where would the grounds be for the lights

[wecoyote]

do you have a hanes manual

[fergy4]

no but i will go pick one up and go from there

[wecoyote]

if you have a test light you can figure out the low bean high beam circuit attach one end of the test light to ground and put the probe into the plug if it lights up on low that's the low then turn to high the third wire is ground.

[Tarzan]

Check the headlight fuses when one side blows it lights up one side half way just a you described (this is a common older import design).

[fergy4]

awsome thank you

[Andyl]

Quick check for if its a ground... Get out your jumper cables...

Ground on battery to engine alternator bracket & hood post directly above that headlight (think the ground for that headlight actually connects right around the battery plate doesn't it?) Fixed?

IF not - Same thing but your going to run it into the cigarette lighter & some good cab sheetmetal (I like that pull rod they use as a door stop)

Check again... At leasts narrrows down whether its an underhood ground or a cab ground....

If it's still not good - we's gonna has us an ugly fix - likely a bad contact in that passenger side chunk of harness, means taking off fenders and generally nonsensical fun...

Well I guess you could pull the inner fender to get at it... (this is part of the fun of doing an 87 -> 88 engine swap - replacing the full harness)
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i277/cgyreefer/87%20Yota/engine%20swap/DSCF2915.jpg

Might also want to open up the relay box and check for corrosion...

[fergy4]

since i modfied to put in a gm v6 my buddy did the electrical to mend the 2 harnesses together so i am not sure how he did it but i guess i'll turn the lightson and start putlling fuses and when they go off i found the light one ha ha